Gluten Free Vegan Diet

Category: Gluten Free

What You Need to Know About Italian Cuisine: Diverse and Delicious

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There is a lot to know about Italian Cuisine. Even if you eat like Gluten-Free like I do, you may still enjoy pasta as much as I do.

Italy, a nation of 58 million people, is a patchwork quilt of 20 distinct regions subdivided into 103 provinces. All Italian cooking relies on olive oil, grains, and fresh, seasonal produce, but each region has its own preferences and specialties.

Northern Italy, which boasts the country’s highest standard of living and the richest diet, also produces one-third of Italy’s best wines. Its eight regions lean toward risotto, polenta, and gnocchi, and hearty soups and fish chowders are a feature of the region. The North’s real claim to fame, though, is as a paradise for cheese lovers. Parmigiano, Gorgonzola, and Asiago cheeses accompanied by salamis and sausages made from goat, goose, and even chamois, make a simple meal divine.

Central Italy, in contrast, tends to favor artichokes, peas, and black and white truffles. These six central regions prefer pasta and lamb over the rice and beef associated with the North. One of the best-known regional dishes is porchetta, a whole, roasted pig stuffed with fresh garlic, fennel, rock salt, and peppercorns.

Historically, the six regions that comprise Southern Italy were known as the Garden of the Greeks and Romans. Later, during the Middle Ages, the Arabs established a pasta industry in Sicily. Varieties of pasta have since proliferated, from “short” pasta generically known as macaroni to the “long” types such as spaghetti and vermicelli.

No other sector of Italy boasts such a splendid heritage of sweets and ices. Many desserts bespeak the Arab and Greek influences in Sicily, with its almond pastes, candied fruits, ricotta, honey, raisins, and nuts.

The South also accounts for 75 percent of the produce raised organically in Italy. With almost 2.5 million acres cultivated without chemicals, Italy is a leader in organic farming.

Now that you know more about Italian Cuisine, you need to know that you can even enjoy Italian Cuisine when gluten-free and vegan.

It’s a matter of simply replacing the ingredients in various recipes that cause you problems. In other words, exchange the pasta, exchange the cheese and milk or cream if any in the recipe.

These days, you can Google for Gluten-Free Italian Recipes and finds tons of yummy dishes to make.

November 23, 2020
Should You Try A Gluten-Free Diet?

There was a time when having to eat a gluten-free diet, meaning a severe limitation of tasty choices. However, because of the rise in awareness for the need for gluten-free products, manufacturers are stepping up their efforts to produce gluten-free products. In fact, there are more gluten-free products available now than there ever have been. Manufacturers will probably increase the numbers further as time progresses. If you do have to go on a gluten-free diet, you don’t have to worry too much about giving up your favorite foods. Chances are you’ll be able to find a gluten-free substitute. If you can’t, there are a lot of quality gluten-free recipes on the internet.

What is gluten?

Gluten is a certain type of protein. Gluten is found in foods such as rye, wheat, and barley. Because most breeds and cereals make use of these foods, they usually also contain gluten. Just because the food is a grain, doesn’t necessarily mean it contains gluten. For example, wild rice, corn, buckwheat, millet, amaranth, quinoa, teff, soybeans, and sunflower seeds don’t contain gluten.

There is some controversy surrounding oats. There are conflicting reports about oats. Many processed foods contain gluten because it is used as a food additive by many food manufacturers.

Who should be on a gluten-free diet?

If you suffer from an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine, called celiac disease, you will most likely be put on a gluten-free diet. Celiac disease is often misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome. Some people have the disease but don’t really show any outward symptoms. The most common symptoms of Celiac disease include Chronic diarrhea, the inability to gain weight, unexplained iron-deficiency anemia, bone or joint pain, arthritis, depression or anxiety, tingling numbness in the hands and feet, seizures, canker sores, missed periods, itchy skin rash, and fatigue.

There are some people who suffer from fibromyalgia who claim a gluten-free diet has helped alleviate some of their symptoms. If you suffer from fibromyalgia, you should discuss this option with your doctor. You may get some resistance from your doctor because, at this time, there hasn’t been any major research into the effects of a gluten-free diet on firbromyalgia. If you really want to try it, ultimately, it will be your decision. You just have to make sure with your doctor that you have no health issues that would preclude you from going on a gluten-free diet, clear it with your doctor first.

