Life with Gluten Sensitivity

I admit it....I indulged.

Family brought over some Popeyes Fried chicken.

Oh the beauty of the perfectly fried battered chicken....hot and crispy golden yum.

Little did I know I would regret my indulgence for the next 3 days.

This is normal for my life as someone who is sensitive to gluten.

Sometimes I seem to be able to handle small amounts of gluten and sometimes it´s like my body almost shuts down completely in an extreme reaction to whatever gluten I may have consumed.

Getting out of the funk that my body goes into...... takes some patience and tried and true methods that I know work well for me.

So, you may be asking...what helped you Carla in recovering from binging on gluten?

Well, let me spell out what worked for me.

• First of all, I stopped shaming myself for eating the gluten that hit me so hard.
• Secondly, I was patient with the process of gradually restoring my body AFTER the indulgence.
• Thirdly, I drank TONS of water...probably at least 1.5 liters of purified water per day at room temperature.
• Fourthly, I put up with the belly ache that was almost non stop for 3 days.
• I went back to consuming the Webber branded probiotics that have proven to work well for me, by taking extra doses to get the inner biome back to functioning...... Remembering that 

probiotics take time to work. They are not a quick fix. 

Accepted the intestinal discomfort and irritable bowels for 3 days, which included belching and bloating. Yikes!

Continued with my regular vitamin intake of Vit C and Vit D and small bits of raw garlic once every one or two days.

Soothed my own abdominal muscles by squeezing them and testing their sensitivity to touch.

Drinking strong hot coffee every morning....one large mugful per morning.

Stayed calm and stayed hydrated, and limited sports activities while my body worked itself out.

Slept more....naps and at nighttime.

Ate some good healthy protein rich foods including fish and gluten free chicken and veggies.

Finally some relief on the 4th day. Thanks God.

Bowel started working more normally and I felt like I could walk more uprightly without thinking constantly about my gut.

So, for the record I am not a celiac, but am definitely sensitive to gluten. 

Sometimes it seems that I can handle consuming small amounts of gluten and other times, my body can not handle it at all.

It is a constant challenge, not knowing how my body will react to such a common ingredient.

I have discovered that taking probiotic supplements is very helpful as well as probiotic foods such as Activia yoghurt.

What is your story regarding gluten? Are you sensitive to gluten? Gluten Intolerant? Or full on allergic to gluten? Do Tell...Looking forward to your comments.

Peace,

Carla

DISCLAIMER: This blog post is not intended as medical advice. This blog post is intended as entertainment only. Please obtain medical advice from your licensed medical provider.

The blog author and publisher is not liable for any ideas discussed in this blog post or any other blog post on this blog.

Tweet

Gluten Free at Harvard University

Considering attending Harvard? Trying to figure out if you can stay on a Gluten Free Diet while you are seeking a stellar education can be daunting.

I was relieved to find out that the section of town where Harvard is located also includes an area known as "Harvard Square".   Harvard Square has quite a lengthy list of gluten free options, from a wide variety of restaurants. Take a gander HERE!


Buy my new book Life in the Gluten Free Zone on Amazon today!

Tweet

Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for conversational purposes only. The blog's author and publisher does not accept any liability for any of the ideas discussed in this post or any other post on this blog. Always obtain medical advice from a licensed medical practitioner.

Gluten Free At Country Style

Country Style   has quite a history in Canada, so I thought I would share their nutritional information for those who are trying to exclude wheat from their diet.

Always do your due diligence and research before you eat fast foods, so that you can ensure you are doing your best to exclude ingredients that you are sensitive or have allergies to.
(Always get medical advice from a licensed medical practitioner, and yes, gluten intolerance and celiac disease or wheat allergies are issues that need to be addressed by licensed medical practitioners.)

For the most current listing I could find of their menu's ingredients click here: Country Style

And don't be shy, if you want to get information "straight from the horse's mouth", you can always contact the head offices of your preferred fast food shop. Country style's Canadian contact information can be found here  (note that their page also includes a handy toll free number)

Best wishes for you and your family as you source out those items that bring health and wellness.

