Showing posts with label celiac disease awareness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label celiac disease awareness. Show all posts

Monday, October 21, 2019

Strict Avoidance Diet for Food Allergies and Gluten Sensitivity


Ever have that awkward discussion with someone about your restricted diet???
I have, many times. It doesn't get any easier, but at least over the last few years I have learned what to say. Many times I have been accused of having social anxiety because I won't eat at church or family gatherings. Many times I have been told that I am just out of touch. Many times, I have been made fun of, looked at like I was crazy, or simply not taken seriously. But the truth is, I have to follow a restricted diet to STAY ALIVE!!!
FOOD ALLERGIES ARE REAL! They really do claim lives. An average of 5 people every day die of anaphylaxis, just in the USA! Thousands more end up in the hospital. Yes, it is real! Yes, it is to be taken seriously! Yes, there are preventative techniques. Avoid your known allergens. Carry two epipens at all times, and don't hesitate to use one if you experience difficulty breathing from an allergen exposure. Have an action plan, and make sure the whole family, friends, and coworkers know what to do if something goes wrong. Advocate for those with allergies, and stand up to the bullying regarding restricted diets!

Celiac Disease, and severe Gluten Sensitivity is real as well! It is not an allergy, but still requires complete avoidance. Celiac Disease is an immune response to ingestion of gluten. It harms the small intestine, leaving damage and causing malabsorption and malnutrition. It also carries many other symptoms.

Learn the symptoms. Recognize it. Follow avoidance diet, and keep yourself and those around you safe!

Have a Happy, Healthy, Gluten Free, Allergy Free Day!
~Em Kennedy~

To purchase a copy of Em's new cookbook titled "Cooking Gluten and Corn Free with Gluten Free Em" please click here:

Monday, January 7, 2019

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~


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~

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~


Friday, August 17, 2018

Celiac Disease, Gluten Sensitivity, and Food Allergy Awareness

For Some Of Us,Gluten Free Is NotA Fad, It's ANecessaryWay Of... Natural Tote Bag Front
Help promote Celiac Disease, Gluten Sensitivity, and Food Allergy Awareness!
Click on the picture above to be redirected to my products promoting awareness!

Let's tell the world that Celiac Disease, Gluten Sensitivity, and Food Allergies exist. So many people are being made fun of because of their gluten free diet. Some call it a fad diet, but for some of us it is A NECESSARY WAY OF LIFE! Yes, there are people out there who follow it just because it is popular, but others follow it because they have a life threatening allergy, an autoimmune disease like Celiac, or a severe Gluten Sensitivity that causes digestive damage, pain, inflammation, and many other horrible symptoms. It's not that we don't want to eat gluten, it's that we can't eat it! Eliminating your favorite foods can be stressful, discouraging, and downright hard...but we don't have a choice. Let's stand up and speak out for those who suffer with Celiac Disease, Gluten Sensitivity, and Food Allergies! Let's share the word with the world, so others can find the help that they so desperately need. Save a life...Send some hope...Speak positively...
Choose from tote bags, shirts, hoodies, and much more...Get the message across with positivity!
Have a Happy, Healthy, Gluten Free day!
~Gluten Free Em~

Friday, December 21, 2012

GOING GLUTEN FREE


Are you tired of searching the internet for a good, foolproof way to go gluten free? Your search is over! This is the information you are looking for. This is a highly developed step by step plan for going gluten free and has been tried and tested to prove that it not only works, but is exceptionally easy to follow! By following this plan, you can become gluten free in a short amount of time as well as be eating quality, healthy and delicious foods to replace the foods you lose. Never again do you have to wonder what it was that you ate that made you sick. When following this plan you will learn exactly how to tell whether something is gluten free or not! Educate yourself in the wonderful world of gluten free foods; buy a copy of Could it be Gluten? today!
Do you experience chronic indigestion, fatigue, migraine headaches, irregular bowels, or mind fogginess? You may be victim of what doctors call gluten sensitivity! Many people these days rely on medicine to control symptoms of GERD, or chronic sinuses, and even arthritis pain when they simply need to drop the medicine and eliminate the gluten causing the symptoms. Gluten is a complex protein found in wheat, barley, oats, and rye, and has been found to be a problem food with some people, especially those with type O blood, causing digestion problems and inflammation in other areas of the body. By eliminating this problem food, you can resume life where you left off, regain your strength and health, eliminate most if not all inflammation, and head towards a bright and promising gluten free future.
Have you already endeavored to go gluten free but are still experiencing symptoms? You may have not eliminated all of the gluten. When only trace amount of gluten find its way into your digestive system, you are asking for severe consequences. Don’t set yourself up for failure, learn the vital information you need and take the gluten free challenge found in Could it be Gluten? It is easy to make a mistake unless you have learned the details, and studied up on the facts. Don’t spend hours and hours weeks on end searching the internet for information. We have already done the work, just benefit from what we have labored over. You will find all the information you need about gluten in this wonderful compilation of facts versus fiction. Try it for yourself, buy a copy of Could it be Gluten? today!