People with diabetes may benefit from a gluten-free diet. You have to be careful about going on a gluten-free diet if you have diabetes. A lot of gluten-free products add extra sugar or extra fat to make them taste better. It is extremely important you talk about going on a gluten-free diet with your doctor or nutritionist before you consider going on a gluten-free diet.

If your doctor says you have to go on a gluten-free diet, or you want to and your doctor says its okay, then you will have many food choices still available to you. You just have to look at labels carefully. Manufacturers are producing more and more gluten-free foods. If you have a craving for something that isn’t gluten-free, there are plenty of gluten-free recipes on the internet. There are also many gluten-free diet cookbooks available too.

September 17, 2020
Healthy Food Choices

What are Healthy Food Choices and what role do they play in your diet?

Eating healthy is something we all would like to do, although it can be hard. Healthy food choices means a healthier lifestyle. You are what you eat in the sense that when making better choice of food, you’ll feel better, look better, and your health is better overall.

In order to eat healthy, you must know the best food choice and then make the right food choices. Eating healthy is all about what you choose to put on your plate and in your mouth which means the choices you make are crucial to whatever results you want to achieve. Be it weight loss, fitness, endurance or just simply feeling better, what you eat counts.

Eating healthier isn’t rock science, it’s about choices, consistency and maybe some willpower. The following is a list of the basic in a healthy diet:

Grains
You should consume 6 ounces of grains per day. To do this, you can eat 3 ounces of whole grain cereals, breads, rice, crackers, or pasta. You can get an ounce of grains in a single slice of bread, or 1 cut of cereal.

Now, being that this site is about a gluten-free (Vegan) diet. This might be one area you really need to modify. Eating gluten-free isn’t easy, but could have a major impact on how you feel.

Vegetables
These should be varied, as you should eat 2 1/2 cups of them each day. You should start eating more of the dark vegetables, such as broccoli and spinach. Carrots and sweet potatoes are good as well. You should also eat
more dry beans such as peas, pinto beans, and even kidney beans.

I personally prefer organic fresh raw vegetables. I’d rather eat a fresh salad daily rather than cook a vegetable. The goal here is to get an adequate intake of vegetables. The typical American diet consists of everything but vegetables it seems.

Fruits
Fruits are very important. You should try to eat 2 cups of them each day. Focus on eating a variety, such as fresh, frozen, canned, or even dried fruit. You can drink fruit juices as well, although you should use moderation when doing so.

If you really serious about getting results, watch your fruit intake carefully. Although they contain a natural sugar, they do contain sugar.

Milk
Milk is your calcium rich friend. For adults, 3 cups is the ideal goal. For kids 2 – 8, 2 cups is where you want to be. When choosing milk products or yogurt, you should go for fat-free or low-fat. Those of you who don’t like milk or can’t have it, should go for lactose free products or other sources of calcium such as fortified foods and beverages.

I for one can NOT drink milk without serious consequences so I drink Almond Milk instead.

Meat and beans
Unless you’ve decided to go Vegan (or vegetarian) Eating 5 ounces of meat a day is the ideal goal, and you should go lean with your protein. When eating meat, always bake it, grill it, or broil it, as this will prevent grease from adding to the equation. You can vary your protein as well, with more fish, beans, peas, and nuts. If you don’t eat meat or eggs, then substitute with beans and nuts.

When cooking your food, you should also limit solid fats such as butter, margarine, shortening, and lard. These foods may add flavor to your dishes, although they can also help raise your cholesterol as well. Therefore, you
should try to add these foods and any foods that happen to contain them.

I like to cook with either Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Organic non processed coconut oil. I happen to like the taste of coconut so it’s good.

To help keep your saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium low, you can check the nutrition facts label. This label can be found on the food package and will tell you all the information you need to know about the food item.

By picking your foods wisely and watching what you eat, you’ll help contribute to a healthier and active lifestyle.

Exercise is another crucial component to being healthy since it goes along perfect with a healthy eating. You don’t have to run a marathon or do Cross Fit (unless you want to), just stay active in one way or another. No matter what your age may be, eating healthy will help you keep your active lifestyle for years and years – even help you and your health in the long run as well.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this article about healthy food choices. As you can see it really isn’t complicated, it’s a matter of choices you make.

Leave us a comment about what you liked best. You can contact me with any questions.

July 30, 2020
Special Considerations Before Preparing Gluten-Free Dishes
Going gluten-free isn’t quite as simple as just avoiding foods that contain gluten. Unlike other diets that have rules such as not consuming too much carbs or eating more fat, the gluten-free diet requires you to completely eliminate all gluten from your diet. Failing to carefully do this could be a matter of life or death to many.

