Gluten Free Gab

Day 6: Add Fiber to your diet

2012-02-08T07:02:00.000-08:00

Maybe I'm a nerd, but I wanted so badly to show you the insides of someone's stomach fermenting with food particles. I know, gross huh? And incredibly interesting for a biology nerd. Thank goodness for you and the general public, that those pictures are not readily available for public use. :) Let's think about how we eat and the connection with stomach acid that we talked about on Day 2.

The moment you begin to chew, the digestive process begins. The goal is to chew your food thoroughly, where it passes in to the stomach and is digested by stomach acid fully so that it can be transported through the body. Other organs kick into gear too to assist in digestion, the liver and the gallbladder, for example. But, think about those of us eating low fiber diets, those of us who have low stomach acid. Let's pause and talk about fiber for a minute.

So, what about fiber?

Oh, don't go there you say! Because fiber makes your mind think of things that I shall not type on paper, although as a mother of triplets has been a large part of our life.

~~P.S. This picture is not what you think, but it is my attempt at coming close to my "someone's stomach fermenting with food particles."~~ Teehee.

Did you know there are two types of fiber? Soluble and insoluble. And we need both. If you eat gluten-free, unless you consciously eat fiber-filled fruits and vegetables, you are probably not getting enough of it. The Mayo Clinic defines the two types of Fiber as:

Insoluble fiber. This type of fiber promotes the movement of material through your digestive system and increases stool bulk, so it can be of benefit to those who struggle with constipation or irregular stools. Whole-wheat flour, wheat bran, nuts and many vegetables are good sources of insoluble fiber.
Soluble fiber. This type of fiber dissolves in water to form a gel-like material. It can help lower blood cholesterol and glucose levels. Soluble fiber is found in oats, peas, beans, apples, citrus fruits, carrots, barley and psyllium."
My Food Diary.com suggests that "the recommended fiber intake is 20-35 grams per day for adults, or 10-13 grams for every 1,000 calories in the diet."

But, what do most Americans do?

1. We eat fast (on the run).
2. When you eat fast, you don't chew thoroughly.
3. When you eat fast, your brain doesn't have time to signal fullness.
4. We also eat foods that are processed and lack fiber.
5. And even gluten-free foods, although considered a healthier alternative to the American diet, gluten-free is NOT fiber-filled.

Now, let's go back to the mouth- to your first bite. If you are the typical American, you are shoveling food into your mouth. It is not chewed well, and upon first entering the stomach, it's gotten off to a bad start. It should be more broken down, by saliva, by proper chewing. If you are a typical American, you sent preservative-filled, processed food that lacks fiber down to your stomach as well, another hindrance to digestion. Then, what if you are like me? You eat gluten-free food, but you have virtually no stomach acid. Without digestive enzymes, my "healthier" food hits the stomach floor and it....ferments. Why? Because there's not enough acid to break it down, and without fiber there's nothing to push that food along. Even when it is pushed along, it's partially broken-down food that is being pushed into the small intestine. What happens when partially broken down food is sent packing? Your liver and gallbladder have to work over-time to break it down and send it for use. If you eat like this daily, it won't be long before your body is crying for help. Trust me.

Is anyone else having a personal scientific aha moment? Think about it, and most importantly, get some fiber into your diet. If you don't like vegetables, I recommend Metamucil Clear & Natural. I hate fiber that goes into a liquid, but you honestly cannot tell you've added this. They say it's "flavor free, taste free, and grit free," and thankfully it is true.

Day 5: Try Acupuncture

2012-02-02T10:42:00.000-08:00

It doesn't hurt. If I can do it, you can do it.

~~Just make sure the needles they use come in their personalized sterilization packs. :)~~

With that said, try it!

I lived for two years with excruciating pain after a surgery. I had major abdominal surgery; a hysterectomy and double hernia repair. The procedure was suppose to be done laparascopically, but when the surgeon got in there he realized both hernias had doubled in size in six weeks. So, I got the lap and two major incisions larger than my original c-section scar. My point?

After this surgery each morning, I would be minding my own business when WHAM! I'd be on the floor. It felt like a bolt of lightning would instantly strike my abdomen. I wouldn't be able to move and it would send me into a fetal position on the floor. I went back to my doctor and told him something was VERY wrong.

He insisted, it was nothing.

I went back again.

He insisted that I see a Urologist.

For two years I was in the wilderness of medicinal theories. My OBGYN insisted that he had done such a great surgery that there was no way it was an adhesion (which I kept insisting that it felt like one). The urologist ran a battery of tests all of which were uncomfortable and always came back negative. The gastroenterologist also ran her routine tests and insisted that it was just "a thing."

So, I did what I said not to do on day 4 and "lived with it."

{Healthy bodies don't have pain. It's your bodies way of speaking to you.}

Pain doesn't always mean something serious, but it usually means there's a kink in your system.

So, I got desperate and went to a chiropractor who also did acupuncture. She was kind. She was also full of interesting knowledge about our the networks of nerves in our bodies. She talked a lot about interconnectivity and it wasn't the "weird" stuff I always envisioned when thinking about Chinese medicine. It was simple.

Nerves are like road systems in our bodies.

If we get something like a pinched nerve, then it's like having a road block set up on that particular pathway. Nerves connect to organs and the pain we feel often reflects an organ that's not functioning.

So, I told her "It feels like my bladder is stuck to my colon. I don't know any better way to describe it."

Weird. I know.

She got her little book out and started treated me for several relative diseases based on my symptoms. After two months of weekly treatments, the pain that no doctor could get to subside had gone away all together.

Then, I quit going. Within, two more months- the pain was back. Coincidence? I don't think so. When traditional medicine fails you, you might be surprised to find relief in alternatives. It's always worth a shot to help you get your health back on track!

Day 4: Go to the Doctor, yeah YOU!

2012-02-01T06:12:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you noticed that I didn't blog yesterday. I was at the doctor and had a much longer than expected day. Given that, I felt it was a good transition to a big issue that even I have struggled with.

