The Truth about Gluten

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

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

A Gluten free diet

As the name suggests, Gluten is just similar to glue-like substance that are typically found in various types of grain including whole grain, barley, and wheat. Gluten free diet plan includes foods that are zero in gluten content. Gluten is a compound that influences the texture of several grain-made products significantly like pasta and breads. Gluten is becoming a scorching topic in food & Nutrition debates. Gluten is the major source of nutritional protein, but due to some health conditions and gluten intolerance symptoms people are unable to consume gluten. So, such patients need gluten free diet so as to reduce the symptoms of gluten intolerance. Whole grain cereals are also beneficial for our health. So, let us find out some benefits of consuming gluten free products.
Digestive improvements

According to a survey, it has been found that about 8 percent of world population experiences problem in their digestive system and upset stomach after consuming gluten rich foods. Plus one percent of the population suffers from immune reactions like celiac disease, allergies etc. So, patients having such diseases are unable to consume gluten because it damages their intestinal lining. So, for such patients it is always better to consume organic food like muesli breakfast, oats for breakfast flax seeds and vegan die so as to ease the symptoms of mild discomfort from gluten utilization and to prevent the celiac disease.
More Energy
People those who consume organic food feel healthy and more energetic. Today celebrities are also enjoying flax seeds benefits so as to stay healthy and energetic throughout the day. The diet free from gluten is the ultimate way to stay healthy and energetic. If you consume large amount of gluten per day then you will experience the feeling of sluggishness. So, it is better to consume diet that is free from gluten protein.
Celiac Disease

If you are suffering from autoimmune health condition celiac disease, then gluten free foods will be beneficial for your health. Patients with celiac disease should not consume gluten rich diet or else the small intestine will get damaged by gluten protein and it will lead to some other health conditions including digestive distress, poor growth, and nutritional deficiencies and sometimes it may even cause death. So, consuming foods free from gluten will alleviates the symptoms of this disease and also leads to better health.
To follow a diet for cholesterol is not always easy especially if you are ordering in restaurants or enjoying a party with your family and friends. The organic food is prepared with special ingredients and it can be pricy too. So, it is better to purchase the readily available gluten free products from the organic food stores.

Coeliac Disease

If you have ever been diagnosed with Coeliac Disease and are already following a vegetarian diet, or are thinking of including some more vegetarian meals as part of a healthy diet, read on. There are a few pitfalls for you if you include any ready meals, as they may contain gluten.
Fresh is usually best and this is especially true for Coeliac's who will discover that most if not all of the processed food they have been enjoying is actually harming their intestines. A simple blood test will point out to your doctor if you are showing any of the many symptoms which can manifest themselves with this problem.
My daughter has followed a vegetarian diet for more than 25 years including many processed non-meat products and her absolute favourite of filled pasta shells. After the birth of her second child, she asked her doctor to give her a blood test, due to her lack of energy and general tiredness. The protein in her blood was very high and a test at the hospital confirmed she had Coeliac Disease.
By cutting out pre-packed meals and following a gluten-free diet, her symptoms cleared up within a short time. She has lots more energy and looks so much healthier, she now includes plenty of fresh food, and together we have come up with a number of great recipes substituting lentils for the filling in any meat-free meals.
You don't need to suffer from wheat or gluten intolerance to enjoy a healthier diet, try making your own tomato sauce to go with pasta, it will cost you less than buying a jar of sauce and is better for you, plus it tastes great.
Here are a few suggestions to help you with your weekly shopping.

• fresh fruit and vegetables - no need to read the labels here
• fresh fish, beware if it's breaded
• unsalted butter, cream, and free-range eggs
• rice, sunflower seeds, flax, rice flour, chickpeas and corn flour
• many cheeses, yoghurt, cottage cheese and milk

There are now many items on the shelves at all the main supermarkets aimed at people with gluten intolerance, if you are a busy person without any time to make your own bread you may find it fairly tasteless. Bread makers are great, you will have your money back within a short time, as gluten-free bread is very expensive to buy too.
A good tip is to check on-line if you have been diagnosed with Coeliac Disease as there is help available in the United Kingdom to subsidise some of your weekly shop.
There are many symptoms relating to wheat intolerance, our daughter's was highlighted due to anaemia, but if you have ongoing fatigue or depression it may be worth while talking to your doctor about it. Other symptoms may well be diarrhea, weight loss or mouth ulcers, it's always better to have these things looked at by a doctor, rather than diagnosing yourself via the internet.


Article Source: Susan Henderson