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What Makes Gluten So Bad?
By Karon Thackston © 2009, All Rights Reserved
With all the talk about going gluten free, it probably makes
you wonder just what's so horrible about gluten. There is
no simple answer to the question “why is gluten bad?” By itself,
gluten is neither good nor evil. It is simply a naturally
occurring complex protein found in all forms of wheat and
certain other grains such as rye, barley and triticale. (To
be precise, true “gluten” is found only in wheat, while the
other grains noted here contain proteins with that are very
similar in their molecular composition).
For most people, foods containing gluten do not trigger any
appreciable long-term health consequences. If you fall in
this camp, you are not genetically predisposed to “fight”
the presence of gluten in your system. On the other hand,
if you are gluten sensitive, gluten intolerant or have clinically
diagnosed Celiac disease, your body reacts to the presence
of gluten much differently.
Why Is Gluten Bad For You?
If you have been diagnosed with Celiac disease or have any
other gluten-related medical condition, consuming items that
contain gluten can cause a multitude of serious and lasting
health problems. The most common ailments associated with
these conditions center around the digestive system and include
intestinal ulcers and lesions, bloating, gas, diarrhea (or
constipation) and abdominal pain. Other well-documented physical
problems associated with gluten consumption include significant
weight loss, chronic fatigue, iron-deficiency anemia, osteoporosis
(thinning or brittle bones), migraine headaches and mood disorders
such as depression and irritability.
How Does Gluten Trigger Such Serious Health
Problems?
To better understand how gluten can trigger such serious
health problems, it is important to understand that this process
is an immune-related phenomena rather than a simple food allergy.
Food allergies can be outgrown at any point over the course
of your lifetime, but that is not the case with gluten-related
disorders. For that reason, answering the question “why is
gluten bad?” requires a closer look at the immune response
in those affected by it.
Gluten is complex protein made up of a number of smaller
components, including the simple protein, gliadin. Gliadin
is often considered the toxic component of gluten because
medical research suggests that it is the primary cause of
intestinal damage and other physical problems associated with
gluten consumption. If your body does not process gliadin
normally and you consume a food or beverage containing gluten,
your immune system will view gliadin as if it were an invading
foreign body.
In response, your immune system will mount an aggressive
attack by creating specific antibodies to fight against it.
These antibodies then wage a war of sorts with the gliadin
present in your body. The end result of this internal attack
over an extended period of time is damage to your intestinal
tract, brain or neurological system.
Avoiding Gluten Completely Can Help
Clearly, consuming gluten can lead to significant and lasting
negative health implications if you are affected by it. On
the plus side, avoiding gluten completely can eliminate many
of these issues and lead to a greatly improved quality of
life.
Going gluten free or already there? GlutenFreeProductList.com
can help. With a complete, printable gluten
free product list plus a directory of gluten free sites
and resources, you'll find everything you need.
Natural Choices to Include on Your
Gluten-Free Food List
By Karon Thackston © 2009, All Rights Reserved
A gluten-free food list is a must for anyone diagnosed with
Celiac disease or who is gluten sensitive or intolerant. Gluten,
a protein found in all forms of wheat and other types of grains,
including barley and rye, causes a wide variety of serious
health complications in those it adversely affects. If that
includes you or someone you love, it is important that you
avoid any food items that contain these grains or their derivatives.
Fortunately, there is a wide range of healthy, natural food
options that can be included on your gluten-free food list.
One key to remember is that gluten does not occur in the vast
majority of fresh, natural, unprocessed foods. In fact, avoiding
pre-packaged and processed foods is a great first step toward
making healthy and nutritious gluten-free food choices that
are easy to incorporate into your daily life.
Two Important Warnings about Pre-Packaged /
Processed Foods
There are two main reasons to focus on whole and natural
foods when constructing a gluten-free food list. The first
is to avoid cross-contamination. This occurs when non-gluten
containing foods come in contact with equipment and machinery
that has been used to harvest or process items that do contain
gluten. This problem is most prevalent when field-grown food
crops, such as corn or soybeans, are processed alongside wheat,
barley or rye.