If you are sick, don't stay home.
Go to the doctor.
If a doctor slaps a prescription in your hand and it doesn't help you ~~once you're home~~...
Go to a different doctor.
If you go to a different doctor and they are baffled by your symptoms.
Go to a specialist.

Just...go!

I have wasted a lot of time feeling really bad in between doctors, diagnosis, and prescriptions that didn't help. The first doctor I went to for my stomach troubles ran a test and said "Everything looks great, just make sure you are living a stress free life!"

Gee...thanks.

He gave me a prescription to make my stomach quit hurting and it made me worse. I quit taking the medicine and decided that I would simply have to "live with it."

Big Mistake.

I spent two years "living with it"as it absorbed my time, my peace of mind, and my joy. Sometimes we don't go to the doctor because we are afraid they might find something wrong with us. I know that sounds backwards, but you know who you are! Let them find it. If there is something there, you are better off catching it early and being treated than letting it wreak havoc with other systems within the body.

Go to the doctor, yeah YOU! And keep going until you find one that helps you get to the root of the problem, not one that just helps you mask a symptom with a prescription. Don't get me wrong, I take prescription medicine, but I am a "why" person. I want the reason, the root, the chemistry behind the problem; I want to be treated as an individual not treated based on what works for the masses.

My doctor told me yesterday that I am that 5% of women that can't take drugs. I'm basically allergic to them. My body rejects most of them. After ten years of searching, I finally found a doctor that answers my "why." He understands that it's not a "stress thing," is knowledgeable, and cares enough to figure me out down to the chemistry. He also is not afraid to admit when he's wrong and take a different course of action; something that happened just yesterday.

Go, to the doctor...just take the time to find the right one for YOU.

Day 3: Shop the Block

2012-01-30T10:56:00.000-08:00

Have you ever considered the way grocery stores are physically arranged? You can help restore your health by doing one simple thing: shop the block.

Shopping the block means filling your squeaky, grocery cart with food from the outer rim of the grocery store. Think about it. The center aisles that you are probably used to weaving in and out of are filled with all the packaged goods. These foods are the ones that most us with a gluten allergy or sensitivity have to avoid. Believe it or not, most wheat-filled items live on these aisles: cereals, granola, taco seasonings, soups, and a variety of fast-food freezer items. Not only are most of these foods filled with gluten, but they most certainly contain preservatives, dyes, and other fillers. They have to be "preserved" to prolong shelf life.

Sometimes, it's annoying when the food we purchase rots in our refrigerator (if you are like me and slow to cook it sometimes), but there is a blessing to rotten food. It's alive.

Here's a rule of thumb: if it rots quickly, then it's alive. If you can keep it in your pantry for years (unless it's canned), then it's probably not going to benefit your health.

Now, think about the outer rim of your grocery store. What is in the outer rim? Fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs; foods that are alive.

There are many things in the outer rim that I still avoid, for there is some gluten that makes itself at home there. However, for the most part, if you shop the block (and avoid the point of purchase candy trap at check-out), then you'll be on your way to a new you!

Day 2: Take Digestive Enzymes

2012-01-27T06:22:00.000-08:00

Over the last ten years, the digestive enzymes in my stomach have decreased to close to nothing. If your food moves either too fast or too slow through your digestive track, then the same thing could be going on with you. As we age, we slowly produce fewer digestive enzymes anyway. If you add a typical, American diet to the equation, then genetics, we may lose them faster than we think.

After I was diagnosed with gluten sensitivity, my doctor told me he wanted to test my level of stomach acid. This is so interesting. Okay, so many of you might be reading and say "well I have plenty, because I have heartburn!" Might not be the case. If that's you, I bet you've even been drug hopping to different anti-acid medications. Some people find relief with these, but others get in the drug funk- hopping from drug to drug masking the symptoms, but not getting to the root of the problem.

Our stomach's are supposed to be acidic.

Not too acidic, not too low, but acidity is what gives our stomach the ability to break down food, kill parasites, and ultimately keep our metabolism healthy.

What does an anti-acid drug do? It neutralizes PH in the stomach. Do we want neutral stomachs? No!

Stomach's are suppose to be acidic so we don't get parasites or leaky gut syndrome (where undigested food can permeate the lining of the intestine and cause a host of problems).

So, this is what he did. He gave me Betaine tablets to test the acidity of my stomach. He said take 2 one meal, then 3 the next, all the way up to 10. "When you feel a slight warming or burn in your stomach, then stop."

So, off I went 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8...and then I got scared and stopped. I went back and said "I took 8 and felt nothing." His response...."your stomach acid is practically non-existent.

If you think this could help you or you have acid reflux, then talk to your doctor about using digestive enzymes instead. I have done the "acid-reflux" medicine regime and it didn't serve me well. I am never satisfied with "here's your drug to mask your symptom." I also believe that we do need medicine sometimes. We have to find the right balance for our own bodies.

So, what's my point...if you are on an anti-acid medication it could actually be that your stomach acid is too low. You eat a meal, the food sits there too long and ferments (producing gas), which you then draw the conclusion that you have too much acid. It could be too low!

Then, there are girls like me. I have none or little on my own. My digestive track moves too slow and I alternate between heartburn, digestion that's too fast, and digestion that's too slow. It's a roller coaster and makes it hard to identity the root. But, the root indeed is low stomach acid. Talk to your doctor (this is merely the result of my personal experience and years of reading...and my disclaimer). :)

I have taken a variety of different digestive enzyme brands. Right now, I'm taking Nature's Plus Ultra-Zyme. I went to my local health food store and she chose that for me after she asked me about my personal digestive problems.

The good news is that stomach acid can be replenished! It's not something that can't be replaced or helped. It's an easy fix, but if left ignored can cause big problems. Another thing you can do to replace them is bring them into your meal. Foods like broccoli, cauliflower, bell pepper (basically all the real stuff) they bring their own digestive enzymes with them. A proper diet can only help you repair and heal your stomach. See you Monday for Day 3!