Peace,

Carla

RELATED: Gluten Free at Tim Hortons

Buy my new book Life in the Gluten Free Zone on Amazon today!

Tweet

Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for conversational purposes only. The blog's author and publisher does not accept any liability for any of the ideas discussed in this post or any other post on this blog. Always obtain medical advice from a licensed medical practitioner.

Gluten Free At Starbucks

I must admit, I do like the occasional cafe from Starbucks. Yup, the prices are high, but the ambience, not to mention the unlimited wifi, are great perks. We have a couple of Starbucks that have been built in my city over the past couple years and I couldn't be happier.

So, back to gluten free items at Starbucks. So far, I have discovered two items which are usually in stock at Starbucks which are gluten free: Peanut butter cups and Kind Bars. Make sure to verify that these are the 100% gluten free ones. I do so enjoy the really dark chocolate peanut butter cups. Rich and delish!

I also just discovered today that Starbucks is rolling out a new gluten free breakfast sandwich, which I don't know if they are rolling it out to all their locations, but I certainly hope so!
Here's a description of it's unveiling :Starbucks new Gluten Free Breakfast Sandwich

Bon Appetito, my gluten free friends!

Carla

Ps, If you want to contact Starbucks directly to verify which gluten free items are available in your area....here is their  Canadian website:  Starbucks Canada

On their USA website there is a toll free customer service number
displayed on the right hand side of their website: Starbucks USA

Peace,

Carla

RELATED: Gluten Free at the Mandarin

Buy my new book Life in the Gluten Free Zone on Amazon today!

Tweet

Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for conversational purposes only. The blog's author and publisher does not accept any liability for any of the ideas discussed in this post or any other post on this blog. Always obtain medical advice from a licensed medical practitioner.

Gluten Free At Subway

Yup it's true! Subway has gone "gluten free"....by offering a sealed gluten free "bread" upon which to serve their sandwich toppings. Now I've not yet had the chance to research just precisely which
"toppings" are also gluten free, but at least the fact that they are carrying GLUTEN FREE sandwich bread is a HUGE step in the right direction for those of us who choose, or must choose to observe a gluten free diet.

For more details...go directly to their website Subway.


Way to go Subway! We applaud you!

May many more fast food companies follow your example and offer healthy GLUTEN FREE options!

Peaceful productivity,
C.

Buy my new book Life in the Gluten Free Zone on Amazon today!
Tweet

Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for conversational purposes only. The blog's author and publisher does not accept any liability for any of the ideas discussed in this post or any other post on this blog. Always obtain medical advice from a licensed medical practitioner.

Best Gluten Free Margarine

Always on the hunt, my friends for more gluten free foods that are affordable and tasty.
So today's winner for gluten free margarine is.....drum rolll.......

Mirage Margarine by Golden Gate. The local bakery where I buy it charges less than $3 per tub, so that's even better!

Here's their company website for photos and recipes.

Mirage

Give it a try...it's creamy and easy to use on gluten free toast and crackers and performs well for cooking/stir frying too.
Let me know if you like it too.

By the way, if you really don't like the thought of buying margarine that has a long-ish list of ingredients than consider the simple answer.....go back to butter...it's always gluten free ")


Peace,
Carla

Buy my new book Life in the Gluten Free Zone on Amazon today!
Tweet

Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for conversational purposes only. The blog's author and publisher does not accept any liability for any of the ideas discussed in this post or any other post on this blog. Always obtain medical advice from a licensed medical practitioner.

One of the Worst MISTAKES the GLUTEN FREE Movement is Making

I'm so happy to see, yet again, that BIGGER and BIGGER corporations are jumping onto the Gluten free Bandwagon and serving consumers like myself who are trying their best to live a Gluten FREE lifestyle.


Some Mainstream big name brand name cereals like Chex are 100% gluten free.
(be sure to read the labels to confirm) Kudos! AND the Big BONUS is that they
NOT CHARGING EXTRA for the fact that they are making their products certified GLUTEN FREE.