There are definitely some special considerations to consider whether eating out or preparing meals at home.

For people suffering from celiac disease, this is a very important issue. Making mistakes can lead to major health issues which could be very dangerous. There are some unique challenges when eating out, cooking for the family, or simply deciding what to eat when you must be gluten-free.

Here’s an example: I ate out with friends last week. I scoured the menu looking for the gluten free options. I found one with teriyaki sauce but didn’t think to ask if the sauce was in fact gluten free. I reacted an hour or so later and can only suspect that teriyaki cause. I was so focused on making sure the bun(bread) was gluten-free, I failed to pay attention to seasonings, etc.

Since most people on a gluten-free diet will usually cook for themselves, they’ll need to take a few special considerations into account. In this article, you’ll find a few pointers that are easy to overlook. I know there are some I never even considered in my own household.

Be sure to memorize these or better yet, print out the list and stick it on your refrigerator door so that you’re always vigilant. The following pointers are not all inclusive but are likely some you never even considered:
- Throw away your old breadboards and chopping boards
  If you’re new to the gluten-free diet, throwing away the old boards will ensure that no gluten that’s hidden in the crevices of the board ends up on your food. Sometimes washing the boards repeatedly may not be enough. You’ll need to get new ones.
- Get new sponges and dishwashing towels
  Old sponges and towels that are used to dry your dishes may contain traces of gluten too. It may be surprising at just how easy it is for your food to get cross-contaminated.
- Clean out your refrigerator
  If you live alone, this is much easier. You can give your refrigerator a good clean out and throw out all foods containing gluten and set aside the foods that you suspect contain gluten.
  
  Later, you can check if these suspect foods really are gluten-free or not. Keep those that are and discard those that aren’t.
  
  If you have family sharing the refrigerator with you, it would be best to get a separate fridge for yourself… or you’ll need to be very careful to keep your ingredients and foods separate from the other foods in the same fridge
- Your stove, toaster and microwave
  Bits and pieces of food can always be left behind in these appliances. Clean them thoroughly. Ideally, if you have a toaster, it’s best to either toss it out or give it away to someone else. Crumbs in the toaster oven are really difficult to get rid of completely and it’s easier to get a new one for your gluten-free bread.
  
  Basically, you want to remove ALL traces of gluten in these areas before preparing any meals.
- Sinks, cupboards and countertops
  Every single area where food is prepared, stored on displayed should be cleaned. Vacuum all crumbs and wipe down the areas with a wet cloth.
- Throw out ALL foods containing gluten
  Once again, this is easier if you live alone. By not having any foods containing gluten in your house, not only will cross-contamination be much less likely to occur, but you’ll also not accidentally eat what you’re not supposed to.
  
  This has been a huge challenge for me with a teen living in my house. My daughter can eat just about anything she likes and many of my kitchen surfaces are shared. Diligence is a must here.
  
  It will be a massive chore to do all that’s stated in this article… and you’ve not even started cooking yet. However, you only need to do it once to get your gluten-free diet off to a clean and new start. After that, it’ll be smooth sailing all the way, relatively.
I hope you found this article helpful in your quest to go gluten-free. Leave a comment below with your #1 tip. You can also contact me if you have questions or comments.
July 21, 2020
Here’s Your Perfect Guide to Doing the Ketogenic Diet

You may have heard the term Ketogenic Diet, but do you know what it means? The keto diet is a diet that recommends the consumption of an amount of fat and carbohydrate that is equal to or lower than the one we typically consume. This is great for those who are trying to burn their body fat and are looking to add muscle mass, or just to feel better. It can help get rid of those nasty cellulite deposits and will help you live a more comfortable life.

If you’re currently suffering from any kind of illness or don’t feel like counting calories, it’s recommended that you consult your doctor before starting on a keto diet. But once medically cleared, and for the rest of us, here are some tips to follow when starting ketogenic diet.

First, start off slowly. While the first couple of days may be tough, keep trying and you will see the results. You will also start to feel healthier and more energetic, although no results are guaranteed as each individual is unique. After about two weeks, you should start to see an improvement in your physique.

Start with a low-carbohydrate eating plan. For the first couple of days, you’ll need to cut carbs drastically but consider weaning yourself off instead of cutting everything cold turkey. If you can just stop, you may experience results. Instead of just eating steak, pork chops, pastrami, and other kinds of animal products, consider adding some cheese and eggs for variety, as well as vegetables.