The second issue with consuming pre-packaged foods is that
the presence of gluten may be obscured. For example, some
pre-made hamburger patties contain bread crumbs or other wheat
derivatives to help them hold their shape. Unsuspecting consumers
may not realize this and could end up ingesting gluten by
mistake. If processed foods cannot be eliminated entirely,
selecting foods clearly labeled “gluten-free” can help you
avoid this problem.
Natural Options for Your Gluten-Free Food List
Fruits and vegetables are great natural choices to add to
your gluten-free food list. Everything from fresh, seasonal
fruits to flash-frozen vegetables can be safely incorporated
into this type of diet. Bananas, oranges, apples, carrots,
dried apricots, potatoes and peas are just a small sampling
of the many diverse choices available. With all the delicious
options, there is no reason to sacrifice quality and flavor
while making healthy choices.
Protein sources are also plentiful. Fresh meat, poultry,
game, fish and shellfish are all viable options. It is important
to choose fresh rather than frozen proteins, however, because
many frozen foods are covered in breadcrumbs, marinades or
other coatings – all of which usually contain gluten. Additional
protein sources such as eggs, milk and many types of cheese
are safe to include on your list as well.
Other popular items for a gluten-free food list are tasty
snacks such as almonds and mixed nuts, dried fruits, air-popped
popcorn, rice cakes with peanut butter, and corn tortilla
chips. Of course, the ideas presented here are just a small
sampling of the many natural and safe food choices. With a
little planning and creativity, you can customize your own
nutritious and delicious gluten-free food list.
Going gluten free or already there? GlutenFreeProductList.com
can help. With a complete, printable gluten
free product list plus a directory of gluten free sites
and resources, you'll find everything you need.
Benefits of a Gluten-Free Diet
By Karon Thackston © 2009, All Rights Reserved
There are many benefits of a gluten-free diet, even for those
not formally diagnosed with Celiac disease. In fact, recent
medical research indicates that individuals with sub-clinical
test results for this condition can also benefit greatly by
adopting a gluten-free eating regimen. These findings offer
hope to those who are gluten sensitive or intolerant and further
supports the use of gluten-free diets in the treatment of
their medical symptoms.
Stop and Reverse the Damage Caused by These
Conditions
One of the major benefits of a gluten-free diet is that it
can stop the progression of existing health problems related
to gluten-related disorders. Further, the complete removal
of gluten from the diet can also help reverse any physical
damage that has already occurred. This makes a lot of sense
when you consider the immune response triggered by the presence
of gluten in affected individuals.
If you are unable to process gluten normally, your immune
system over-reacts to its presence in your body and begins
to create antibodies to fight it. In other words, every time
you consume a food or drink that contains even trace amounts
of gluten, your immune system gets fired up and goes on the
defensive. Simply removing the catalyst for this reaction
is the first step toward alleviating the problem and preventing
further damage to your system.
Improve Your Quality of Life with a Gluten-Free
Diet
Another major benefit of a gluten-free diet is the dramatic
impact it can have on your quality of life. This is not surprising
when you consider that the most common health problems associated
with consuming gluten include intestinal problems, chronic
fatigue, depression, migraine headaches, anemia and osteoporosis.
Imagine how much happier and productive your life would be
if you could alleviate most, if not all, of these chronic
symptoms by changing your eating and drinking habits.
The bottom line is if you don’t feel well, you won’t live
well. If you suffer from a gluten-related disorder, adopting
a gluten-free lifestyle is a great way to improve your overall
health and sense of well-being. Managing your condition in
this manner can do wonders for your outlook on life, as well.
Celiac disease and other gluten-related conditions are considered
chronic health issues with no known cure. This is an unfortunate
reality for those affected by or living with someone dealing
with one of these conditions. However, adopting a healthier
lifestyle can help affected individuals improve their health
and quality of life.
In fact, following a gluten-free diet is the single best
way to alleviate and avoid the complications associated with
these disorders. In additional to all the medical research
available on this topic, a large body of anecdotal evidence
also exists to support this. All you have to do is look around
the Internet or a visit a local support group. You'll find
many personal accounts of those who have dramatically improved
their health and their lives by adopting a gluten-free diet.
Going gluten free or already there? GlutenFreeProductList.com
can help. With a complete, printable gluten
free product list plus a directory of gluten free sites
and resources, you'll find everything you need.