Day 1: The Benefit of Alkaline Water

2012-01-26T06:36:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, tap water bugs me.

Something else that bothers me is that some bottled water is simply another region's tap water packaged in plastic. A combination of two things on my list of disdain: bad water and plastics. We'll save plastics for another day.

I don't like the smell of our city water and it's hard to drink something that smells strange. Even if I use a good filter, the smell always seems to hang on the sides of my cup. I have read about the benefits of drinking alkaline water for years and it just seemed like one more dollar to suck out of my bank account that may or may not make a difference in my health. But, after two really painful months, I wandered into my local nutrition store. As I started rattling off my health problems, not trying to give the old woman a heart attack, or make her lip curl in pity too badly, she asked if I drank Alkaline water. I told her, that I didn't, but was interested.

I have also been having a strange run with Ozarka over the past two years. I don't know if it is the plastic bottle or the contents, or a combination of both, but when I drink Ozarka, my legs start itching. Having battled candida in the past (yeast overgrowth in the intestines), this was puzzling to me. If I am in a high candida state, I get blotchy, red rashes on my legs that itch like crazy. I tested it multiple times over the course of a year. Smart water was okay. However, the Ozarka always sparked some kind of reaction in me. Was it estrogens leaching from the plastics sending my hormones into a high estrogen state and sparking the yeast? I am sure that sounds like a highly improbable case to most, but my body is so sensitive to the slightest change in hormones that nothing surprises me anymore. Plus, there are theories that plastics and environmental toxins are a contributor (and some believe a cause) of developing Endometriosis, a disease that I have suffered with since my early twenties.

My local health food store gave me Eternal water: New Zealand Artesian Naturally Alkaline water. I buy the 1.5 liter bottles which is equal to 50.7 fl/oz and drink it throughout the day. Technically, that still leaves me needing 30-50 oz of water more a day for my height. But, my stomach has calmed down since I started drinking it. Why?

For starters, I am simply hydrating myself better. They say if you feel hungry all the time, it could actually be your body telling you that it needs to be hydrated. So, it goes without saying that I am more conscious that I need to drink my full 1.5 liters at a minimum. Sometimes we just forget to drink water. You might even be used to drinking other things like sodas and other sugar-filled drinks. This won't lead to optimal health.

Here's something else to consider written by Dr. Hidemitsu Hyashi, M.D. Director, Water Institute of Japan:
"When taken internally, the effects of reduced water are immediate. Ionized Water inhibits excessive fermentation in the digestive tract by reducing indirectly metabolites such as hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, histamines, indoles, phenols and scatoles, resulting in a cleaner stool within days after reduced water is taken on a regular basis. In 1965, the Ministry of Welfare of Japan announced that reduced water obtained from electrolysis can prevent abnormal fermentation of intestinal microbes."

Water is essential, especially if you are gluten-free. When you eat a typical gluten-free diet, it lacks fiber. If you don't get enough fiber or water, then a host of new issues will begin to surface. It happened to me. I went from being sensitive to wheat, to being sensitive to other foods that I loved like tilapia, coffee, corn, broccoli. Even healthy foods can trigger an abnormal response in your immune system when your intestine's aren't healthy.

If you'd like to read more about the chemistry of alkaline water, I found Dr. Hidemitsu's article pretty interesting. You can find that here. Most importantly, I have been drinking alkaline water for one month. After about a week, I started feeling a lot better. Then, I ran out and drank other types for a week. I noticed an effect immediately. Now, I'm back on track working my way back to optimal health 1.5 liters at a time.

The "Do One Thing" 30 Day Challenge

2012-01-25T06:55:00.000-08:00

One thing.

Four years ago, I went gluten-free because I was sick. Every meal I ate made me nauseous and usually landed me in the restroom. P.S. I have no boundaries. :) I was practically BFF's with my GI doctor at this point who had run every possible test on me: Celiac, Chron's, a check for parasites, GERD, cancer...yet everything always came back "normal." I stayed on her, telling her that I woke in the morning feeling nauseated and then the moment I ate breakfast it was like war broke out in my insides. Could it be food? She insisted that my symptoms had ...

"absolutely NOTHING to do with food. EAT WHAT YOU WANT."

A wellness doctor/chiropractor is the one who finally made the wheat connection. But, like many of you, cutting out wheat made a huge difference, but after the elation of finally "finding a reason" dies down, you realize you still aren't healthy.

I was better, not healthy.

I have learned so much in the last decade about food, the way the body works, the way it doesn't after years of both deliberate and inadvertent bad choices. I've also done what you might be doing now, depriving yourself of even water because the slightest sip will send you careening into small children on your way to the bathroom. Trust me. I know.

So, if you are here, you are probably already eating gluten free or you're frantically searching out drugs like gluten flam or gluten defense-- anything to give you the satisfaction of your previous life.

But, more than likely, you aren't healthy. For some people with Celiac and gluten sensitivity, they get an easy fix. People often think that equation is easy. If gluten makes you sick, then don't eat it. But, it's not that simple. For most of us, it took 5-15 years for us to get a diagnosis and more than likely, other parts of your body have suffered.

My gallbladder suffered and is preserved in a jar somewhere in medical wonderland about now.

Along with a very over-sized lymph node that was thankfully cancer free upon inspection.

See, gluten-free doesn't always equal healthy. It can simply be a step in the right direction. So, I wanted to take some time for 30 days and give you "one thing" that can improve your health. These are things I'm already doing or have in the past. I'm not a medical doctor, so always consult your physician. The thing is-- we have to do our own homework sometimes. I encourage you to do yours. This is advice (and yes that was my disclaimer for whatever that darn disclosure rule is that someone with more clout than me put into place).

Fixing years of problems usually doesn't happen overnight, but instead of overwhelm ourselves with crash diets and supplements that we don't know how to use, let's do "one thing" and see what happens.

I'm rooting for you!