But what disturbs me as a person, as a consumer and as a mother.....is this.
SOME companies are trying to flood the gluten free  market place with
  VERY HIGH PRICED GOURMET gluten free items.

Eh.....err...that kinda just ticks me off! In my mind, if someone is going to "go gluten free", then they are going to have to adopt a lifestyle where  ALL their food items are certified gluten free.
 They DON'T want to just adopt ONE expensive gluten free DISH per month. 

News flash!....

WE, the GLUTEN FREE NATION, eat THREE meals a day....plus snacks. 

Therefore, we need the marketplace to provide products for ALL OUR GLUTEN FREE MEALS and SNACK TIMES.

Therefore, i believe that the "gluten free high end high priced gourmet product" promoters
are taking the wrong tack on this movement!

As a gluten intolerant person, finding gluten free stuff to eat all day and every day is a CONSTANT struggle.
Therefore, when I bump into beautiful gluten free foods that are priced out of the stratosphere, I think
"Sigh....they just don't get it."  

NOBODY wants to pay GOURMET prices for the regular foods they eat every day!

We want to pay as close as possible the SAME prices that regular foods cost,
 but in a "gluten free certified" kinda way.

Do you hear me? Do you feel my pain?

Thank you :) Point made.

Carla

Buy my new book Life in the Gluten Free Zone on Amazon today!

Tweet

Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for conversational purposes only. The blog's author and publisher does not accept any liability for any of the ideas discussed in this post or any other post on this blog. Always obtain medical advice from a licensed medical practitioner.

Why You Should Try Gluten Free...Even if You Aren't a Celiac

Ok, folks....I  just wanna write today to those of you who aren't necessarily diagnosed with any kind of gluten intolerance or celiac disease.

Why? Because it is being discovered more and more, that eating gluten free foods can help ANYONE's digestive system take a much needed rest from the standard "gluten packed" diet.

What folks need to realize is that the molecule called "gluten" is a VERY VERY hard
nut to crack when we ingest it as food. Digesting GLUTEN is very hard work even for the healthiest digestive system. Even the healthiest human being can be negatively affected by eating too much gluten.

Anything with WHEAT in it contains gluten. Gluten is hard to digest! It requires a lot of energy and effort on the part of our stomach, intestines, and colon just to process it.
Therefore even if you are perfectly healthy, you may just want to give your body an occasional
break from eating any source of gluten for a full  "day" or  "week" or a whole "month".
Remember that gluten can stay in your system for many days, so if you are going to give your body a break from gluten, you want to try to stick to a gluten free diet for a good chunk of time. Give your body a chance to cleanse itself of all the gluten it is holding onto, and see if you begin noticing any improvements.
You may, as gluten leaves your body, begin noticing a thinner waist line, a clearer complexion,
 and a more stable mood.

You never know....you  might feel completely revitalized and regain energy simply by removing
gluten from your regular diet.

It is a personal choice what we put in our mouths. Far be it from me, to tell anyone what to do... But I want to encourage you to experiment and see how eating differently may improve your life.We don't HAVE to eat anything we don't want to....and thus we can observe and sense the changes that our diets have upon our own sense of wellness, energy level and moods.

Be blessed and well,

Carla

DISCLAIMER: This blog post is not intended as medical advice. This blog post is intended for conversational purposes only. The author and publisher of this blog do not take any liability for any ideas discussed in this blog post or any other blog post on this blog.
Medical advice should always be obtained from a licensed medical practitioner.






Tweet

Hey McDonalds Canada...... We want Gluten Free Burgers Too

I was surprised and inspired to read in an online MSN article
that McDonalds serves GLUTEN FREE BURGERS in several European countries!
To be specific, the MSN article stated that McDonald restaurants in Italy, Finland, Norway and Sweden offer a gluten-free burger..

That's great news for Europe....but hey ...what about us???

There are plenty of Celiacs and Gluten Intolerant people in Canada....would it be so hard to set aside a few special gluten free burgers for us?

If you click Here you'll be able to see for yourself all the varieties of menu items that McDonalds has developed across the globe. Can you find your country or regional flavors listed?

