DEAR DR. BLONZ: Must rye and oats be eliminated from celiac diets - those eliminating wheat as the main offender? - J.D., via e-mail

DEAR J.D.: Celiac sprue is a condition in which there is an acute intolerance of gluten, a complex protein found in all forms of wheat, barley, rye and triticale, or any products made from these grains, including vinegars and modified food starches. The disease is typified by severe inflammation and disruption of the intestines, most notably its mucosal lining.

Oats was on the prohibited list before research indicated that people with celiac disease might be able to tolerate wheat-free rolled oats. The operative phrases here, however, are "wheat-free" and "may be able to tolerate." Some can tolerate oats while other can't. There have been studies that conclude "yes" to oats, while others conclude the opposite. One definite requirement is a wheat-free oat product.

We then have the issue of individual differences between celiac patients. The only real answer concerning oats is "maybe." Talk it over with the health professional handling this aspect of your health care to decide whether an oat experiment is in order. I also advise you to check out the information page from the National Library of Medicine located at http://tinyurl.com/pz434.

DEAR DR. BLONZ: I appreciated your article on sports drinks for children and your concerns about active children having a drink with a high sugar content. I was not sure if you were trying to keep the article focused or you were limited in space, but based on the scientific study you cited in the article, it would seem that a better choice would have been a drink like Gatorade. I just went to my fridge and confirmed what I thought: Gatorade has 14 grams of sugar (50 calories) and 110 milligrams of sodium in an 8-ounce serving. This is exactly what the report cited. It led me to believe this would be the ultimate drink for the children in this case, and also offer the benefit of saving 10 calories per serving (compared to the higher-sugar drink). Any chance you could do a follow up? - E.F., via e-mail

DEAR E.F.: I would not consider a sports drink to be an ultimate beverage, but it can be helpful for those involved with hour-plus workouts or athletic events. Water is the absolute key, but properly formulated sports drinks can also help replace the sodium and potassium lost through perspiration. A small amount of sweetener helps make the drink more palatable, and it provides a small boost of the type of fuel that is in short supply during an extended workout. You don't want too much sugar, as that can work at cross-purposes by slowing absorption. I also advise against giving exercising children drinks that contain stimulants, such as caffeine.

Cited as effective in the journal Pediatrics (http://tinyurl.com/h9nne) was a beverage in which an 8-ounce serving contained 14 grams sugar (6 percent carbohydrate) and 110 milligrams sodium (18 mmol/l sodium). This is the same formula found in Gatorade and some other sports drinks. Check the Nutrition Facts label on the products before you buy.

I recommend that we make our own sports drink from fresh juices. Such a beverage can provide the same nutrients, but you also have genuine flavors and the added benefits of the nutrients and phytochemicals in the fruit. The recipe is as follows.

Add 1/3 cup sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt to 1 cup hot water. Once blended, add 4 cups ice-cold water and 1/3 cup orange juice. For variety, you can use the juice from 3 lemons or limes, or another fresh fruit juice instead of the orange juice. Use juices that are high in potassium (about 400 milligrams per 8-ounce serving), as this mineral is lost when we perspire heavily. To date, I have made sports drinks using grape, pomegranate and cherry juices. Your homemade sports drink is perishable, so keep it cool or frozen.

Send questions to: "On Nutrition," Ed Blonz, c/o Newspaper Enterprise Association, 200 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016. For e-mail, address inquiries to: ed@blonz.com. Due to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.