Monday, October 29, 2018

A Gluten Free, Allergy Free Fall

When thinking of Fall, I really start to think about all the years I remember going to bonfires with our family and friends... hotdog roasts over an open fire...toasted marshmallows and S'mores... hot chocolate...and pumpkin pie! My mom made some really good pumpkin pie...and as a teenager, I could make a mean apple pie myself. (Actually, one of my pies sold at a fundraiser auction for $75 when I was 13! Crazy? I thought so, too.)
Well, a lot of these cool memories are over for me because of my allergies. But what about my gluten sensitive children? Will they ever experience these kind of memory making traditions? Will my son with a corn allergy ever get to taste a marshmallow? These are just a few of questions that run through my mind this time of year.
The key to success in this area is hard work and creativity! Many traditional recipes can be reproduced into a gluten free copies! Yes, they may have a slightly different texture, but it can be done. :) Fortunately, for those who are just avoiding gluten there are many premixed flour that work beautifully as substitutes.
For those of us with food allergies as well as gluten sensitivity, substituting is a little more complicated. Mixing your own flours becomes a necessity. Potato starch, tapioca starch, and freshly milled brown rice flour is my go to for legume free, corn free, nut free, gluten free, and gum free flour.
Do you have a favorite flour mix that you use as a substitute? Do you buy it pre-mixed, or mix it yourself? What is your favorite fall recipe? We would love to hear from you! (And it would be a chance for you to show off your gluten free skills!)
Have a Happy, Healthy, Gluten Free day!
~Gluten Free Em~

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

The Emotional Struggle of an Allergy and/or Gluten Free Diet

OK, it's that time of year...pumpkins, candy, apple cider...we all love the awesomeness of fall! But what most people don't understand is the torture that goes on inside the mind of someone with dietary restrictions! All these beautiful smells, and delicious looking food and drinks, that we are unable to have!!!! There are several solutions to this problem, including learning how to substitute flours, but for a moment, I just want to stand up for those of us with this problem by explaining to the world what we actually deal with on a daily basis!

You are walking through the grocery store, you smell the beautiful smell of cinnamon...Your mind automatically gets anxious because you know you are anaphylactically allergic to cinnamon...so you speed up your steps to get away from the smell you love that hates you. You are walking past the bakery to get to the meat and cheese section, when you get a whiff of fresh made cake, donuts, bread...You know there is probably a trace of gluten still airborne from the mixing and baking process that goes on in that open area... You remember all the times that you were sick for weeks from that trace amount of gluten you breathed in while hanging out near the bakery for a few minutes, just trying to get your shopping done... Your heart sinks because you are hungry, wishing you could have those delicious foods again.
You get to the cheese isle... your eyes quickly roam to find the cheese you are buying for your family, not yourself. You absolutely adore cheese, and really could use the protein and calcium found in it, but you know that if you eat it you will be sick for days... You just grab what your family needs and leave, trying not to spend too much time in that area.
You pass the meat counter...You see steaks, hamburger, pork chops, ham, fish...Your heart screams at you, as your mind constantly repeats (allergic, allergic, allergic!) Without hesitation, you pass on by.
The frozen vegetable isle is loaded with delicious choices. You take your time checking to see if there are any new ones, but all you can see that is safe is broccoli, kale...and that's it. You wonder if it will always be this way. You remember the days when you could have fresh corn on the cob, okra, or even green beans or peas...You long for the freedom you had then.
The canned food isle is a quick grab and passing for the only thing down there you can have is absolutely nothing...but the family can have pinto's so you grab a few cans and go.
You go through the rest of the isles picking up a few things here and there, mourning over all the delicious options that aren't options. You remember the days when you could have them. The cravings for healthy, filling, nutritious meals are severe about now. You are just about in tears, but you must look and act strong in front of your family...so you push on. The fake smile you wear hides the inner pain and frustration that is bottled up until that moment when you are alone to release it.
Finally, the last thing on your list, you grab some yogurt for the family. You know that without the yogurt your gluten free baking just won't be what it needs to be. You also know that you won't be able to have not even one bite of the goodies that you will be mixing up for your family. At the peak of frustration, you quickly check out and pay the hundreds of dollars for the few groceries you actually have been able to grab. You are relieved when you finally get into the car to head home, only to do the same thing again next week. 
You are so hungry by this time that you wish so badly that there was some kind of fast food or snack at a gas station that you could have, but instead you just have to deal with it till you get home. You know that there isn't anything safe.