Once your body (and you) get used to a keto diet, you will start to feel and see a difference, which is the first step to maintaining ketosis. It’s likely you’ll be more motivated once you see and feel some results. The next phase is to make sure you get more protein in your diet from a variety of source. Protein is the fuel you need to maintain ketosis.

When you are on a diet that focuses on not consuming any carbs at all, try to focus on protein. The challenge with most diets is that they encourage you to cheat on carbs but as soon as you have carbs back in your diet, you’ll likely slow the process and your results may stall if not stop completely. If you are at the end of your weight loss journey, then fine. Otherwise, it’s important you continue the meal plan.

While you are on a keto diet, do your best to stick to basic healthy meals that have little or no carbs. That means besides protein from meat, eggs and cheese, add fresh fruit and vegetables but consume these in moderate amounts.

You will also want to drink plenty of water so you can rid your body of toxins that can be harmful to your body and slow your progress. For optimal performance, you’ll want to eat less sugar, as it will not only be extremely calorie-rich but could also cause you to become lethargic.

As with any new thing you take one, you’ll need to be careful when switching to a more restrictive diet. If you find you are still in need of carbohydrates, then start by just cutting back a little instead of cutting crabs out completely.

Besides the physical aspects, the psychological aspect of dieting should not be overlooked. When you start a new diet, you can expect some mental stress as it is NOT an easy process. Many people struggle to simply eat breakfast and to take vitamins. To deal with this, simply take the time every morning to remember why it’s important and remind yourself of why you are doing this in the first place.

If you begin to feel some type of mental stress, make sure you take a break and find ways to rest and calm yourself to avoid overwhelm. Distract yourself if you find you want to eat what you shouldn’t eat.

In conclusion, following a ketogenic diet is a great way to stay fit and healthy. It helps with weight loss, improves your metabolism, and gives you more energy. It may not be right for everyone, but it can be a great option for anyone who wants to lose some weight and improve their health.

We hope you’ve found some value in this article. Leave us a comment about what you like best. You can also contact me with questions or comments as well.

July 3, 2020
Supplementing Your Diet While Maintaining a Gluten-Free Lifestyle
The gluten-free lifestyle is not easy and comes with a lot of effort and many challenges. Nutrient deficiencies might be one of those challenges that is always looming over the horizon when you must eat gluten-free diet. This seems to be especially true when a person first gets started with this new way of eating. .

A very common tendency on this diet is to avoid a lot of foods that contain gluten which means increase possibility of missing nutrients. While eliminating the things you can not eat is a great approach, you must consider the vitamins and nutrients you were getting from the variety of foods you just cut from your diet.

Having a working knowledge of nutrition is helpful, and might be critical, when you’re on any diet, and especially true when you start eliminating food groups while on a gluten-free diet. The very nature of this diet means that you are probably cutting out a LOT of foods you are accustomed to. For the average person, it could be a complete overhaul of your diet.

The following are just some things to consider when following a gluten-free lifestyle and should help you know if supplementing is to be considered.
- Preventing nutrient deficiencies
  One way to manage the side effects of living on a gluten-free diet is to supplement the foods you do eat in order to get the required nutrients. Ideally, you should study and get to know the various foods you eat and understand what nutrients they contain and what nutrients you still need.
  
  For example, a cup of broccoli contains fiber, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, etc.
  
  Just knowing tells you that by consuming broccoli a few times a week with your meals you can rest assured you’ll likely have adequate amounts of these micronutrients
  
  Vegetables and fruit contain a ton of beneficial nutrients and they are quickly used by the body. Remember, getting your vitamins and nutrients from nutritious, wholesome foods is always better than getting them from a pill or tablet, but sadly today’s food is not always as nutritious as needed. This is where supplements come in.
- Best time to take supplements
  Even though you eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies, there are times that supplements are needed. Believe it or not, there are some instances when it’s best to get your vitamin from a supplement. One example would be vitamin C. Your body is unable to store vitamin C so taking a daily dose of vitamin C in one form or another helps you get the optimal daily dosage your body needs.
  
  If you tried to get the daily dose of Vitamin C you really need, you’d need to eat a ton of oranges to get the same amount a supplement provides. So, obviously, it’s easier to consume the supplement.
  