Tune in tomorrow for day one....

Gluten Free Make-Up Mineral Fusion

2011-12-30T12:30:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, Mineral Fusion sent me a nice sample package of products to review: shampoo, conditioner, blush, mascara, and clear lip gloss.

I was intrigued by the clear lip gloss. My first thought was, don't I need color? But, then decided that they were right on target with the clear idea (although they have regular lip stick as well). Ladies, we don't always need color- we need gloss. Gloss changes everything. Most importantly, we need safe and we must guard ourselves against gluten. I have really been doing an overhaul on my make-up bag and cosmetics. My right eye has been twitching for some odd reason, and I am pretty certain it is due to gluten in my cosmetics.

Although I haven't tried the shampoo or conditioner yet, I have tried the gloss, mascara, and blush. Let me say this first, I am a brand marketers nightmare. I never buy the same brand of anything twice. To add to that, I am very mascara picky. I've tried expensive, cheap, and eventually decided that Revlon from Wal-Mart did the most for my lashes. So, when I saw the mascara, I was like...Mineral Fusion will not be able to convert me on that one.

Ladies, I was wrong!

I even surprised myself. Something about that mascara comb did me in (for good). And to be gluten-free as well, well you can't go wrong with that!

So, I am a convert. And I'm not an easy sell on anything.

I loved the lip gloss, the blush was just my color, and the mascara was like something from a dream. My lashes thank you! I will certainly be exploring their entire product line myself. Another thing I wanted to add is that their products are also Paraben Free. I have Endometriosis and Paraben's are a big deal for someone like me. I try to avoid them at all costs.

Mineral Fusion, mission accomplished!

If you'd like to try out Mineral Fusion, you can find a distributor via their website or you can check out MY AMAZON STORE and shop some of the items I have tried and will try in the future. Just type in your zip and it will show you the nearest distributors. You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

Here are some additional facts I pulled from their website that you might be interested in as well:

Our approach to cosmetics and personal care has four goals:

First, we aim to bring our customers the revitalizing and protecting benefits of minerals, such as magnesium, copper and zinc, which also provide antioxidant defense against damaging free radicals.

Second, we aim to leave the skin in better condition than we found it. This includes providing active ingredients that heal and care for the skin and hair, as well as making our products free of gluten, parabens, talc, artificial colors, synthetic fragrances, SLS, and phthalates.

Third, we want our product to contribute a level of social wellbeing and have officially partnered with the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence to support women in need.

Fourth, we are committed to sustainability and utilize wind power, soy inks, packaging from recycled materials and packaging that is recyclable.

Gluten Free Turkey for Thanksgiving

2011-11-11T20:17:00.001-08:00

I was so happy to find this little turkey...

...held by my own little turkey.

Brand: Shady Brook Farms

No antibiotics

Gluten Free

All Natural

Cooked up in my very own Paula Dean Roasting Pan

{Hey Y'all}

It was kickin' good!

Here's what I did:

Rubbed the turkey down with Olive Oil

Poured Worcestershire sauce into the inside

Salt, pepper, and Tony Chachere's evenly.

Follow baking instructions for size.

Pretty Tasty!

P.S. I realize I'm a bit early for Thanksgiving, but when I saw g-free on the wrapper...

I just couldn't pass it up.

Deliciously Gluten Free Quiche

2011-11-02T12:43:00.000-07:00

I have been obsessed with these crustless quiche I whipped up a few weeks ago.

Pardon the strange camera angles. These are phone pics if you haven't already figured it out.

{Who wants to come over and find my lost SD card? Quien?}

I don't know what it is...

...but, there's just something about this square muffin pan.

It makes a girl feel giddy in the kitchen.

I've been re-inventing this recipe for the last few weeks.

It's fast.

No hassle.

A simple, gluten free recipe that my kids and husband actually like too.

Here's some combinations I enjoy:

Crustless Quiche combo 1:

1 egg in each slot

1 slice of cracker barrel cheese

Red bell pepper

Ham finely chopped

Crustless Quiche combo 2:

1/2 slice bacon

1 egg

red onion (finely chopped)

1 slice Kraft cheddar

Crustless Quiche combo 3:

Jimmy Dean Natural Sausage

1 egg

1 slice cracker barrel cheese

finely chopped green onion

Season as you prefer:

Salt, Pepper, Chachere's, Garlic powder, etc...

Always grease your pan thoroughly with olive oil first, so you can pop them out in perfect squares. For the bacon quiche I actually laid the bacon down and put it in the oven on 350 degrees until it was 1/2 cooked. Then, I added the rest of the raw ingredients. The sausage, I browned in a skillet first. Drained the grease. Then, added the other ingredients. Otherwise, everything cooks and softens just fine if you add it raw.

I'm telling you, breakfast hasn't been this good in a while. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until done. I watch mine pretty closely. This is so worth it. High protein and healthy.

Oh and before I forget, my seasoning of choice is the Tony Chachere's. Is that a southern preference? You tell me.

Gluten Defense

2011-10-31T10:18:00.000-07:00

Let's face it. The gluten free life, when followed properly, is not a microwaveable life. Meals are not prepared quickly nor are they consumed without a great amount of thought put into them. If you are like me, sometimes you just want to bang your head up against the wall.

But, that would do us no good.

Eating safely, whether you are gluten sensitive or have Celiac disease, is hard and often stressful. And that's just eating and preparing meals at home. Toss in the occasional trip through the fast food lane or dinner with friends and we enter a new dimension. A realm of second-guessing whether our meal has been contaminated by unchanged gloves, specks of flour on the grill, or we have consumed hidden gluten at our meal; it's the place where our brains enter into sensory overload. I know my Neurons get tired at mealtime.

