Understanding the Gluten Free Diet
These posts will help you better understand and adapt to a gluten-free diet.
It’s that time of year when you spend time scouring the internet for the best gluten free desserts for the holidays. Well, don’t worry… I did that for you! One of the reasons that I made this list is because it’s no fun being unable to fully participate in the…
“Ugh, this does not taste like bread!” So off you go searching for gluten free bread recipes that actually taste good (and don’t crumble apart). Because there are so many of these recipes available online, the question then becomes “which ones are actually worth the effort to try?” I admit…
In my ongoing mission to help you stop fearing and blaming food for everything, we have to spend a moment talking about optimizing your digestive function. Healthy digestive function is critical because it determines how well your body can digest AND absorb nutrients. It requires that every step of digestion…
Bland food is the pits. And so are cheap condiments loaded with hidden toxic ingredients that do nothing to turn your food from okay to a WOW. That’s why we tested out different toppings to find the absolute best plant based condiments out there so you can eat without regret! Wait……
You probably know by now that eating a healthy diet is critical for good health. But when you’re not well, your diet changes (as you’ve probably found. In the process, have you ever asked yourself how much protein do you need to eat to heal? I’d argue that the sources…
“Another rash? Ugh.” I said out loud peering at the back of my arm. I was beginning to feel like a walking billboard loaded with these red, scaly patches of skin. People would stare. Some asked if I had ringworm (which can be contagious). I stopped wearing clothing that would…
Have you caught yourself wondering “Do I have SIBO?” Don’t worry, you’re not alone. It’s becoming a more common question as people get fed up with the lame “You just have IBS” response from GI doctors. Especially since many aren’t getting any help at all from their doctors.spending years suffering…
Are you convinced that you’ve got a leaky gut? Just about every wellness website today talks about the dangers of leaky gut syndrome. And I’ll bet you’ve read how a leaky gut program will mend your belly. Makes sense, yes? The type of leaky gut program you’ll discover depends on who you…
Wishing you had a good list of ingredients containing gluten? Now you do thanks to this post. I’ve been long asked to share a list of what ingredients contain gluten and decided to put one together for after seeing that many different lists were missing key ingredients that I’ve included here.…
When I first went gluten-free, I’d spend hours online trying to figure out how to find gluten in food labels. Then I’d stand in the grocery store double and triple checking my favorite products to see if they were gluten free. Scouring over every ingredient on the nutrition label, I…
It’s no wonder that people will suffer for literally years with gluten sensitivity and go undiagnosed when you consider that there’s something like 250 different signs and symptoms of gluten sensitivity. There are certainly some that I find to be generally more surprising than others. However if you have no choice other…
First you went gluten free and felt somewhat better. Then you heard about going grain free (perhaps from those who eat paleo) in hopes that the lingering issues will fade and your life will get back to “normal” faster. Some have found that their “healing” accelerated by taking this step while…
While it’s a great idea to eat really clean, healthy food, often times the reality is quite different. Maybe you don’t have the time to cook (or you don’t like to cook) which necessitates buying food that’s pre-made. One of the most frequent aspects of this is eating cold cuts.…
Thinking about going gluten free or know that you need to do it? Before you become convinced by anyone that going gluten free has magical powers and will poof away all of your woos, I’ve got a few words of advice to share that you probably won’t read anywhere else.…
The warm weather is finally here again and I see a gluten free picnic (or two) in your future! That means dusting off the grill, eating outdoors, attending pool parties, and all that the glorious summer fun that gets turned into great memories. Rather than leave you scrambling for some wonderful…
“At one point, I hated eating green food. It just looked wrong on my plate growing up as a kid. While I liked pesto (yes, also green, yet apparently less bothersome to me), the rest was relatively gross until my mature years where I actively began seeking out ways to eat…