  This works the same for fish oil capsules, garlic oil pills, etc. For obvious reasons, it’s preferable to get the nutrients you need from the supplement (1 or 2 of them) rather than eating unbelievably large amounts of raw foods or veggies.
The following is a list of some of the most common nutrients to keep an eye on when you are on a gluten-free diet:
- Calcium
- Folate
- Iron
- Niacin
- Riboflavin
- Thiamin
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin D
Typically, these are the ingredients that you see on most bread labels. Obviously, if you are cutting out food that contain wheat, bread is usually the first to go unless you decide to find a gluten-free alternative.

Before deciding to go on a gluten-free diet, it is recommended you speak to your doctor to see if it’s really necessary. The common opinion is that you really don’t need to put yourself through the challenge of this diet unless you’re gluten intolerant or suffering from celiac disease. People with this issue have no choice.

It’s pointless to avoid gluten if your body had no issue with it. If you are thinking it’s a way to lose weight, we’d like to recommend you just limit your portions, or start with less sugar etc.

This might be a hot topic, and can easily be debated so we recommend you get a professional medical opinion on it and see if you really will benefit from it.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this article, leave us a comment if you did. You can also contact us directly with questions as well.
June 29, 2020
5 Challenges of Adopting a Gluten-Free Diet
Like anything else you do in life, when you start something new, you will face challenges. That even applies to adopting a gluten-free diet. Perhaps you are starting the diet because you’re gluten intolerant or wheat sensitive, or maybe you’re just trying to live a healthier life and even lose weight.

Whatever the case may be, you’ll encounter one or several of the challenges listed below. Knowing what they are will help you be aware of them when they arise, and you’ll know how to overcome them.
1. Adopting the diet into your lifestyle
  Just like any diet you start, there is going to be a transition phase where you need to grit your teeth and have self-discipline and just get through it. If it’s the Keto diet or any low carb diet, you’ll need to drastically cut your carbs. If it’s the paleo diet, several foods such as sugar and refined oil are no-nos.
  
  With the gluten-free diet, you’ll need to avoid foods containing gluten. Just knowing what these foods are will be half the battle. You will need to do your research and understand which common foods you are consuming may contain gluten. Ketchup for example or even soy sauce.
  
  Initially, you may find it difficult to give up several of the foods that you’re accustomed to eating such as burgers (because the buns contain gluten) and ice-cream, cakes, cookies, and donuts etc. If you want to keep eating these things, you will need to find gluten-free substitutes to eat and that can be somewhat difficult. This period alone is somewhat inevitable and can be challenging.
2. Nutrition deficiencies
  When people give up too many foods during a diet, especially so many things containing gluten, nutrition deficiencies can come up. While avoiding gluten in their diet, they also inadvertently do not get various vitamins and minerals the body needs.
  
  The best way to get around this problem is to get a multivitamin that contains a variety of vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin D, iron, fiber, etc. The supplements will have to pick up the slack created by the eliminate of foods in the diet.
3. The risk of cross-contamination
  If you’re the only gluten-sensitive person in the house, the rest of your family members may not be on a gluten-free diet and eating things you can not eat. That will mean the risk of cross-contamination is higher in your household.
  
  For example, if your spouse uses the bread knife to spread the butter on her bread, she may unknowingly leave minute crumbs on the butter. If you use the same butter on your gluten-free toast, the crumbs that contain gluten will enter your system and you’ll feel the effects later.
  
  So, having separate utensils, cookware, and even special meal preparation areas may be necessary. It goes without saying that all of this precautions requires extra effort and it can be challenging at times to have to make special arrangements just to maintain a gluten-free diet around people who can eat anything they want.
4. Gluten sneaks into the diet
  In case you didn’t now, Gluten doesn’t only appear in foods. It’s a very common and highly versatile ingredient. Because of its viscoelastic nature, it is often found in a wide variety of other things. For example, lick a stamp to use it on a letter? Guess what? The adhesive side may contain gluten. Most people have no idea gluten shows up this way.
  
  Using lipstick? It may contain gluten too. Since it sneaks into many products, being extra vigilant is imperative so that you can ascertain where the gluten is coming from. Even shampoo and conditioner can have gluten unless you specifically use something that is gluten-free.
5. Eating out is a hassle:
  When you must avoid gluten in your food, it becomes quite difficult to eat out because in most cases, you are not in control of the food preparation or the ingredients that go into the food.
  
  Sure, you can give the chef special instructions, and ask many questions about ingredients but sadly, cross contamination can occur.
  