I discovered Gluten Defense about 2 years ago and blogged about it here. It was Glutenflam that I discovered first, via my Chiropractor, who suggested it might help with those out-to-eat exposures. One day, I ran out of Glutenflam, but happened to be driving near one of those holistic/vegetarian food stores. It was there that I stumbled upon Gluten Defense. Gluten Defense is one of those enzymatic therapy targeted pills that is suppose to reduce your reaction to Gliadin (a glycoprotein present in wheat and other cereals). So, I tested the two. I ate the same exact meals when I went out and even contaminated myself intentionally {boy were those red-saucy-enchiladas with flour tasty for the moment} to see the difference (long story...later date). I found that Gluten Defense helped me better. I'm not sure why. They seem to have the exact same ingredients. I am an advocate of both pills. They both work!

Then, I noticed I wasn't alone. Thousands of you have flocked to my blog searching for facts on Glutenflam and Gluten Defense- even when my health got bad and I stopped blogging for a full year. I kept up my regular blog Jessie's House, but I had to temporarily let this one go. I spent the entire year thinking about what I could do to help you. To help me.

Here's the truth of the matter: I am "gluten sensitive" and this "sensitivity" has stolen years from me at this point. It also has led to other sensitivities and surgeries and missed soccer games. Sometimes, I have to eat "yeast-free" and right now I am doing without all grains. It's a pattern and the way I have to live. But, after eating gluten free for four years, I have found so many great products. I want to do what I can to help you:

(1) save time
(2) stay sane
(3) spend less money on gluten free food that is...well...disgusting
(4) stay out of the doctor's office

At the top right corner, I've started an Amazon store. Besides the recipes, recommendations, research, and ramblings you'll be getting at Gluten Free Gab, you can also shop my store. I will never put an item in my store that I haven't already tasted or used myself. I just won't do it. So, I hope you'll have patience while I build it, knowing that I am tasting products and trying them as I go as well. I'm also learning the inner-workings of Amazon and how to build up my store. So, I hope you'll stick around and tell your friends. I can't wait to share what I've learned about gluten free living with you.

After much thought

2011-07-19T09:28:00.001-07:00

After much thought and prayer...and then more thought and prayer - I finally know how I can best use this site. It's going to be under construction and then I think you will all be very pleased and hopefully helped!

See you soon!
Jessie K.

Have Pizza Crust; Will Travel

2010-07-06T20:23:00.000-07:00

Today, dear sweet gluten free fanatics, I got desperate. See, I really don't like to be embarrassed. One time when I was in high school my mom and I ran out of gas very near the perimeter of the high school. We putt-putted through a stop sign and rolled about 50 yards too short of the gas pump at the nearest station. I was mortified. Thankfully, the car behind us (with great haste mind you) volunteered to push us. I had been threatening my mom that she "needed to get gas" the day before and as usual she pushed it. So, when she realized we had just run out of gas she looks over in my direction to ask me to "get out and help her push" but instead I had conveniently retreated into Tornado drill position in the floorboard.

"Hey, Jessie you're going to have to get out and help me push."

"Jessie? Jessie?"

Yeah, I hate to be embarrassed. And the darndest little things embarrass me. I don't like calling customer service representatives. For some reason I find those conversations embarrassing too. But, even more than I run from embarrassment, I am hard up for a good slice of pizza. You are too, I see you drooling even at the mention of pizza. What if I told you that tonight I had pizza. Real pizza! The kind that was still gluten free. The kind that didn't taste like cardboard and was not homemade kind.

I haven't had real pizza in 15 months. My favorite food. 15 months. Now that is enough to make a girl cry. Yes, my love affair with pizza began at age 2 (even after a pepperoni nearly took my life at 3). Don't worry, I forced my own small hand down my own small throat and unblocked my own little windpipe. The love affair continued from there.

So, when our town got a new Italian place (that everyone has been raving about) I just got depressed. Just another place with nothing to offer my gluten sensitive taste buds. *Sigh* Yet, I had a 9" Dad's brand pizza crust in my freezer. My dad called them and asked if there was anything on the menu that I could eat and there reply was "maybe some sort of chicken dish." The usual "no pizza for you" wave of depression rolled over me. Chicken...need I say more. I have eaten more chicken in the last 15 months; so much so that I might sprout wings and a beak.

Cluck. Cluck.

So, my only other option. Take in my own crust and beg for toppings. Naaa....that would be embarrassing to be like one of those "have crust will travel" foodies. I mean wouldn't it? So embarrassing. I could almost feel the blood transforming my face into a rosy shade. But, what are they going to do? Laugh? Point fingers? Tell me no? Make me embarrassed? Hmmph!!!

So, as I entered "Fratelli's" (the new joint in town) I carefully concealed my pizza crust. Then, embarrassment got the best of me and I pretended to need to fix my little girls hair that had conveniently *wink wink* fallen out of her hair and passed the crust to my husband to "hold." Whew! You would have thought I was trying to smuggle something in of the illegal nature. When the waiter came around I smirked and held up my crust. I batted my sad eyes and begged for toppings. Rescue this desperate gluten free foodie from my inability to consume pizza.

Tonight, my dear sweet gluten free fanatics, I consumed pizza. Real, tasty, gluten free pizza. Prepared on a clean metal pan without contaminates. My beloved has returned. And maybe next time (with a tad more confidence and a lot less embarrassment) I can proudly tell the waiter that I have pizza crust; will travel.

It's Apparently Time

2010-07-02T21:37:00.000-07:00

It's apparently time that I address the ever so popular "glutenflam" and "gluten defense" pills. These little pills are off the chart popular on my blog. Just about every hit on this blog comes from people just like you searching for information on them.

"Does glutenflam work?"

"Is gluten defense better than glutenflam?"

"Has anyone heard of glutenflam?"

Well, yes...we go way back to last September. They both live in my medicine cabinet and trust me, I don't blame you for searching relentlessly for these magic pills. And now that I have these blessed little pills, all I need is some good G-free pizza that doesn't taste like cardboard. Really, I would drive to another country for some good pizza. *Sigh* Now, what's all the buzz about?