If you feel strongly about this issue, maybe it's time to drop a line to your own McDonalds headquarters.....
and ask them to offer some delicious gluten free items.

Contact McDonalds Canada

Contact McDonalds USA

Bon Appetito....and don't be shy to let your food needs be known by corporations, it really does help them meet our needs! Peaceful productivity, Carla Buy my new book Life in the Gluten Free Zone  on Amazon today! Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for conversational purposes only. The blog's author and publisher does not accept any liability for any of the ideas discussed in this post or any other post on this blog. Always obtain medical advice from a licensed medical practitioner.

Tweet

Check out M&M's Gluten Free Items!

Twas a great relief to discover this summer that all of my favourite beef burgers selling at 
M&M Meat shops were ALL GLUTEN FREE!

It seems that they have extended themselves to cater to those who want to observe a gluten free lifestyle and I couldn't be more delighted!

Check out their website : M&M

Peace and Bon Appetito,

Carla.

Thx for buying my new book Life in the Gluten Free Zone on Amazon today!

Why Living GLuten FREE still STINKS

It's not that the "gluten free" movement isn't gaining momentum.....it is. It's not that manufacturers are not listening....they are.....at least more than they used to.


It's just that the "frustration factor" is still there.....in full swing.

Gluten free items are not clearly displayed on most menu's. The gluten free products are still awkwardly displayed and located in weird "hard to find" spots in some grocery stores.
 Walmart is the only store I've found with an OBVIOUS and easy to locate "gluten free section".

When you eat out......You still have to make a point to ask your wait staff or server which items are officially gluten free. Some servers still don't know if the gravy that their restaurant serves up contains wheat flour or if it has been thickened with corn starch. These kinda things really matter to someone who is attempting to live "gluten free".

For some, the choice to live gluten free, was not really a choice, but a rather stern and intimidating instruction obtained directly from their doctor.  But whether you're choosing to eat gluten free by your own free will, or by doctor's orders, it still is REALLY HARD.

It's been several years now since I was advised that I was "gluten intolerant"....and I have still not met anyone who has confidently stated that it is an EASY lifestyle....because it just isn't.
Gluten is lurking in SOOOO many foods and snack foods. The detailed labeling of ingredients is really helpful....but hey we are HUMAN too, and we really don't want to spend long and precious hours every day of the week reading teeny tiny lists of ingredients just to ensure that we don't ingest any gluten.

It's gotta get easier. Perhaps they will start making GLUTEN FREE EMPORIUMS where folks have to leave their gluten at the door and they enter a gluten free commercial paradise.
To top it all off......all the products in this GLUTEN FREE HEAVEN, would not only be gluten free, but also priced under $5 per item. Wouldn't that rock????

NOT peacefully gluten free,
Carla


Ok, I'm pretty much done my rant now. But tommorrow's another day.
P.S. Perhaps I'm still ticked off that Tim Horton's cancelled their one gluten free doughy concoction called the "coconut macaroon"...   :(

Thanks for buying my new book Life in the Gluten Free Zone on Amazon today!


Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for conversational purposes only. The blog's author and publisher does not accept any liability for any of the ideas discussed in this post or any other post on this blog. Always obtain medical advice from a licensed medical practitioner.

Living Gluten Free in Canada

Just wanted to chat today about what it's like to try to live gluten free in Canada. I'd appreciate it if you add your feedback. It is a national discussion....one whose parameters are expanding across many nation's lines and into mainstream culinary logistics.

All the best chefs are now very much aware that if they prepare some of their specialty dishes, that their guests may very well insist upon being served a gluten free rendition of their specialty. For all those in the culinary arts, it will pay off to be prepared in advance to serve your gluten-avoiding customers. Some customers will fall into the "gluten intolerant" category, which for me, means that consuming foods or beverages that contain gluten can cause digestive pain and discomfort but is not life threatening. But then there are the official "Celiacs" for whom the issue is a lot more crucial and can be life threatening.