  In some cases, the restaurant may not even be able to prepare dishes according to your requirements because they don’t have room to have a dedicated area to gluten-free meals preparation.
  
  So, you may find yourself limited in the places you can find gluten-free meals. If you’ve been through this, you know how this can put a damper on eating out with friends. It can be quite difficult. You either don’t eat much, ask a million questions, or you take a chance you get glutened.
Sadly the challenges listed above are very real, quite common and encounters those who must eat the gluten-free diet must live with daily. Depending on your reasons for choosing to follow this particular diet, it may be crucial to your health you be 100% gluten-free. Or perhaps, you are one of those who can be more flexible every now and then if you’re not severely gluten sensitive.

If you must adhere to a diet free of gluten, try to maintain a positive attitude and accept this new way of life and lifestyle. Once you get familiar with foods and products you must avoid, you’ll find it easier to avoid the foods you can’t eat and find things that satisfy your appetite.

I you have enjoyed this article, leave us a comment below. You can also contact me with any questions or comments you may have.
June 23, 2020
What Health Issues Might You Experience If You’re Gluten Intolerant?
Are there health issues you might experience if you are gluten intolerant? One specific illness called celiac disease is one adverse immune reaction that occurs in a person’s body when they consume foods that contain gluten. This gluten is a protein that’s found in foods like wheat, rye and barley.

If you happen to have celiac disease, there are several health issues (symptoms) that can arise if you eat foods you should not eat. While not everyone is affected by celiac disease, you can still be gluten intolerant without being diagnosed as celiac. This basically means that you will experience similar symptoms, but perhaps just not as severe.

Sadly, statistics are showing that more and more people are becoming intolerant to gluten and the problem is growing. Some studies show this increase could be due to the increased common use of genetically modified wheat in so many of the foods we eat today. Honestly, the jury is still out on this theory, and it depends on who you talk to, but what really matters is that you are aware of potential issues and recognize the different symptoms and know how they affect you and your health.

Since many of the symptoms you might feel resemble other normal issues, it’s easy to overlook the symptoms that you may experience every now and then.

Another common misconception is that gluten only affects your digestive system when in reality, many people experience a variety of symptoms like skin rashes, eczema, and headaches. Many times, these symptoms are a result of gluten intolerance. In the rest of this article, we’ll look at some of the issues that come up.
- Digestive issues
  This issues is probably the most commonly experienced and most obvious. When you eat something your body doesn’t tolerate, you’ll have symptoms. For many who are gluten intolerant they may experience things like being bloated, they might be gassy or even experience abdominal cramps. Many times, even diarrhea is a common and uncomfortable problem.
  
  On the surface, the symptoms mentioned here might seem fairly harmless and just create discomfort for you. Unfortunately, there could be more serious issues happening like inflammation of the lower intestine and it not functioning properly.
  
  When a body is inflamed and not working properly, you are not able to absorb the nutrients from food your body needs. Besides that, a persons stools may become looser creating an urgent need to use the bathroom several times a day to empty the bowels. If this happens too much, it becomes an issue with staying hydrated from the loss of fluids on a daily basis.
  
  This particular symptom really depends on how a persons body is reacting to the gluten. Some may have just the digestive issues, in other cases, the sufferer may experience acid reflux and heartburn.
- Mental problems and nerve issues
  As if digestive issues weren’t enough, some people experience headaches, fogginess and even numbness in extremities and these can be symptom of celiac disease. The headaches can be strong and recur often. Believe it or not, eliminating gluten from the diet can be one of the best ways to get rid of the headaches.
  
  As for numbness and tingling in the hands and feet. It’s hard to imagine this could be related to what you eat (gluten) but if you seek to have some improvement, you’ll need to eliminate gluten from your diet for these symptoms too.
  
  Sidenote: If you are experiencing numbness and tingling in your hands and feet, it’s best to speak to your doctor soon because it could be a sign of other health issues. Getting your doctors professional medical opinion is highly recommended.
- Skin, hair and other problems
  This was my first sign that let me know I had to avoid gluten in my diet. Keratosis pilaris, dermatitis herpetiformis and rashes are all linked to gluten intolerance. The rashes are most often found on joints like elbows and even the back of the knee. Eczema and rashes might even show up on your scalp, forearms and back too.
  
  If you are experiencing rashes, they may come and go depending on what you eat, but if you want them to disappear permanently, you’ll need to get on a gluten-free diet and stick to it.
  