I started out on glutenflam and switched to gluten defense. Don't be alarmed. They both work! And better yet, they both work well. Don't get too excited, you cannot go crazy and start consuming your allergens in hopes of downing a GD or GF pill to cover up the effects. Although I wish they were that "magical"...they're not. You're welcome to test it, but I would be willing to put money on you face down in the toilet saying things like "Help me Jesus!!!!" With that said, I found gluten defense to be a little stronger for me. I don't know why. They are made of the same things. But, I freakishly was able to compare them to the same allergen and it seemed like I got less sick on the GD. But, no matter what, I never leave home without them. I take 2 pills at the beginning of each meal when I am away from my own kitchen. They truly do work. When I went to Las Vegas last September, these pills were new to me. I was testing them. I never got sick the entire trip, except for one meal. That "one meal" was the meal I left the pills upstairs and didn't take them. Half way through the meal I was running to the nearest bathroom to throw up.

Now, I have a question for you. I stumbled across "Histame" the other day on a website. It was claiming to help people like me (who do not have Celiac Disease, but are "sensitive" to gluten) to be able to enjoy the foods they love. Anyone tried this yet?

Update: Alternative treatments for Endo

2010-06-20T02:41:00.000-07:00

Since December '08 I have had excruciating pain each morning associated with abdominal adhesions. Imagine being stabbed with a hot knife in your lower abdomen and and you get a small idea of what I am talking about. That being said, my pain is

minimal

compared to most women that suffer from this odd disease. So, on Tuesday I had acupuncture for the first time ever. I have to say, I was hopeful, skeptical, and desperate for something other than another surgery to take the pain away. Acupuncture has been around for 2,500 years. Isn't it amazing how God teaches us to survive and thrive even so long ago with

minimal

technology. I love America and I am proud of our doctors, but sometimes I think they miss the boat by being too prescription driven and not individualized in their treatments. The chiropractor was nice and honest with me. She said "this stuff works and we don't everything about it - but it just works." That was Tuesday. For four days, I had zero pain. None. Today, my pain is trying to show itself again. but it is

minimal

compared to what it has been everyday for almost 2 years. I went back for an additional treatment for another problem on Friday. So, far that is better too. It actually seems that when I got treated for this additional symptom that that is when my other pain started to creep in. But, I am hopeful. She said some people are immediate responders, some require a few weeks of treatment, and others a few months. So, I guess time will tell. To help the process along, I have been eating no processed foods. When I went "gluten free" over a year ago, it was hard. You kind of go through a "poor pitiful me" stage where you watch everyone around you enjoying themselves with things like pizza, ice cream, and cake and it sort of ticks you off. Then, you gather yourself together and say things like "well at least I have a diagnosis" and life gets better. That was hard. And I've decided that only desperation makes that okay in a way. Now...going without "all" processed food is going to take a lot more strength for me. I got "contaminated" the other day from a food labeled "gluten free" and I decided that was the last straw. This hamster wheel that I've been on since last year of "eat this, not that" is so tiresome. Gluten free foods can be bad for girls with Endo too because they are loaded with soy (a n o -no for us Endo girls). So, there is a line for me. With my first two sessions of acupuncture under my belt and a new diet plan in the works, I have hope. And for now, I am enjoying some nearly pain free days.

Alternative Treatments for Endometriosis adhesions

2010-06-15T20:24:00.000-07:00

I might have looked a little ...prickly. I have Endometriosis and yes, I know this is suppose to be a blog about gluten-free living. However, here is what happens to me. I have adhesion-related pain when A) I eat allergens like wheat, eggs, milk etc.. and I have adhesion-related pain B) just because that is a classic Endo symptom. There is a diet that is recommended for women with Endometriosis and it follows in suit with my "sensitivities." From what I have read, I should stay away from wheat, dairy, beef, processed foods, and soy according to the Endo diet. Then, there is the catch 22 of being a walking adhesion factory. Surgery = adhesions. If you want your adhesions gone = you have to have surgery. If you have surgery for your adhesions, the surgery will produce adhesions and you might actually come out much worse than you went in.

Since my hernia repair/hysterectomy in December of '08, I have excruciating "adhesion" pain in my abdomen. It is intermittent and mainly a problem for me in the mornings. Sometimes I spend the first three hours of my day saying things like "help me Jesus, help me Jesus" or "Lord have mercy upon my soul" as I am abruptly interrupted by this pain. Let's just say this about my pain. If it did not go away and chose to hang on for any amount of time, you would have to take me to the Emergency room because I wouldn't be able to endure that kind of pain consciously. With that said...

This balancing act of juggling my diet and figuring out pain triggers is exhausting. Sometimes I think "oh well I guess I wasn't perfect enough today with my diet so I'm paying for it" when the reality is I can only protect myself from these allergens to the best of my ability. And that might mean that even on a day that I am "perfect" with my diet, I might still be sick and still have pain. I am coming to terms with this fact. I am a slight perfectionist about some things and this is one are that I find hard to cut myself any slack. I like to cut myself slack with things like housework instead. :)

Oh yes, prickly..I forgot. So, today since I am exhausted by this juggling act. I tried something new. I tried Acupuncture. I found it stimulating. Ha. A bit prickly. I even had a needle in my head and giggled a little when the Chiro left me alone in the room. I felt like a Teletubby. She treated me for Interstitial Cystitis, women related issues, and the abdominal adhesions. I have read a TON of success stories on the Internet about this helping with the pain. When conventional medicine won't help you, if you are like me, you're left with no choice but to pursue other avenues.

Today, I was prickly all over, maybe tomorrow I'll be as good as new.

I'm back

2010-05-21T12:36:00.000-07:00

Did you miss me? Abdominal surgery # 3 is complete. Hopefully, that is the last time I see the interior of a hospital for a while. Bed rest has been filled with all kinds of interesting news: Oil Spills, stock plunges, Housewives of New York gone wild, and politics as usual. Tea anyone? If you haven't already heard....
no not about the race car I found in my refrigerator this morning. He was chilled to say the least. A few weeks ago, I made a discovery of gargantuan proportions. I could be behind in the times, but maybe you are still searching the world over for this coveted key to mealtime. I'll give you a big hint.

