thinkThin CEO to Host Very First LA Area/Orange County Celiac Disease, Gluten Free Walk for Families Overcoming Gluten Intolerance

ANAHEIM, Calif., March 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- thinkproducts, creators of the thinkThin® family of deliciously natural gluten free nutrition bars, today announced that its CEO Lizanne Falsetto will lead the first thinkThin Los Angeles Area Celiac Disease, Gluten Free Walk to honor families dealing with the disease, raise awareness about gluten free options and benefits, and support the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness. Together with her daughter who is allergic to gluten, Ms. Falsetto will kick off the walk with parents, teachers and children (visuals: Gluten picketing signs, gluten posters, adults/children wearing "gluten free" t-shirts – children playing drums, colorful gluten free food items, recipes, etc.) at the Anaheim Convention Center entrance in Anaheim, Calif., on Saturday, March 12, at 2 pm (Participants to meet at thinkThin tent at entrance of convention center at 800 West Katella Ave., Anaheim, CA 92802). The walk is open to the public and coincides with the Natural Products Expo West, where many gluten free companies will be exhibiting.

"As Celiac Disease and gluten sensitivity become better diagnosed, the accessibility to healthy, gluten-free food products will become more vital for families," said Alice Bast, President, National Foundation for Celiac Awareness. "The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness applauds companies like thinkThin for providing nutritious, gluten-free bars that are portable and delicious for the whole family."

Celiac is an autoimmune digestive disease resulting from gluten intolerance that interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food. Severity of symptoms range from digestive discomfort and possible weight gain to abdominal dysfunction, joint pain and body blistering. In children, there can be delayed cognitive and physical growth. Gluten is a mixture of two proteins found in cereal grains, especially wheat. To learn more about gluten free diet facts and families overcoming gluten intolerance, visit the following video at http://vimeo.com/thinkthin/gluten-free-bars.  For downloadable resources on Celiac disease and the gluten-free diet and for donations benefiting physician and patient education, visit www.celiaccentral.org.

"As a mother who has overcome the challenge of not knowing that my daughter had allergens to gluten, I look forward to joining with other families like mine to raise awareness of Celiac Disease and share the benefits of a gluten free diet," said Ms. Falsetto. "When you consider that 2.8 million Americans suffer from the disease yet approximately 95 percent go undiagnosed, it becomes clear that more awareness of both the disease and gluten free options is needed."

Before having her son's Celiac condition diagnosed, Angel Aviles-McClinton dealt with an array of difficult conditions including boils all over his body and developmental delays. After awaiting test results for fatal diseases among others, she couldn't have been more grateful to finally have him properly diagnosed as suffering from Celiac disease. To see her emotional story visit the following video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtCwbnHIY3w.

"Before we understood my son was gluten intolerant, he suffered speech and motor skill delay from the lethargic impact of gluten in his system," said Ms. Aviles-McClinton. "Being gluten free has changed our lives and I'm thrilled to join in this walk to share our experience with others. We've learned to read labels and take control of what we eat."

With an understanding of the effects of gluten intolerance, Ms. Falsetto built thinkThin on a simple, uncompromising formula: gluten free, high protein and low to no sugar. Leveraging her early gluten free leadership, thinkThin transformed itself from a classic home kitchen start-up into a national brand offering the only natural, 0 gram sugar, 20 gram high protein and gluten free nutrition bars available at major retailers nationwide.

thinkThin will exhibit its entire gluten free product line at Natural Products Expo West, booth no. 2860, from March 11-12. For more information on gluten free bars, snacks and recipes that are naturally delicious, visit: thinkproducts.com

About thinkThin®

thinkThin® has created a whole new way to think about nutrition through an uncompromising focus on natural ingredients that support overall health and wellness. The company's entire product line builds upon a delicious and natural foundation while delivering the best nutritional profile of any weight management offering on the market. All thinkThin® products are based on three key nutritional principles: low to no sugar, high protein, and gluten free. The thinkThin® product family consists of natural, nutritious and convenient foods that include ten flavors of thinkThin® Protein Bars to satisfy the on-the-go, active lifestyle; four flavors of thinkThin® Bites, a 100-calorie perfectly portioned snack with five bars per box; and three flavors of thinkThin® Crunch, a low sugar mixed nut bar for the entire family. thinkThin® is the ideal solution for people who "think" about what they eat and care about a healthier way of life. For more information on deliciously natural nutrition visit thinkproducts.com.

SOURCE thinkThin®