Why I am Gluten Free Em

Here at Gluten Free Em, we are striving to promote awareness of three major health issues...Gluten Sensitivity, Food Allergies, and Celiac Disease. They are not the same thing, each one is a different issue, but they all involve what you eat, wash with, put on your skin, etc. There is a big need out there for awareness to these three health problems. So many people think that avoiding a certain food just means you are picky. Well, sometimes people do avoid foods for those reasons, but those with these three health problems are avoiding certain food to STAY ALIVE! There is such a big difference!

Let's break each one of these issues up into more detail for you:

Gluten Sensitivity is a term used to describe a health problem where upon ingestion of gluten, or anything cross-contaminated with gluten, the person becomes very ill. Digestive problems, forceful vomiting, itchy or burning rash, brain fog, trouble thinking and remembering, anxiety, depression, failure to thrive and grow (for children), and much much more are all possible symptoms of this issue. It can be related to a delayed food allergy, a insufficient amount of digestive enzymes, or even undiagnosed Celiac Disease.

Celiac Disease is an autoimmune reaction to ingestion of even the tracest amount of gluten proteins (found in wheat, rye, barley, oats, etc) where the body will actually attack itself causing damage to the small intestine. This creates a big problem as nutrients are unable to be absorbed properly due to the damage. It carries much of the same symptoms of Gluten Sensitivity.

For more information on Celiac Disease please visit celiac.org.

Food Allergies are when upon ingestion of a particular trigger food, the allergic person has an allergic reaction (which may be life threatening). This is an immune response brought on by a certain food. The symptoms range from digestive distress to hive, itching, rash, headaches, swollen mouth, tongue or throat, asthma, and even a life threatening situation called Anaphylaxis which can be fatal. There are many more symptoms of an allergy, these are just a few of the most common.

Please visit foodallergy.org for more information on food allergies.
So to sum up this post, if you don't already understand about these health problems, learn as much as you can! You may be able to spread awareness by wearing one of our products as well. Remember: knowledge saves lives, and every life is precious!
Have a Happy, Healthy, Gluten Free Day!

~Gluten Free Em~

Navigating the Sticky World of Sugary Sweetness--Valentine's Day

Do you celebrate Valentine's Day with your kids???
This holiday is like all the rest with candy, and kisses, you must be on the look out for hidden sources of gluten, (and food allergens if you are a food allergy parent).
Most of the time, our favorite trusted brands change things up for the seasonal candy. I learned this one the hard way a few years back when I gave my little one a Reese's peanut butter cup Valentine's version. Of course, I only did it once as the cross contamination was enough to make him very sick.
So does that mean I can't give them candy for Valentine's day? My answer is simple, Of course I can! But I buy them traditional candies that are not packaged or shaped for the holiday at hand. This goes for Christmas and New Years all the way to Halloween. Most seasonal candy is unsafe for those of us with Gluten Sensitivity and Food Allergies.
What about you? How do you handle the sweetness of Valentine's Day? Share your story with us, and how you navigate this sticky world of sugary sweetness. Comment here or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GlutenFreeEm/!
Have a Happy, Healthy, Gluten Free Day, and make it FABULOUS!
~Gluten Free Em~

Spread Awareness!

Here at GlutenFreeEm.com, we strive to promote awareness to the reality of Celiac Disease, and Gluten Sensitivity. We create products that promote awareness kindly, and effectively; and they come in a wide variety of colors. Please take time to look at our Teespring Store and if you are an Amazon shopper, you can also find a few of our shirts, as well as our book! Here is the link to our Teespring Store!
Please consider purchasing and most importantly, wearing one of our awareness products to share with the world that food allergies, and food sensitivities exist! Be Bold! Speak Up! Tell the World!
~Gluten Free Em~

Is toxicity the problem?

Life is always changing...new jobs, new homes, new baby, new neighborhood... Hopefully, for some of us that doesn't mean a new allergy!:( But as much as we dislike the thought, it can become a reality.
What is it that causes some of us to develop adverse reaction to foods we ate all our lives? What is it about conventional, non-organic foods that cause asthma when you can eat the same food in its organic form without any problems?
I've been researching this very subject for many years. The most common idea is that some of us have difficulty with the bodies natural detoxification methods not working correctly. This could be from a genetic defect, a nutritional difficiency, or a build up from toxic exposure to chemicals. There are many possible causes, but unfortunately no quick fixes.
What does this mean? Well, I believe that many gluten intolerances are caused by an unhealthy digestive system, resulted from a build of toxicity, and heavy metals from the foods we eat and our environment.
We can't live in a bubble and avoid all the negative effects of toxicity. We are going to be exposed to car exhaust, fertilizers, cleaners, soaps, etc...but at least we can try our best to limit this exposure and spend time out of doors in a natural setting with trees and fresh air (the mountains :). Life goes on, but little choices we make will make a difference.
I am not against vehicles, by the way...I love big SUVs and cool trucks, as well as Ford Mustangs with big engines, and please no convertibles. I think you are exposed to more toxins by riding a bike down a busy road than you would be in an enclosed vehicle. Like I said, we cannot live in a bubble.
Grow your own vegies if you can, or buy organic.  Use glass and not plastic containers when possible.  Avoid driving down a busy road with your windows open. Forget about treating your lawn, its green enough. Don't use traditional cleaners, opt in for natural products, or do the old vinegar thing. There are lots of ways we can limit our exposure even for those of us who live in a city. The key is to do our best without stressing about it. Stress is toxic, too, you know. Live life in balance and enjoy each day!
Have a Happy, Healthy, Gluten Free day!
~EM~