Click Here to find out more!

Calling all bakers: egg substitute for baking?

2010-04-18T12:23:00.000-07:00

My gluten free brownies were a disaster of gargantuan proportions! I need an egg substitute for baking. I read that sour cream could do it. Eggs nauseate me; the catch is sour cream does too! *sigh* No one ever said gluten free living was easy, did they? So, I am hoping all you baking guru's out in cyber space will enlighten me a bit. I am allergic to the egg whites, not the yolk if that helps any. So, any ideas?

*Answer* Wow! That was fast in the "answers" department. Xantham gum is a good substitute for the gluten (makes things stick) and Flaxseed Meal can be used as an egg replacer. And flaxseed is really healthy as well! I'll keep you posted as to how my experiments work and what the taste is like. Thanks for the quick answer!

Glutenflam or Gluten Defense?

2010-04-14T20:25:00.000-07:00

I am slightly amused at the funny terms people search for when they stumble across this blog. They are random to say the least. However, what I notice most about the "search terms" people use is the fact that everyone seems really interested in Glutenflam. And so, in honor of that popular thought, let's talk about it. First, let me say that Glutenflam was a gift to me from my drumroll please....chiropractor. Okay, so he is a chiropractor/wellness doctor. About a month ago, I ran out of my handy dandy bottle of Glutenflam and needed a quick fix. I stumbled across Gluten Defense at a whole foods grocery store and purchased a bottle. Now, let me just say that it seems that Gluten Defense works better. Either that or I simultaneously became less sensitive to gluten at the same exact time of purchase. Why is it better? That remains a mystery. It seems to contain the same ingredients/enzymes. All I know is that I got seriously exposed by flour at a restaurant not too long ago. The Glutenflam that I had been using at the same restaurant had been helping me. But, even when I ate "gluten free" at this restaurant, I could still feel some of the symptoms associated with gluten exposure. I eat at this Mexican food place pretty regularly. So, I had another dish, lost my mind, and ordered something with red sauce. Ate the whole thing and realized I had lost my mind, but had taken my Gluten Defense pills. No symptoms. So, naturally, I thought...hmmm... maybe they didn't add flour this time? So, I asked the owners and they confirmed that there was in deed some flour in the sauce. Not a lot, but there was some. I am HIGHLY sensitive to even so much as a speck of flour, so I feel that the Gluten Defense is even more effective than the Glutenflam I was taking. Make sense? Maybe not, but does this sensitivity make that much sense to me in the first place? No. I have come to the conclusion that some things in life just can't be rationalized. And as the old adage says, "stick to your gut" or rather listen to your gut. And in this case, it's Gluten Defense for me!!!!

*Additional Note Dec 2011* I wanted to make it easy for people to find gluten defense, so I have started an Amazon Store on the top right corner of my blog. I am adding gluten free foods, make-up, and vitamins. These are things I actually use (as I have wasted LOTS of money on foods that taste like cardboard etc..). We all know that gluten-free is expensive! So, you can go HERE to find out what's in my Amazon store so far. Or if you come direct to Gluten Free Gab then it's at the top right corner called Jessie's Amazon Store. Thanks! Here's to a healthy, happy 2012!

I think I can.

2010-04-06T20:01:00.000-07:00

I have to admit. That... My quest to live the gluten free life has made me brave. I feel that I am becoming a brave foodie. I try foods, mainly out of desperation, that I would have never even considered a few years ago. A sick body stinks! And in my quest to do right by my body, I have experimented with some very odd drinks and recipes. I am on a *hot tea* kick of the herbal kind. I started drinking green tea a few years ago to help calm my gluten riddled tummy. And, I liked it. I found that it also helped me stay away from sweets. I started drinking it at night to top off my dinner with a little lemon and stevia. Not bad. But, green tea is boring and common. Don't you think? So, I have broadened my horizons. I heard that Nettle Tea was good for intestinal ailments and malabsorption so I have been trying it now for about 6 weeks. I have to say, not bad. Although my co-workers think it smells and tastes like hay, I think it is helping. My co-worker has stomach ailments and she thought it was helping her too. Despite her inability to ignore the hay smell. :) As I type, I am working up the nerve to try some Dandelion tea. Oh, and I should mention that the package says "roasted dandelion." I am not sure how I feel about this step of bravery. I don't know about the likes of drinking a dandelion much less a roasted one. And "roasted" is certainly no understatement here. It smells like a burnt peanut has been brewed in my coffee cup. So, I added some stevia and here goes...

(Okay. I am really drinking right now).

So, I hate the smell. But, the taste is surprisingly not bad. The aftertaste is coffee-like in nature. Kind of has that coffee kick. And for the sake of healthy living, although I might not drink this everyday, I think I can down a glass or two a couple of times a week.

Cheers!

Breaking up is hard to do.

2010-03-19T20:36:00.000-07:00

We had been together for 27 years and it was over. It was one of the worst and yet best days of my life. Wheat and I were breaking up. I was devastated at the thought of what life would be without all my favorite comfort foods. I was elated by the fact that my unanswered prayer had finally been answered here on Earth. I had waited seven years for an explanation. The first three years only brought mild stomach discomfort and the occasional, rapid evacuation from the dinner table. The four years that followed were spent in agony and isolation; pain that I am convinced only few understand. The truth always sets us free and I had been on my knees for a miracle. I was a mother of triplets who longed to do the simplest of tasks without pain and sickness. You know you are desperate when your daily goal is to get out of the bathroom long enough to take a trip to Wal-Mart. Desperate times. I know. These days, more and more people are experimenting with the gluten-free lifestyle to better their health. Most of us that follow a G-Free diet, however, were forced to walk this road of stringent diet restrictions. For us, following this diet literally means life or death, sickness or health. Sometimes the greatest of life’s blessings are shrouded behind a veil of hardship. Refinement is always hot and uncomfortable, but never out of the control of the Refiner.