Creating a Gluten Free Easter Basket is Easier than You Think
By Karon Thackston © 2010, All Rights Reserved
Living gluten free can be hard for adults, but if you have kids with Celiac disease, the challenge is even greater. With so many things they can't enjoy with their friends, you might feel like the Wicked Witch of the West for saying “no” so often. Christmas cookies are out. S'mores are off limits. Boisterous birthday parties at Chuck E. Cheese's are a no-no. Even the kid-food staple, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, carries a serious risk if not carefully prepared using only gluten free ingredients.
Easter, the Gluten Free Holiday
There is one holiday that lets you be Super Mom, though – Easter. Do you remember the baskets the Easter bunny used to bring when you were little? They were probably full of chocolate rabbits, Tootsie Rolls, and Marshmallow Peeps. You didn't know it at the time, but those sweet treats are all gluten free. In fact, so are lots of popular candies, which makes Easter a very happy holiday for your gluten intolerant children.
A gluten free Easter basket can be stuffed with all these favorites: Jelly Belly Jelly Beans, Marshmallow Peeps, Junior Mints, Sugar Babies, Tootsie Pops and Tootsie Rolls, Baby Ruth, Bit-O-Honey, Goobers, and Raisinets. Aside from the obvious sweet choices, don't forget that a well-planned Easter basket can contain other items as well. Small toys, books, and other gifts are a fun addition.
However, if you purchase from a mainstream store, remember that even gluten free candies are at risk for cross contamination if they are produced in factories which also make foods containing wheat, rye, or barley. In the United States, food manufacturers are required to indicate the possibility of cross contamination on the label, so be sure to take the time to carefully check each item before including it in your child's basket. You can also contact the candy manufacturers if you have questions.
Gluten Free Easter Baskets without All the Work
Easter is just around the corner. This year it falls on April 4, 2010. If you don't have the time to build your own gluten free Easter basket, or if you're planning on giving the basket as a gift and would rather stick with “certified” gluten free products, then purchasing a premade basket is the best choice. You'll find a lot of options on the Internet, but use caution. Just because an item is gluten free doesn't make it a good choice.
Many manufacturers have tried to redesign traditional favorites into gluten free alternatives by substituting ingredients. Sometimes the results are delicious, but often what you end up with is not only expensive, but nearly inedible. No gluten free Easter basket is going to be well-received if the treats don't taste good. The safest and least time-consuming alternative is to shop sites that only offer top-rated gluten free products. You'll save yourself, and your little ones, a lot of disappointment on Easter morning.
No time to build your own gluten free Easter basket? Not sure what to include? GlutenFreeProductList.com ONLY offers gluten free baskets and candy with 3, 4 or 5 star ratings. Shop with confidence today.
What's the Difference Between a Carb Free Diet and a Gluten Free Diet?
By Karon Thackston © 2010, All Rights Reserved
Gluten free diets and carb free diets are often confused, and with good reason. Since gluten free foods cannot contain wheat, barley, rye, or oats, and since these ingredients are all carbohydrates, many people believe that simply adopting a gluten free menu plan will eliminate carbs as well. The truth is, gluten free and carb free are two very different things.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat and several other grains. Wheat contains carbohydrates, of course, but so do many other foods. Fruit, potatoes, starchy vegetables, and rice are just a few of the foods you'll find in your pantry which contain carbohydrates. Merely eliminating wheat products will not eliminate carbohydrates, and sometimes the opposite is even true.
Most Sugar is Gluten Free
Sugar is the bad guy that comes to mind when we think about carbohydrates, and one of the primary reasons people choose a low-carb diet. If you're trying to cut back on your sugar consumption by lowering your carbohydrate intake, don't make the mistake of thinking gluten free foods are automatically a good choice.
Even natural sources of sugar are off limits on a carb free diet. Honey, maple syrup, fructose, sucralose, and most other forms of sugar contain carbohydrates. They are also naturally gluten free. You can see that simply choosing gluten free will not ensure your diet is free of carbohydrates.
Other carbohydrates can be present in gluten free products as well. Most commercially produced gluten free foods are revised versions of old favorites in which wheat flour has been replaced with a gluten free substitute. Some common substitutions even add more carbohydrates than the original. Rice flour for example doesn't contain gluten, but is much higher in carbohydrates than its wheat- or rye-based counterparts.