Are you scratching your head over what to do about a low bone density diagnosis? You aren’t alone. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, 54 million Americans “have low bone density or osteoporosis.” And of the millions with osteoporosis, 80% are women. So combatting low bone density is a cause that should…
When it comes to what goes into our food, we often aren’t told the whole story. And gluten-free processed food is no exception. There are plenty of things the food industry would rather you not question… especially gluten free food additives in your favorite products. In the US, food additives…
One of the big health arguments is over a simple dinner table commodity known simply as “salt”. But the question constantly asked is which is better: refined salt vs sea salt? It turns out that all salt is not created equal, my friends. Two distinctly different categories exist in the…
If gluten free bread is a staple in your home and diet, you may want to rethink that choice. Though easy and convenient, here are ten reasons why it’s time to break up with (gluten free) bread. 10 Reasons to Give Up Gluten Free Bread As a former breadoholic, I…
Have you wondered what is Xanthan Gum made from? Maybe you’ve seen it in the ingredients label of a gluten free food product. You certainly wouldn’t be alone in questioning what it’s made from, and whether you should even be eating it. Truthfully, I didn’t even question it until a…
“I’ve got to give up more food?!?!” is what ran through my mind a year ago. As if it wasn’t enough to already be gluten-free, now I’d need to part with my friend Legumes (aka. beans) as well as the final Grains in my diet (rice and quinoa). That’s what…
Would you ever suspect that those seemingly harmless over-the-counter pills for aches and pains were wrecking your digestive system? If you’ve got gluten sensitivity, ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory drugs can be a contributing factor to gluten sensitivity while tending to sore muscles, sprains or backaches. What’s even more surprising — if the…
To all the doubters out there: Gluten sensitivity is real. We’ve not all been brainwashed by celebrities endorsing a gluten-free diet as the best weight loss trick up their sleeve. We don’t need reporters, bloggers, and internet bullies to tell us that the whole gluten issue is all in our collective…
Wouldn’t having the food label “Celiac Safe” be the best? Sure. Is it possible? Yes, but it all depends on what it means. At the moment, the phrase is used quite a lot without any definitive meaning. Celiacs tends to assume that other celiacs and gluten-free folks know what they…
Is soy dangerous to your health if you’re gluten-free? Do you consider soy milk to even be healthier than regular milk? Do you worry about GMO soy? Or perhaps you’re concerned about the rumors you’ve heard about soy being dangerous and disruptive to your hormones? Is Soy Dangerous to Your…
Bread just never tasted the same as the ‘normal’ wheat loaves. And gluten free bread is darn expensive whether you make it yourself or buy it at the store. As a former breadoholic, I spent quite a bit of time contemplating my options when I went gluten-free back in 2008 and…
Are you new to being gluten-free? Do you wish you could ask someone like me or any number of other folks who you follow on the web for advice about how to do it? Imagine this: You just found out your diagnosis of celiac disease or gluten sensitivity and you’ve…
Chicken soup seems like the perfect fix for any day you’re feeling under the weather. It’s easy enough to make (you can check out my very simple, easy-prep Crockpot recipe HERE), but sometimes can leave you with more than you would want to eat of the same thing for days…
Going gluten-free can be good for you, but it takes more effort than what the regular Joe and Jane usually allow for. That’s why I often refer to what most folks in the GF community are eating as the Standard American Gluten-Free Diet (SAGFD). It’s truly the crappy mirror image…
Recently I was asked on the Gluten Free School Facebook page – Are mushrooms gluten-free? The information shared by the commenter left me rather nervous because, well… I love mushrooms! Please don’t take them away from me too!!! [NOTE: the official conclusion to whether mushrooms are gluten-free or not can be…
For a long time, I was a supporter of eating whole grains like brown rice. It seems like the first most obvious go-to health food that people diagnosed with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity run toward. It’s non-offensive, easy to find in the grocery store, and pretty widely liked as…
First you gave up gluten, and now you’re asking me to give up dairy? Are you crazy? Let’s back up a sec. In 2008, I was diagnosed with multiple food sensitivities which also included dairy. Not the lactose problem that everyone so commonly thinks of, but more like the casein…