So many people don't understand the emotional battle that those of us with multiple food allergies deal with. Most people say, "Oh, you are being overly careful." But what they don't know is all the hundreds of times when your body went into anaphylactic shock because you weren't careful enough. They haven't seen you doubled over in pain, and vomiting for hours because you ate gluten. They weren't there when you failed your exam because gluten made your mind so foggy you couldn't think straight in-spite of the weeks of study. And they haven't dealt with the extreme fatigue that brought you to depression...all because of Food Allergies and Gluten Sensitivity!

The BATTLE is REAL, Folks! You can't make these things up...and so many people suffer on a daily basis like this! We have to spread awareness! We must stand up for those who have Food Allergies, Celiac Disease, or Gluten Sensitivity! We must do our best to help others who are suffering to have their voice heard!
Do your part, whatever it may be, to get the word out!
Have a Happy, Healthy, Allergen Free, Gluten Free Day!
~Gluten Free Em~

Saturday, October 20, 2018

Gluten Free by Necessity

Are you like me? I am Gluten Free by Necessity! It's not a food preference, it's a need. I love gluten filled foods, they just hate me with a vengence that causes much pain and misery. I am so glad that one day my doctor suggested that I follow a gluten free diet. My life has changed for the better ever since that day 7 years ago. I am on a mission to share with the world what it means to have Celiac Disease, Gluten Sensitivity, and Food Allergies. They are real health problems, not made up or in someones mind. People really do suffer from these health issues. Lives are lost because of these health issues. Don't listen to the negative remarks that are trying to belittle those who deal with these problems, they are made out of ignorance. Let the truth prevail!
~Gluten Free Em~

#glutenfree #notafaddiet #RaiseAwareness #spreadtheword #savealife #GlutenFreeEm #GlutenSensitivityAwareness  #CeliacDiseaseAwareness #weallcanmakeadifference #doyourpart #promoteawareness

Below is the link to where you can buy one of the tote bags featured above for yourself!

https://teespring.com/gluten-free-by-necessity?tsmac=store&tsmic=gluten-free-em#pid=526&cid=101936&sid=front

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

What is Celiac Disease?

 Support Celiac Disease Awareness!!!
As you may have already noticed, many of my posts are to educate and spread the word to the world that Celiac Disease is real! Many people in this world suffer from Celiac Disease and simply don't know the reason for their baffling symptoms... The reason is, lack of knowledge among medical professionals, and people just accepting their symptoms instead of seeking help. Take time to educate yourself and others on the symptoms of Celiac Disease, and Gluten Sensitivity!!! It could be life changing...and dare I say, Life Saving!
Some symptoms listed by the Mayo Clinic....

  • Anemia, usually resulting from iron deficiency
  • Loss of bone density (osteoporosis) or softening of bone (osteomalacia)
  • Itchy, blistery skin rash (dermatitis herpetiformis)
  • Damage to dental enamel
  • Mouth ulcers
  • Headaches and fatigue
  • Nervous system injury, including numbness and tingling in the feet and hands, possible problems with balance, and cognitive impairment
  • Joint pain
  • Reduced functioning of the spleen (hyposplenism)
  • Acid reflux and heartburn
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Weight loss
  • Irritability
  • Short stature
  • Delayed puberty
  • Neurological symptoms, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities, headaches, lack of muscle coordination and seizures
These are only a few of the possible symptoms...Some experience little to no symptoms, but experience serious results many years down the road. Spread the word about Celiac Disease!!! Gluten Free is not just a FAD, it saves lives.

Thursday, October 4, 2018

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~


Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Be Positive About Your Diet

Have you ever felt like you were in this Gluten Free thing all alone? I get that way sometimes, but in reality we are part of a huge Gluten Free Family! All over the world there are others like us who have a limited diet because of health reasons. The "poor me attitude" is easy to acquire, but it only brings with it depressing thoughts, so be careful not to fall prey to it's trap!!! If you are struggling in this area, consider joining social media groups with others who are gluten free, or perhaps finding out if some of your neighbors are gluten free. Just communicating with others who deal with the same struggles can be all it takes to encourage and uplift us. We are doing the right thing in taking care of our bodies. We are not fad dieters, we are trying to stay healthy.
Believe in yourself! You are awesome! Hold your head up high, you deserve to feel good about yourself!
Live Happy, Healthy, and Gluten Free!
~Gluten Free Em~