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." John 8:32

Valentine's Day

2010-02-11T15:11:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is just around the corner. My friend, Megan, tipped me off to the fact that Classico's Alfredo Sauce is gluten-free. One of my favorite dishes is Fettucine Alfredo, a meal I have not had in a while. So, for this Valentine's Day, I decided to whip up a recipe using this new found sauce. To someone suffering from Celiac's Disease or gluten sensitivity, a good sauce can go a long way in making mealtime a bit more satisfying. To check out the recipe on my Examiner blog simply click HERE.

In other news, we have been in full Valentine's Day swing around my house. Snapping Valentine's photos of my triplets and baking up a storm. Who says you have to wait until Sunday to get shot with Cupid's arrow?

Happy Valentine's Day

Luv - The Kirkland's

Super Bowl Sunday and the lack of knack

2010-02-05T23:07:00.000-08:00

Staging food is a skill that I have decided without a shadow of a doubt that I do not have. I love looking through the decorating magazines like Pottery Barn because I love to see how the talented people work their magic putting together the rooms. I love to decorate, but I drool like a puppy marvel at the way Interior Designers and room stagers actually put together photographic masterpieces. Staging food, I have decided, takes a similar knack. My Mammaw loves food magazines and the older I get the more I do as well. It is just not quite the same without good pictures.

So in an outright struggle attempt to tickle your fancy, I have photographed some food shots for you. Don't get too excited I promised that without a shadow of a doubt I did not have this skill told you that I do not have the "staging food" skill. Not only did I struggle to get the shots I wanted of these, but I also caused us to eat dinner 2 hours late because of them. Of course, no one was allowed to lay one grubby finger on ANY of my food or... eat until I took the pictures for my Super Bowl Sunday article. You can find that HERE.

Now, I am enjoying one of my favorite sodas in the entire world,

Sprecher Cream Soda, and looking at the mounds of dishes and plates of food that I will need to tend to soon. Just as soon as I finish this post. Sigh... Where is Mary Poppins when you need her? If only I could snap my fingers and sing about sugar...maybe this mess would clean itself.

Never leave home without it!

2010-01-23T20:03:00.000-08:00

If the tiny pill called "Glutenflam" could toot its' own horn, it would be tooting it. I am not sure why it works or how it works, but I know from trial and error that it does work for me. My wellness doctor gave me a bottle right before I had to leave for a business conference back in September. When you suffer from gluten intolerance or Celiac Disease, then you know the stress that traveling can cause. It's hard to travel in a world of contaminants and fast food. It is hard to leave a contaminant, clearly labeled, and controlled kitchen for a world of uncertainty. At my house, I have two pantries: the gluten free one and the "normal" pantry. On the road, I am usually packing a lot of gluten free snacks and praying that I will not get exposed at my next meal.

But, back in September, I got a bottle of Glutenflam from my doctor. He said he had several patients that were having success with it. His explanation was that by taking 2-3 pills at mealtime, then I could alleviate the severity of my symptoms if exposed. The pills, unfortunately, do not allow me to run out and consume a big, juicy slice of "normal people" pizza (as is my most treasured thought of my past life). :) But, the pills should keep me from having to run away to the bathroom in agony if I were to accidentally be temporarily poisoned with wheat. Poison is such a harsh word, but that is exactly how it feels each time I consume even the smallest speck of wheat. Poisoned. So, I took these sacred pills with me on my trip. Each meal, before I ate, I would take a few. I still ordered meals that were gluten free, but I knew I was risking my lunch each time I ate out. Some places were able to accommodate me, and others were not so convincing in their promise to prepare something "safe" for me to eat. I did not get sick. Matter of fact, I did not get sick until.....

I forgot my pills in the room one fateful lunch. I was eating downstairs in my hotel room and safely ordered a hamburger (no bun). I simply ordered the meat and vegetables. Safe enough, right? Well, it could have been a number of things: the seasoning, the food that touched the grill before my hamburger patty did, a speck of wheat on the spatula that flipped my burger...who knows?! All I know is one minute I was enjoying my hamburger and the next I was running up to my hotel room about to throw up on the cobblestone streets that lined the gallery of my hotel. Glutenflam....since it can't toot its' own horn; I shall toot it for it. I never leave home without it. Wanna guess where I went?

Oops! I did it again...

2010-01-12T11:44:00.000-08:00

...and the consequences were just as unpleasant as the other times. I am still feeling the effects from it and it has been approximately 8 hours. All the signs were there as usual; nausea, bladder spasms, headache (which I still have as I type this), instant ulcer at the top right of my mouth, and the eery feeling that my insides (if allowed) would fall out the bottom of my body. What can I say? I goofed. I oops'ed. And I paid the usual price of physical pain and misery.

I consumed gluten by accident. The culprit? The villain of processed meat. I knew better, I really did! They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and apparently my inability to find something sustainable to eat this morning even clouded my thinking. Whereas I would have normally thought twice about consuming the delectable ham that I chose to consume, my gluten warning system was apparently down due to temporary starvation. I just oops'ed. I goofed. And I paid dearly for my lapse in thought.

The good news? I did have my trusty gadget "gluten pill" called Glutenflam handy that helps make the symptoms associated with gluten exposure less severe. I took one of those pills and what normally would have been several hours of misery only lasted about 2 hours. Once my muscle weakness set in and I had about a 30 minute nap, I was feeling better. Yes, muscle weakness is a part of the "exposure" package (as well as me temporarily looking about 5 months pregnant). Really, it's true...trust me.

Other good news is that I had fried fish today. Fried in....drumroll please..............................................................................................................

RICE FLOUR!

Shout it from the rooftops people! It was QUITE good! I think I liked the flavor better than cornmeal. That is probably the second time in 8 months I have even consumed a "fried" piece of anything. Two thumbs up for the rice flour. You go rice flour! Okay, I will stop now.