Do you feel confused about whether your sweet tooth is actually a more significant problem? Are you kidding yourself about how bad your cravings for sugar, chocolate and/or carbs might be? I have a quick and easy way for you to find out exactly where you are in relation to…
I want to be honest with you — most of the gluten-free products you’re eating are not good for you. I don’t care that they have organic labels or mention being vegan, low sodium, or a good source of X, Y, or Z… There’s a lot of huge problems popping…
If you think even for a moment that because you switched to a Gluten-Free diet, you’re somehow safe from sugar, think again. Chances are, your diet might be worse than before… much worse. Are you… (Created by: www.OnlineNursingPrograms.com) Want more information on how to begin tackling your sweet tooth,…
Q:: Along with my father-in-law, I’m getting to know more and more people who have Celiacs disease. The one struggle they are experiencing is with the cost of being gluten free and how expensive it is. I was hoping you could offer some direction and advice on how one…
Ever get tired of cooking? Or maybe you live alone and don’t enjoy cooking for one? One of the best lessons I’ve learned while being gluten-free is that in order to eat the best you possibly can, you’ve got to cook it yourself. You know that gluten-free doesn’t necessarily mean…
So long as you follow me here on Gluten Free School, you’ll never stop hearing me talk about eating veggies. They come first and foremost over anything else on your plate because they’re the good stuff most of us avoid. Though I’m sure you probably know “fresh is best” —…
After a recent speaking engagement all about the woes of sugar addiction in gluten-free folks, a woman approached me asking if I recommend a 100% sugar-free diet if one wanted to kick their sugar habit. She rattled off a list of her own issues and said she tried kicking her addiction to…
Happy Monday, girls & boys! So many interesting things happened this weekend, I decided to compiled them (along with my own two cents) for you in case you missed them. Coffee & Gluten Cross – False Alarm?? After seeing a few tweets and reading my fair share of very poorly…
Since we recently heard from Dr. Barry Sears all about eating good quality fats, I thought it might be helpful for you to get your hands a little dirty in, well…fat. To be fair, many clients I met sheepishly admit to knowing very little about what fats are food and…
Ever get the winter blues? As the cold weather really sets in, some feel the blahs much more intensely than others. Though you could possibly attribute it to the decrease in light or the temperature outside, I’d like for you to consider that consuming gluten could have an effect on…
Everyone makes New Year’s resolutions unless they’ve completely disgusted him/herself with years of goal failure. The tossing out of an old calendar somehow signifies to us all that we’ve got to give SOMETHING a go or just not bother at all. I’m personally of the mindset that these types of…
I’m often asked what are some of my favorite products that I use in my home that make life easier and better. Well, here is a short list of those that I’ve found in 2011 and would love to send some gratitude and love to these hard-working companies. Please note…
Gluten-free sugar addict – I’m sure you know some. Or maybe you’re one. Regardless of what your current diet looks like, a sweet tooth can sneak into everyone’s diet at some point since most people rarely make a transition away from unhealthy American eating habits simply because they are gluten-free.…
Holidays can be stressful for everyone. For those of us who don’t eat gluten, it’s worse because somehow gluten has become a staple ingredient in most dishes that are served, even though it’s typically unnecessary. The uncertainty factor can be nerve-wrecking and even maddening because you just can’t ever be…
Are oats gluten free? No, most oats are not. In fact, you may have to search to find gluten free oats because there aren’t that many producers who go the extract gluten-free mile. Why? Remember the acronym B-R-O-W-S I shared with you to help you understand where gluten generally occurs? Oats…
I remember the moment that I received word that gluten and I needed to break up. It had been a wonderful love affair of pasta, pastries and bread for most of my life growing up in an Italian family. This news was pretty devastating for me. At the time, it…
Going gluten-free isn’t a great weight-loss plan. The reason I say this is because the Wall Street Journal published an article entitled “Giving Up Gluten to Lose Weight? Not So Fast.” which my mom kindly saved for me. On one hand, I am always happy to see articles like this…