Gluten Free Support Group of SW WA

Interesting Information

2017-10-20T17:07:00.002-07:00

I saw a new ARNP this week, she was great! We talked about my sleep issues, so she said to try drinking Catnip Tea. Will give it a try. I am having trouble finding it in the stores, but I saw it on Amazon. Alvita brand is a good one, make sure it is organic. She also suggested I steep an organic onion in filtered water for 5 minutes and add a bit of organic honey to it. The combination is supposed to help get rid of the mucous in your throat. Interesting huh? I love meeting new professionals, they always seem to be so real and so wise!

Raspberry Linzer Cookies

2017-10-05T17:09:00.002-07:00

Glutenetto
I wanted something with my organic coffee yesterday and spotted their Raspberry Linzer Cookies, so I decided to try them. They were light, crispy, had just the right amount of raspberry jam and they melted in my mouth. I really enjoyed them thoroughly, that is until I read the ingredients! It's a good thing I didn't read the list before hand, huh?

Glutenetto Italian Cookies – Raspberry Linzer

Ingredients: Gluten free proprietary flour mixture (brown rice flour, tapioca flour, corn flour, white sorghum flour, potato starch), unsalted butter(pasteurized cream), organic evaporated cane juice (sugar), almond meal, raspberry preserve (raspberry, corn syrup, fruit pectin, citric acid, sodium citrate) , cage-free egg white, natural vanilla, lemon and almond extracts, icing sugar (dextrose, corn starch, vegetable shortening, titanium dioxide), xanthan gum.

Coconut Milk

2017-10-05T17:08:00.000-07:00

Make Your Own Coconut Milk

1 can coconut milk & 4 cups filtered water.

Blend 2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut & 4 cups filtered water.

1 cup coconut manna or coconut butter & 3 cups filtered water.

- Smoothielife.com

Baked Apples

2017-09-20T19:13:00.003-07:00

Serves: 4

Use Organic:

4 large apples

½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans

½ cup coconut palm sugar

¼ cup raisins

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 Tablespoons Garden of Life Coconut Oil

1 cup boiling water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cut out holes into each apple for stuffing (a paring knife works best, remove seeds and leave ½ inch of the bottom of each apple intact).

Mix together nuts, sugar, raisins and cinnamon.

Stuff mixture into each apple then place ½ Tablespoon of coconut oil on top.

Place apples into a baking dish, then add boiling water into the dish and place in oven.

Bake apples for 35-40 minutes.

Remove from oven, baste apples with juices from bottom of baking dish and serve with vanilla ice cream or non-dairy ice cream such as “nana-moo”.

- Garden of Life Extraordinary Health News

Helpful Information

2017-09-17T18:10:00.003-07:00

3 Diet Changes That Can Lower High Blood Pressure

Limit salt. Excess sodium leads to water retention, which taxes your heart, boosting BP.

Eat Fatty Fish. The omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA have been shown to reduce BP.

Snack on Bananas. Potassium-rich produce can lessen the effects of sodium on BP.

-Prevention Magazine, September 2017

Quick Tip

2017-09-17T13:03:00.002-07:00

Dried beans never spoil, but after about two years they become almost impossible to rehydrate. So if that big bag of black beans has been living in your pantry for too long, toss it...or use it to do bicep curls.

-Nutrition Action Healthletter, October 2017

Dish of the Month

2017-09-17T12:58:00.003-07:00

Avocado Toast

Top gluten free toast with avocado, a few drops of lemon juice, a pinch of salt, and a grind of black pepper. Add sliced radish or tomato, a few arugula or watercress leaves, or a poached or boiled egg.

-Nutrition Action Healthletter, October 2017

Dandelion Root

2017-09-14T17:34:00.003-07:00

Dandelion Root, A Cancer Cell Killer, Has A Long History As Medicine

January 23, 2017 | Natural News

(NaturalNews – D. Samuelson) The roots, leaves and flowers of the dandelion plant are a potent and healthy herbal medicine, although folks might think those yellow dots popping up in their landscape are just nuisance weeds. Not so, as reported by Reset.me, who emphasizes that the botanical name for dandelion – Taraxacum officinal – aptly describes its medicinal potential. Taraxacum translates into an “inflammation curative." Officinal means that the lowly dandelion is revered as a bona fide, official medicinal plant. The use of the dandelion plant as a healing agent “predates written records," but it is understood that the Greeks and the Chinese used dandelion compounds to aid in digestion, and as a liver tonic and diuretic.

Traditional herbalists, both in the East and the West, have utilized the properties of the dandelion for liver support and as a blood purifier. It is this blood purifying action that intrigued Canadian researchers at the University of Windsor to pursue whether dandelion roots could be effective for individuals suffering from end stage blood cancer. The team experimented by applying dandelion root extract into petri dishes on “blood drawn from a leukemia patient and lab rats." They discovered that the “dandelion root extract was effective in inducing apoptosis, or cell suicide, in tumor cells, while leaving healthy cells alone.

Herbalists who live in America are not allowed to treat cancer patients, says author and internationally traveled herbalist Demetria Clark, who has taught thousands through her Heart of Herbs Herbal School. Dandelion is used enthusiastically by Clark as a “supportive therapy" with whatever cancer protocol her client has chosen. If a client has chosen chemotherapy, Clark says that dandelion will “support the liver and help the body detoxify." She also says that dandelion leaves put into smoothies can help with mouth sores and nausea. The dandelion can boost one’s appetite and also “get the digestive juices flowing." Clark believes that the available empirical evidence clearly shows that the dandelion “can enhances the immune system and supports the liver and kidneys with no toxicity and a high amount of nutrition." She encourages children and pregnant women to use the benefits available from the simple, but profound, dandelion.