If you are forming a restaurant of any kind or even a coffee shop, it will be in your best interests to have something completely sealed off and separate from your regular gluten containing menu items. Speaking from experience, I would rather eat something gluten free that has been commercially sealed in plastic and
is guaranteed to be gluten free, than something that folks "hope" is gluten free.

So what is it like to chase down a gluten free lifestyle in your home country? do you find it difficult....or inconvenient or embarrassing or too expensive?
I have found it to be all those things and more. But it is something that I have to deal with, and has become a part of my daily routine.

I do with that more fast food outlets had more gluten free menu items, as I am often on the go and don't want to have to sift through hundreds of choices before finally finding something that is gluten free. In Canada, Tim Hortons sells a great bowl of chili, that is gluten free. But sadly, Tim Hortons has discontinued selling the coconut macaroons that were their "claim to fame" in the gluten free world. Alas, not everyone likes coconut I presume.

I'm still waiting for KFC to produce a gluten free fried chicken option. Do you think my wish will come true?
Do tell!

Talk to you soon.
Carla

Tweet

Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for conversational purposes only. The blog's author and publisher does not accept any liability for any of the ideas discussed in this post or any other post on this blog. Always obtain medical advice from a licensed medical practitioner.

Gluten Free at Starbucks

Ok, so in my quest for all things "gluten free" I contacted the  canadian head office of Starbucks.
Basically I got a long but friendly email back stating the following:

We're delighted you took the time to contact us!

Starbucks is unable to guarantee a "gluten-free" environment in our retail locations due to the potential for cross contamination with gluten-containing products. The open environment and operating procedures of our store locations may present additional risk for gluten-sensitive customers aside from the gluten-containing ingredients themselves. "Gluten-free" is a claim with specific requirements defined by government agencies and industry standards. We are unable to make this claim on a product unless the item is specifically formulated and manufactured to meet the definition of the claim.

Thanks again for writing us.  If you ever have any questions or concerns in the future, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

So that was the main gist of the email. Kinda stinks that a prosperous company would care so little for those who are struggling daily with gluten intolerance. Even Rice Crispies has come up with a "Gluten Free" brand  of rice crispies in order to meet the demand. If you want to inquire about the Starbucks locations in your neighbourhood contact their head office yourself either through their website or by snail mail:

http://www.starbucks.ca/customer-service

Note to their credit. The local Starbucks does carry some prepackaged snack bars under the brand called
"Kind" which are labelled gluten free. However, that seems to be the limit to their gluten free food options.

Tweet

More GLUTEN FREE "ON THE GO!"

Just because I am gluten intolerant doesn't mean I am going to sit indoors bemoaning the days when I could quickly grab a hamburger at any fast food joint on the go....No way! I refuse to feel sorry for myself or restrict my lifestyle in any way in order to accommodate my attempt to live a "gluten free" life.
Now mind you, I am not so severely affected by gluten that I have the same symptoms as an official celiac, however the symptoms are still painful and an absolute inconvenience.

Therefore, since I refuse to sit still or slow down, I have been trying to find fast places that will provide me with the gluten free snacks that I can grab and go. I am not a professional 'brown bagger" and therefore prefer to have my lunch or snacks prepared by someone else.

Hence the importance of FAST gluten free food made available to me at a reasonable price is ESSENTIAL. Therefore I have become somewhat of a gluten free detective of sorts, sniffing out
all worthy gluten free snacks available at major chain fast food outlets.

So last week I discovered the following: The biscotti at Second Cup is gluten free!
The snack bars labelled "KIND'" in colorful colors at Starbucks are gluten free! Wooohoo!
Be sure to double check and do your homework. "Ingredient lists can change at the drop of a hat, and you are therefore highly encouraged to always ask before you start eating something that you have assumed to be gluten free.
This is especially important if you get really strong symptoms and painful experiences from ingesting
even the smallest amounts of gluten.

You can get more information about living gluten free from the following website.http://www.celiac.ca/

Always double check with your doctor before making medical decisions that involve your gluten intolerance or sensitivity or allergy to gluten. It is very important that you don't try to diagnose yourself, but get the support and professional advice you need from licensed medical and nutritional professionals.