  For me personally, I can tell almost immediately that I’ve eaten something with gluten. My scalp starts itching, my skin itches, and I get a burning rash behind my ears – yep, behind my ears.
  
  Here’s something I did NOT know. Besides skin problems, gluten intolerance can lead to hair loss too. And as if everything I have already mentioned is NOT enough, you can experience joint pain, mouth ulcers, fatigues, memory problems, bruising, and so much more. These are all symptoms of Celiac disease.
  
  Besides the complications of celiac disease, you are also at risk for heart disease, cancer, lung problems and even infertility is affected when you’re gluten intolerant but you keep eating it.
By now I hope you’ve realized that gluten intolerance is one of those health issues that seems harmless on the surface to some people and only has uncomfortable symptoms… but if you don’t stop it in its tracks and keep ingesting gluten, it can lead to severe and debilitating, dangerous health problems. Is something you eat really worth that in the long run?

Look, I’m preaching to the choir. I am guilty of continuing to eat things I know I shouldn’t all because I crave it only to wake up the next day wondering why I didn’t just say no. I’m still working on it.

I am not celiac, but if you are diagnosed with celiac disease or you’re non-celiac gluten intolerant like me, please consider taking immediate steps to just eliminate gluten from your diet. You’ll protect your health, hopefully undo some damage, and you will just feel so much better.

If you have enjoyed this article, let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear if you have issues with gluten. Questions, please feel free to contact me.
June 18, 2020
What Is Gluten and Why Is It Dangerous for Many?

Over the last few years, Gluten has developed a very bad reputation. With increased discussions about genetically modified foods, pesticides and many other issues, a lot of fallacy is being shared as fact.

Simply put, Gluten is NOT a bad thing for most people and it only has negative affects those who are sensitive to it. Those with gluten or wheat sensitivities have legitimate reasons to avoid eating it.

There has been a lot in the media over the years about genetically modified food and the effects of eating GMO, but that is a separate issue.

“There’s no question that celiac disease is on the rise, and non-celiac gluten sensitivity may be, as well. Some people have suggested that genetically modified wheat—also known as GMO wheat—might be to blame for these increases.” Source

There have been people who have been sensitive to gluten for centuries. Some people have a problem with it, others do not.

So What Is Gluten: Gluten itself is a protein composite that is found in foods like barley, wheat and rye. According to the Mayo Clinic “Gluten is a protein found in most grains. The gluten found in wheat, barley, rye and triticale (a cross between wheat and rye). While other grains such as corn, rice and quinoa also contain gluten, they don’t seem to cause the same problems as wheat, barley, rye and triticale.”

When Gluten is stirred in hot water water, the viscoelastic nature of it creates a sticky, slightly gooey consistency that makes for a great thickening agent. Because of this main characteristic, many processed food manufacturers use gluten as a thickening agent in their foods to bind the ingredients together.

The truth is, most processed foods contain gluten in some form or another. Even Ketchup has gluten (wheat) in it and something as common as beer, created from barley, also contains gluten. If you have a gluten or wheat sensitivity, you should avoid anything that contains it. This is why reading all labels and knowing all ingredients is crucial.

What makes Gluten a bad guy?
Gluten is an issue when you are a person who is sensitive to it. Those suffering from Celiac disease are not able to process the gluten in the food which cause problems like inflammation in the small intestine.

Many gluten sensitive people will have stomach issues as well due to the swelling and inflammation created by the gluten sensitivity. Sensitive people experience all kind of physical reactions like: Abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating, hives, weight loss, and more.

As you can imagine, suffering physical symptoms like this are why gluten sensitive people must eliminate it from their diet. If you’ve ever tried to avoid gluten, you know what a Herculean task this might be. No matter how difficult, it really is necessary.

In many instances, preparing meals at home, studying nutrition, and taking supplements are advised. Depending on how one chooses to eat, a gluten-free diet might cause nutrient deficiencies so you’d be advised to take supplements.

Label reading: Gluten can show up in foods you’d never imagine and you’ll need to be more aware or risk getting “glutened.” You must become a label reader and get to know the ingredients you see on a label.

I for one have found that the few ingredients, and the more natural, the better. Keep is simple. Raw and natural are the best. (think veggies and fruit)

Dining out might end up being more of a challenge too. I for one have never studied a menu as hard as I do now because I have to work very hard to avoid gluten (wheat), dairy and eggs. Sadly, this is real life. You work hard to avoid gluten or you suffer the consequences and the only way your body can heal, is to eliminate it completely from your diet.