Carb Free Diets Restrict Fruits, Vegetables, and Grains
All fruits and most vegetables contain carbohydrates, making these otherwise healthy choices off-limits to those on a carb free diet. About the only vegetable choices available for those cutting back on carbs are the dark green, leafy types like spinach, kale, and broccoli. Gluten free diets offer a wider range of choices, since all fruits and vegetables are acceptable.
Carb free diets also restrict grain consumption, while gluten free diets restrict only some grains. Celiac patients can eat amaranth, buckwheat, corn, and quinoa, but you won't find them on any low-carb diet. All grains, regardless of their gluten content, contain carbohydrates.
The bottom line? A gluten free diet may be higher in sugar and other carbohydrates than a low- or no-carb diet. A carb free diet may contain more artificial ingredients such as sweeteners and fillers. Overall, a gluten free diet is less restrictive, since the only carbohydrates which can't be eaten are of the wheat, rye, barley and oat varieties. All other carbohydrates – fruits, vegetables, potatoes, rice, and others – are allowed. On a carb free or low-carb diet, all carbs are considered off-limits, resulting in a less flexible menu with fewer choices.
Save yourself a lot of time and disappointment when shopping for a gluten free diet. You'll find only gluten free products with top consumer ratings at http://www.GlutenFreeProductList.com.
Gluten Free Mother's Day Gifts Make Mom Feel Extra-Special
By Karon Thackston © 2010, All Rights Reserved
Mother's Day used to be so easy. A little construction paper, a couple of crayons, some Elmer's Glue and you had a Mother's Day card that would be treasured for years. Your mom probably still has the one you created in second grade. Now that you're older though, the expectations are higher. Cards alone – even the ones from Hallmark – just don't cut it any more. Your mom deserves better than that.
If your mom is gluten intolerant, you might think you have to stay away from the really fantastic gifts. Fancy baked goods and expensive dinners might be out, but that doesn't mean you're stuck with boring cardigans and potted plants. In reality, there are lots of luxurious options that will make Mom melt at your thoughtfulness, and make you feel like the world's best son or daughter.
Gluten Free Mother's Day Gift Baskets
Gift baskets are a wonderful option no matter the occasion. A pretty basket brimming with gourmet, gluten free treats will be a joy for your mom. You can find baskets containing samples of just about anything, but generally baskets have a theme. You might find a collection of gluten free cookies or candies, or perhaps an assortment of crackers, spreads, and spices suitable for the gourmet cook. Healthy snack foods are a popular option for gift baskets as well. Fruits, nuts, and gluten free granola bars are perfect for your health-conscious mom.
Perhaps the best part of gift baskets is how easy they are to give. They look fabulous, yet someone else does all the work. You don't even have to call on your questionable wrapping skills, because gift baskets are just too pretty to cover up. Add a simple ribbon and a heartfelt note, and Mother's Day is covered.
Gluten Free Gourmet Chocolates
For chocolate connoisseurs, there is nothing better than delectable gourmet chocolates. Pamper the chocoholic in your life with a mouth-watering collection of exotic truffles. Explore flavors Hershey never dreamed of with an Aztec-inspired sampling of spiced chocolate, including chili with dark chocolate, and vanilla with milk chocolate varieties. For a spa day at home, chose a decadent wine and white chocolate combination to indulge her senses.
Chocolate and fruit are a delicious combination, and chocolate-covered strawberries, cherries, and even apples are a delight for the eyes as well as the taste buds. Look for succulent fruits picked just at the peak of ripeness, hand-dipped in fine chocolate then coated with nuts or coconut to make a luscious, one-of-a-kind sweet Mom will never forget. For the woman who has everything, chocolate-dipped fruit is a unique and memorable treat.
Mother's Day is an occasion to honor your mom and celebrate all she's done for you. Make her day as unforgettable as she is with a gift from your heart. She'll be delighted that you took the time to choose an extraordinary present, and you'll be happy knowing you didn't have to settle for another houseplant.
Shop for gluten-free Mother's Day gifts at http://www.GlutenFreeProductList.com and find only top-rated items. Baskets, chocolates & other gluten-free goodies will make Mom smile.
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