Three dietitians spent a fortnight on a special diet to find out what it's like for their patients - and discovered the food tasted like cardboard.

The team has seen an increase in the number of patients suffering with coeliac disease, a condition where the intestine is damaged by food containing gluten, like wheat.

So they went on a gluten-free diet. Among the hurdles they found was finding out exactly which products were free of wheat, rye, oats and barley. Many of the products were unpalatable, too. Catherine Wickens, chief dietitian at the Horton Hospital, Banbury, said rice cakes tasted like cardboard. "But after a fortnight two of us quite liked them," she added.

Mrs Wickens was joined by senior dietitians Kate Fenn and Myrtle Walsh.

Mrs Wickens said: "If you understand what people are going to have to do it gives you a bit of an edge. I am terribly sympathetic now."

Coeliac disease affects one in 2,000-3,000 people.

Story date: Friday 09 April

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