God bless you with reliable information and the steps to move forward to good things.
C.

Disclaimer: This blog is not intended to provide or replace medical advice in any way. This blog and it's author do not accept any liability for any ideas obtained from this blog. This blog is intended for conversation purposes only to provide inspiration and empowerment by linking people to resources and like-minded people. Always see a licensed medical doctor for professional advice and treatment.



Tweet

Gluten Free Pasta

Yup, I have been trying to stay gluten free, but it really is hard sometimes when
gluten free items just don't do the trick.
Take pasta for example, I find that rice pasta doesn't cook up very nicely and isn't filling.

However, I did discover a wonderful little corn pasta from the Bulk Barn by the name of
"Prairie Harvest" San Zenone Fusilli. It comes in 340 gram bags of organic corn pasta. If my memory serves correctly....the price was about $3.69 per bag cdn.

This is the literally the first gluten free pasta that actually cooked up normally and tasted filling and
I could see myself using it for a pasta salad or to throw in some minestrone soup.

For all you out there who are struggling with a gluten free lifestyle, hang in there, occasionally you will find something that makes life easier. God bless.
sister Carla
Tweet

Gluten Free at Country Style

I may have posted this before, but I thought I would post it just in case it was overlooked.
Note that you can always contact the head offices of any major fast food chain  to determine which items on their menu are currently gluten free. Note that their menu's are always changing and as such, so can the gluten free status of any of their products.  If you are currently dealing with gluten intolerance or celiac conditions, then don't be shy in asking restaurants about the presence of gluten in their foods. It is their duty to be polite and courteous in accommodating your request to the best of their ability.

On that note here is the response I received from Country Style's head office with regard to their menu

"Good Morning Carla

I have had our procurement department check with the supplier regarding our soups and currently, cream of mushroom, cream of broccoli, broccoli and cheddar, french onion and garden vegetable are gluten free.

Carla our chili is not gluten free."

Restaurant & Customer Support 
Direct 905-762-4715 
Head Office 905-764-7066 x290


May you be blessed by God in your search for a good lifestyle that is convenient and allows you to explore God's great and wonderful world. Don't let foods become your obsession. Life is about so much more.
Peace.

Tweet

Gluten Free at Taco Bell

Ok, by popular demand, here's a post about gluten free foods at Taco Bell.
According to their website
see for yourself:   http://www.tacobell.ca/#Nutrition
You can click on the DOWNLOAD button on their allergen listing and receive the list at no charge.
You will note that ALL but one of their foods contain gluten. It appears from the above noted webpage that their only menu item that does not contain gluten is their nachos and cheese dish.
This does NOT include their Nacho supreme dish which DOES contain gluten.

Therefore think twice about what you are ordering if you are sensitive to gluten or completely allergic to gluten. Read the fine print and up to date notices on the above noted website.
Ingredients in restaurant foods can change over time, and companies should, in good faith, update their websites frequently to accurately reflect the presence or absence of gluten in their product menu.

Be well, sisters and brothers in the Lord. Remember to seek out professional medical advice ONLY from licensed medical professionals.
Best in Christ,
Carla.


Tweet

Gluten Free At Country Style

I contacted Country Style ( which is a fast food coffee and donut chain in Canada) and asked them if any of their items are considered gluten free. They advised me, that as of current information from their soup suppliers ( as of July 2012)
the following soups are considered gluten free:
cream of mushroom, cream of broccoli, broccoli and cheddar, french onion and garden vegetable are gluten free.

For more up to date information about their menu and it's ingredients, contact Country Style's corporate head office by looking at their corporate website. The contact info is listed near the bottom of the first home webpage.
http://www.countrystyle.com/

Best of Health to you and your families in Christ.

(Note that any of the above information is not considered health or medical advice and any up to date 
information about potential allergens should be confirmed with professional medical advice. This blog and it's author accepts no liability for any ideas discussed in this blog. Medical advice should be obtained from a licensed medical professional.)

Tweet