Applesauce Raisin Muffins Corn, Gluten, Dairy, Egg Free

It is fall!!!! My favorite fall memory has always been my mom's awesome baking spree for Thanksgiving. We would always get a pumpkin or two and she would roast it in the oven until it was soft and then freeze what felt like hundreds of pints size servings of it. (I had to take the bags out to the freezer in the garage. You know, errand running.)
One of my favorites was always her applesauce raisin cake. I loved it! I still love it! I always will love it! But because of my food allergies, I no longer can have it the way she made it, and taught me to make it. I have to substitute, but who cares, I still get to enjoy that flavor!
Here is the most recent recipe I have for the applesauce raisin cake. This one I made into muffins, you know a little less sugar and mess.

Takes only a few minutes to prepare and yields 12 muffins. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a muffin a 12 cup muffin pan with muffin papers. ( I like to use the unbleached ones that I find at Fresh Thyme or Whole Foods.)
1 cup of freshly milled Organic Brown Rice Flour
1/2 cup Bob's Red Mill Sweet White Rice Flour
2 Tablespoons or so of Tapioca flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon David's Kosher salt (any salt should do)
1/2 cup organic seedless raisins
3/4 to 1 cup unsweetened organic applesauce
A few small shavings of crystallized ginger (not a lot or it will be overpowering. We just want to get that spice flavor in there. If you can use cinnamon instead that would probably be better. 1/2 a teaspoon or so.)
2 or 3 tablespoons of sugar in the raw (Or brown, or white sugar. I just like the flavor of the sugar in the raw.)
2 tablespoons of freshly chopped golden flax seeds soaked in 1/3 cup of water. (I chop them in a smoothie cup, but a food processor will work. If you don't have any of these, you can buy the flax already chopped, but be sure to refrigerate it to retain flavor.)
2-3 tablespoons olive oil (The oil must be fresh. If it isn't it will ruin the flavor of the muffins. I use California Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Cold Pressed Olive Oil. It almost always tastes fresh and can be found at Walmart, Meijer, Kroger, and most other places. (Other types of oil will work, but this is the best)
Mix dry ingredient together first, then add applesauce, flax water, and stir with a spoon until completely combined. Do not over mix. Divide evenly between muffin cups. Bake till a toothpick entered into the center comes out fairly clean. About 15-20 minutes depending on your oven.

If you have an egg allergy, corn allergy, gluten sensitivity, cinnamon allergy, or milk allergy this will work for you!
I hope you enjoy trying out my newest recipe, and please share it with your friends and family. Remember, don't be afraid to be creative in the kitchen and mix something up today!
Have a Happy, Healthy, Gluten Free Day!
~Gluten Free Em~

Summer Fun Gluten Free Style

As the summer is fast approaching, the weather is warming up. Families are spending more time together outdoors, and ice cream and Smores are on the menu.
What does this mean for us food allergy sufferers? Maybe you have a little one who cannot have corn. Maybe your immediate family is gluten free, but not distant family. Does this mean you can't still have that summer fun???
Of course, not! There are many products on the market now that are corn and gluten free and are safe for food allergy sufferers!

Pamela's makes a very tasty corn and gluten free graham cracker. And most of Hershey's Chocolate is gluten and corn free.

Goldbaums makes a handy ice cream cone. There are several brands out there actually that offer gluten free ice cream cones, but be careful that they are produced in a gluten free facility!

If you live in the western part of the USA, you can get Strauss Family Creamery ice cream from your nearby health foods store. This stuff is awesome, corn and gluten free, as well as free of stabilizers, which means no xanthan gum, carrageenan, guar gum, or the like!

If you must make your own ice cream because you live in the east with a carrageenan allergy, the key is to find some Kalona SuperNatural Whipping Cream. 

Check out their products here!

Do you have a favorite summer time meal, dessert, or activity that is good for the whole family??? Tell me about it!!! I love to hear from my readers!

Have a Happy, Healthy, Gluten Free Summer!

~Gluten Free Em~

The Updated Version of 'Could It Be Gluten?'

Take time to check out the updated version of Could it be Gluten?

This book is a guide to understanding the facts of the gluten free diet. It covers the Why, When, and How of going gluten free, and also touches on the possibility of food allergies being at the root of your health conditions.
If you have always wondered about the gluten free diet, but never knew where to start researching on it, start here!
Why look through endless medical encyclopedia's or medical textbooks? Why search the web for weeks on end for helpful information only to find that half of it wasn't legit?
Just take the facts from the trial and error that I have experienced, and learn it all from one source whether or not the gluten free diet is for you. I've already been through it and this is first hand information that can be very helpful in making your decision for or against the gluten free diet.
This book explains how to go gluten free in several easy to follow steps that will help you become free of gluten in no time.
Wondering about the elimination diet? This book also covers the details on the elimination diet. So, pick up your copy today and start learning the answer to the question...Could It Be Gluten?
Also available in ebook form from Kindle.

Have a Happy, Healthy, Gluten Free day!!!
~EM KENNEDY~