The Truth about Gluten

What Gluten-Free Really Means

The Gluten Free Bible

I discovered (though months of painful trial and error) that the thing in all the foods that was making me sick was something called gluten, and I started avoiding all the foods that this was in. Or so I thought!

Every now and then, I’d start experiencing the same symptoms as before, and have to go and search through everything I had eaten. To make this easier, I started writing down everything I ate, so I could accurately go back and check.

And would you believe, every time there was something with gluten lurking in it. I couldn’t believe how often I made these simple mistakes.

But I digress. Moving on… so the good news was that by writing everything down told me that it wasn’t in my head, and something was actually causing my real symptoms!

Click this link to read the full story http://vur.me/toptrump/GFCL

Gluten Free Diet Blog from GFB

Regardless of what others may say, going gluten-free can actually be a pretty cool experience. It allows you to get creative in the kitchen, build a new community, and most importantly, improve your health. While there are clear advantages to adopting a gluten-free diet, keeping your nutrition in check can be quite the balancing act. When you cut out gluten, you’re at risk of losing some important nutrients and negatively affecting your overall health. Nobody wants that to happen – especially us.

For those with recently diagnosed Celiac Disease, malabsorption may cause certain deficiencies that you can remedy with a gluten-free diet and vitamin supplements. Once you’re on the diet, there’s still a risk that you’ll miss out on the important vitamins and minerals usually found in wheat and grain products. The good news: it’s pretty easy to pinpoint the usual suspects and up your intake before it becomes a problem. All it takes is a quick lesson on the top offenders and you’ll be happy, healthy, and totally well-balanced in no time – and we’ve got you covered.

Iron

Iron deficiency anemia is the leading villain in any Celiac Superhero’s life. Malabsorption often takes a toll on your iron absorption, resulting in a deficiency that leaves you tired and plagued with symptoms. Talk to your doctor to find an iron supplement that’s right for you, and assess your dietary iron intake to identify the best foods to add to your daily meals. Red meat, fish, and poultry are great options for meat eaters, and offer the most bang for your bite.

For vegetarians and vegans, look for gluten-free grains rich in iron like quinoa, pasta, and buckwheat (yes, it’s gluten-free!). You can also find iron in leafy greens like spinach and kale, beans, lentils, and chickpeas, and a variety of nuts. With a little planning, your iron deficiency will be packing its bags in no time.

B Vitamins

There are eight essential B vitamins that your body needs to achieve A+ health (sorry, we had to). Lingering malabsorption means that newly inducted Celiacs may start their GF diet with a B vitamin deficiency already in the works. Unfortunately, many gluten-free products like pastas and breads lack the added vitamin B and folic acid that their gluten counterparts deliver. Do your homework and identify gluten-free companies that fortify their products with essential B vitamins and folate, and start adding naturally gluten free, B-vitamin rich foods into your regular diet.

Lentils, leafy greens, meat, beets, bananas, and oranges are great sources of B vitamins and folic acid. De Boles gluten-free pasta is enriched with vitamin B and fiber, and Udi’s Ancient Grain Breads are rich in natural, wholesome, and delicious ingredients to keep your nutrition in check.

Fiber

Crucial to healthy digestion and preventing several chronic diseases, most people rely on grain-based foods for at least half of their fiber intake. Gluten-free alternatives often fall short, leaving GF folks searching for other ways to obtain this crucial nutrient. It turns out that there are many healthy, fiber-rich options out there, many of which will increase your protein intake along the way. Our favorites: whole grain, gluten-free pastas, quinoa, beans, whole fruits and vegetables (skip the juicer!), and nuts. Check out nutrient-packed products like Mary’s Gone Crackers,Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-free Muesli, and our very own GFB protein bars, which contains at least  3.5 grams of dietary fiber (and 10-12 grams of protein!) in each bar.

What a great Blog post!

Originally from GFB

My Summer Stand

Lee Valley Country Show

Our first shows of the season have come and gone! A new show at Stadsett Park, West Norfolk, which was ok for a first show was quite small and inclement weather did not help. With the same organizer we then went to Framlinham, Suffolk. In the grounds of Framlingham School, overlooked by the Castle and next to the lake it is no wonder the organizers see this as their flagship show and is presumably from where they take their name, Quintissentially English!
This Easter week end sees us at Lee Valley Country Show near Waltham Cross. The weather for Easter Sunday is due to be awful! So no change there then. Hope to see you on monday! Do come and try our gluten and wheat free award winning fudge and say hello.
See you there! Anna

For Fudge Fanatics

Yes, you heard correctly - different types of fudge, available just for you. Now, you might have thought that fudge is a simple and standard treat, one lacking some variety, yet this is actually far from mundane. Between all the options involved in fudge making, in terms of ingredient additions and fudge making creativity, there are literally endless amounts of fantastic fudge possibilities. There is quite a mixture of fudge assortments available for all chocolate lovers and sweet tooth individuals alike - and this is good news, especially if that plain chocolate style fudge was becoming a bit bland and boring to the taste buds.
Taste Bud Excitement With Fudge Anew
Beneficial for all sweet food fans is the way in which fudge has been spun around and given a bit of a makeover. Currently, several different types of fudge can either be made in kitchens or bought in grocers or candy stores. No longer is the regular chocolate type of fudge solely just available.
Now, with any type of normal fudge - the rich, smooth, chocolaty treat we're all accustomed to - there are your typical ingredients thrown into the delicious mix: confectioners sugar, butter, cocoa as well as some other essentials. Yet, know that ingredients can vary when the art of fudge concoction-ing is put into full creative swing. And this is where the beauty of fudge differences comes into everyone's realization. And the end result is a literal buffet of fudge with trays of types you've probably never even considered being in existence.
A Flood Of Fudge In All Ways Imaginable
Beyond the plain chocolate type of fudge that is most common there is an innumerable amount of fudge varieties, mixes, flavors and so forth. There are fudge options that come in different types of chocolate flavors as well. There is white, dark, marble and even raw (or organic) styles of chocolate fudge. Now, within all of these previously mentioned types there are also even more variations. Add to any or all of these flavors the addition of fillers.
Fillers here can come in any form and can range in anything ingredient-wise from nuts, to chocolate chunks, to candies, to cream cheese, to peanut butter, and to (beyond some belief) some types of fruit. With nut fillers expect to be eating some fudge with pecans, almonds, peanuts, cashews and many other types of nuts in the mix.
Fudge of Unique and Deliciously Odd Recipes
Now, some fudge is very unique with what is added to it's normal mixture and baked inside it. And it's important to note that with creativity, any sort of confection can be created, especially involving the act of making fudge. There are fudge types that creatively have mixed within them such odd additions as coconut or even fruit. Coconut isn't too far fetched. But, fruit? Actually, with some fruit like raisins or cranberries mixed in a fudge confection the taste is surprisingly scrumptious and can provide all sweet teeth and surrounding taste buds with a little something different to experience.

Just know that fudge doesn't have to be boring or plain anymore, not with types so diverse as key lime pie, cookies and cream, chocolate coconut almond and dark chocolate orange

Original article by; E.S._Cromwell