There are hundreds of gluten-free products poised to hit store shelves, and if you are a gluten-free foodie like me, then you want to try them all without breaking the bank. Not all gluten-free foods are created equally, so we are fortunate there are companies out there to take all of the guess work out of the process and deliver gluten-free sample boxes right to your doorstep like Taste Guru.
I have been/am still of the persuasion that a healthy fruit smoothie does not require sugar, or artificial sweeteners that are not plant-based.
Smoothies simply require good fruit (or vegetables) and a plant derived sweetener, if desired.
For us Gluten-Free girls, it’s a little more difficult to shop for makeup, because we have to make sure all of our cosmetics are GF as well! Thankfully, a lot of companies are developing some amazing GF make-up products. This week I got to try this fabulous lipstick from Red Apple Lipstick – a company who’s products are all GF, Soy-Free, Lead-Free, Enriched with VITAMIN E (woo-hoo!) and Paraben-Free. It is definitely the highest quality GF Lipstick I have found. It’s safe and 100% non-toxic. One of the reasons I love being gluten-free, is it has made me more aware of toxins in popular brands of makeup.Since going GF, I’ve been on the look-out for safe, quality GF brands of make-up, and I have to say that Red Apple is one of my new favorites!
I’m a huge fan of naturally gluten-free food. It’s usually healthier, usually cheaper, and IMHO, usually tastier, too. There are so many ways to go g-free quick and easy, and I highlighted a bunch in last month’s newsletter, with tips from a variety of gluten-free bloggers.
And yet…there are so many reasons packaged foods do come in handy from time to time, whether it’s because of job demands, travel, outdoor activities that prevent easy access or you just need to have something shelf-stable and portable in the car in case of emergency.
So…in honor of Celiac Disease Awareness month in May, I put together a list of healthier options among packaged products, with an eye out towards
I was enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon with my daughter who was grounded and couldn’t watch her normal shows. We sat down together to watch Food Network to find Dean McDermott on an episode of Guy’s Big Bite. Dean McDermott has celiac disease, so I was shocked to see him sample dishes that contained gluten.
The Gluten-Free Diet simply means not eating food that is made from the grains of wheat, barley, rye, and oats. These grains contain a plant protein called gluten, and it is this gluten that must be…
I am on a mission this year to get in shape and to become healthier. I’m doing this for several reasons but one in particular is that if I plan to become an RD I need to be healthy – no one, including myself wants to take advice about health and wellness from someone who is not healthy and practicing what they are preaching.
One of the biggest things that I have found is really being conscious of
In this section you will learn about the Gluten Free Diet, food composition, alternatives to familiar foods that contain gluten, and recipes to get you started. The tough part about this diet is identifying which foods…
PART 1: Our Digestive SystemOur digestive system consists of many organs and parts. Each performs its own function while interacting in harmony with others every time we eat. These interesting and complex organs and parts turn the food we eat into specific components we need to fuel, build, maintain, repair, regulate, and protect our bodies.
Muscles, nerves, reflexes, enzymes, and hormones of the digestive tract all work together to change our food into nutrients that can be absorbed into our main transport systems: our bloodstream and our lymph system. These two transport systems then carry fresh supplies of nutrients throughout our body to nourish every individual cell.
Our brain monitors our nutritional needs and employs a hunger mechanism to alert us when fresh food is needed. Hunger causes appetite which is the desire for food. The tempting sight, smell, taste and expectation of food stimulate involuntary sensory nerves. By reflex action, these nerves cause muscle and sensory activity in various digestive organs. Salivary glands begin to secrete saliva as stomach glands and muscles become active.
First we chew our food. After we chew it, our throat swallows it, and our esophagus transports it to our stomach. Our stomach dissolves and sends it on to our small intestine, where it is digested and absorbed into our blood and lymph systems. Our small intestine then sends the undigestible substances to our large intestine where water is absorbed. Normal bacteria living there go to work on the residue to extract more nutrients, while producing nourishment for our colon and substances for our body. The waste is then sent on to our rectum, which forms it. Finally, our anus expels it.
Now, that we have the basics of digestion, let’s take a closer look. The following is based in part on an excerpt from the The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
The first major muscle movement occurs when food or liquid is swallowed. Although we are able to start swallowing by choice, once the swallow begins, it becomes involuntary and proceeds under the control of the nerves.
The large, hollow organs of the digestive system contain muscle that enables their walls to move. The movement of organ walls can propel food and liquid and also can mix the contents within each organ. Typical movement of the esophagus, stomach, and intestine is called peristalsis.
The action of peristalsis looks like an ocean wave moving through the muscle. The muscle of the organ produces a narrowing and then propels the narrowed portion slowly down the length of the organ. These waves of narrowing push the food and fluid in front of them through each hollow organ.
The esophagus is the organ into which the swallowed food is pushed. It connects the throat above with the stomach below. At the junction of the esophagus and stomach, there is a ringlike valve closing the passage between the two organs. However, as the food approaches the closed ring, the surrounding muscles relax and allow the food to pass.
When most of you land on our website, your have come to expect yet another gluten free dish, ideally in a baked version. Don’t worry, we are still developing gluten free recipes and plan on doing so for some time to come. However, in our own home, we also prepare many raw food dishes as well. We especially enjoy the many