There have been times when I consciously make a choice to eat something I know I shouldn’t, with the awareness that for the next 1-2 days, I’ll be paying the price. (note: I am not diagnosed Celiac, just wheat sensitive)

As more and more people become aware of the fact that gluten may be the reason for various health issues, gluten continues to get a bad rap.

In today’s world, the internet has made the world a smaller place and people are now more aware because they hear about it, read about, and can research easier than ever before.

I discovered my wheat sensitivity almost by accident while visiting my chiropractor. I was having a lot of knew and back issues and I noticed I felt worse when I ate certain things. I just happened to ask my chiropractor if it was possible that certain foods could make my back hurt. He did a test, and yep…sensitive to wheat.

When I don’t eat gluten (wheat), my neck, back and knees don’t hurt so much.

Now, I can’t put the blame on it for sure, but gluten sensitivity is on the rise and many feel that GMO wheat may be to blame. I lived most of my life with no issues, but after moving to Kauai where GMO exists and higher use of pesticide than when I lived in Vegas, I developed sensitivity to wheat. Studies are still being done to determine if GMO wheat, and glyphosate are major contributors.

“Published in the journal Interdisciplinary Toxicology, the study begins by proposing that “glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide, Roundup, is the most important causal factor” in an increase in celiac disease and gluten intolerance worldwide.” (SOURCE)

For the time being, if you often experience physical symptoms mentioned above like abdominal issues, skin rashes, or even headaches for no explainable reason, you might be gluten sensitive.
Try eliminating gluten from your diet for a month or two and see if the symptoms disappear and if you feel better. If so, you could be a non-celiac gluten sensitive like myself. In that case, now you know it’s best to minimize or eliminate gluten intake from now on.

If you’ve enjoyed this article, leave me a comment and tell me your experience with Gluten. You can also contact me with comments or questions.

June 14, 2020
Achieve a Balanced Diet by Juicing Even Just Once a Day

One of the newest health trends is a juice fast, which can be fun for adults and kids alike. Juicing can be a great way to make sure you get enough fruit and vegetables in your diet, but it also can be a good way to cleanse and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Since so many people are now adding juicing to their daily menu, here are some tips that can help you make the most out of your juicing experience.

How often should you cleanse? Depending on your situation, it depends on how often you need to cleanse. In some cases, it might be more convenient to cleanse a few times a week or more. If you cleanse frequently, you might even consider scheduling an appointment with your health care provider to help you figure out when to cleanse regularly.

An important thing to remember when cleaning is that there is no single cleanse that is right for everyone. The best cleanse is the one that works best for you. You should discuss any cleanse with your health care provider to determine the best cleanse for you.

In a juice fast, the focus is not on eating only fresh, unprocessed whole foods. It is about adding more fruits and vegetables into your diet, while at the same time cleansing the body with fiber and other beneficial ingredients. Cleanse naturally to make sure your body is getting all the nutrients it needs.

For juice fasts, using fruit and vegetables as much as possible is a good idea. This keeps the juice fresh and gives the person a flavor boost. A smaller serving size will allow juice fasting to continue for longer periods of time.

Did you know that some drinks have high acid content? Too much of it can be hard on the stomach. These drinks also can make people gag. Don’t drink too much of these to start with.

For a home juicer, there are two types of juicers. The first is the pure press juicer. These juicers aren’t equipped with a strainer. The pulp is squeezed through a single strainer, which means that you will waste more juice if you make mistakes.

You should try to keep your pure press juicer clean, though. Don’t use any harsh chemicals or harsh cleansers on your juicer. Be sure to purchase a juice bag that isn’t too large, so that the bag won’t be able to trap the juice in the machine.

Do you hate the water taste from the juicer? The only way to eliminate this problem is to purchase a juicer that has an automatic pulp extractor. This uses a second water reservoir so that you don’t have to purchase additional water to keep the pulp from getting stale. When the pulp is ripe, you can reuse it.

If you’re new to juicing, you may find that the best juicer for you is the simple press juicer. These juicers don’t have many moving parts and can make larger batches of juice faster. These machines are easier to use and they can also be washed and reused without losing juice.

When you start juicing, remember that you’ll want to use a small amount at first to help you get used to the taste of the juicing process. If you feel comfortable using a juicer without adding any excess water, increase the amount of water to use at first. Even though it is recommended that you drink plenty of water throughout the day, juicing just once a day should make up for the loss of water and fiber in your system.

June 12, 2020

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