Have you ever wondered why are there so many dandelions? Perhaps nature is trying to give all of us a gentle yellow immune boost.

I love Traditional Medicinals organic Roasted Dandelion Root tea, it is delicious!

Almond Joy Cookie Bars

2017-09-05T11:50:00.002-07:00

Easy Gluten Free Chocolate Almond Joy Cookie Bars

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

30 mins

Total Time

45 mins

Gluten free chocolate brownie almond joy bars.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 12 cookie bars

Calories: 404 kcal

Author: Sandi Gaertner

Ingredients

1 box Immaculate Double Chocolate Baking Mix Make according to directions
1 can condensed coconut milk
2 cups shredded unsweetened coconut
1 cup slivered toasted almonds

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Make the cookie mix according to package directions.
In a medium sized bowl, add coconut, almond, and condensed milk. Mix well.
Spray an 8x8 baking dish with coconut oil.
Add cookie dough to the bottom. Spread to cover the whole bottom and press down. Bake 10 minutes.
Remove the pan from the oven. Spread the coconut mixture on top.
Bake an additional 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Place in the refrigerator to chill.
Slice and enjoy!

-Fearlessdining.com

Personal Care Products

2017-07-16T17:46:00.002-07:00

Don't be afraid to make some changes in your daily personal care products. Our skin absorbs everything, chemicals are toxic and cause disease. Here are some of my favorites!

Himalaya Botanique Complete Care Toothpaste

Everyday Value 365 French Milled Vegetable Glycerin Soap

Physicians Formula Organic Mascara

Organics Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil ( I use this for my face cleanser, makeup remover, and body lotion)

Cornstarch, organic, as body powder

Nourish Organic Vanilla Almond Deoderant

Schmidts Bergamot Lime Deoderant

Baking Soda, Bobs Red Mill, aluminum free, (2 Tbsp dissolved in 26 oz. warm water to wash my hair)

Apple Cider Vinegar, Braggs Organic, (2 Tbsp in 26 oz. warm water as a final rinse for my hair)

*Shea Moisture and Nubian make some safe and clean products too, soap, body wash, shampoo and lotion. Their African Black soap is great!

**Make sure to read the ingredients before you buy anything! This is your health we are talking about!**

Brooklyn House Restaurant

2017-06-11T13:33:00.002-07:00

Brooklyn House Restaurant

June 8 at 6:38pm ·

This is the most difficult post I’ve ever had to write.
On Thursday June 29th, we will serve our last dinner and close our doors for good.
Of course, there have been a multitude of factors adding up over the years to bring us to this decision. Ultimately, though, it came down to the fact that I am ready to start my family and it is clear that I cannot possibly run this restaurant and raise a child. Both commitments are too great, and at this point, I’m choosing family.

This breaks my heart because I had hoped that I could do both. This house has been so much more than a restaurant and this crew has been so much more than a group of co-workers. We all wanted to raise our families here together, and with all of you. The learning and growing, the caring and communion we have shared has been extraordinary. We are deeply proud of what we’ve done and we wish we could do more. Unfortunately, we are giving all we have to give and it isn’t nearly enough. As frustrating and disappointing as it is, we are finally ready to let go.
I have already told a few people who are near and dear to The BH, and this is essentially what I’ve told them:
It would have made all rational and financial sense to close when the fire happened, but we just couldn’t....
because of the intensity of devotion from our customers;
because of the overwhelmingly positive and specific feedback from people in all walks of life;
because of the gratitude from our local farmers, artisans and purveyors;
because of the resources we provided to doctors and patients from around the world;
because of the joy we brought to families who could finally eat out together;
because of the ecstasy people felt when they had their first meal in a restaurant without getting sick or being treated like a burden, or their first meal out in however many years…
What I am struggling to convey is that we really did try to stick it out for you folks because we are acutely aware of what we have meant to so many of you. We know because you have told us why you love us and showed us by coming in regularly. It has been exhilarating and sincerely amazing, a ton of fun and very informative.
If it weren’t for these few key things that have added up over the years, if I were five years younger, if we had gotten this popular a little bit sooner….maybe I wouldn’t be writing this.
But they did, and I’m not, and we didn’t…so I am.
And I am so so so sorry.
We have all our fingers and toes crossed for a new restaurant from Matt Wells, the incredible chef who is the one and only reason this place was ever possible. Stay tuned for more on that in the coming months. And if something does happen, please support it and let it stand on its own two feet rather than comparing it to The BH.
Please come see us in these next couple weeks if you can.
We want to say goodbye.

Flourless Pizza

2017-06-10T18:58:00.001-07:00

Low-Carb Pizza

Author: Shirley Braden of Gluten Free Easily

Recipe type: Main Dish

This flourless, naturally gluten-free pizza is loved by MANY--even the gluten-full folks! The crust is made from eggs and cheese. You have to try it to believe it. You will never miss pizza again! Super filling, too, so a little goes a long way.

Ingredients

Crust Ingredients

4 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
¼ cup Parmesan cheese
½ tsp pizza seasoning
8 ounces (2 cups) mozzarella cheese, shredded

Topping Ingredients

⅓ cup (or slightly more, per preference) pizza sauce (I use Ragu traditional pizza sauce)
4 ounces (1 cup) mozzarella cheese, shredded
Assorted toppings of preference: pepperoni, ham, sausage, bacon, ground beef, mushrooms, green peppers, etc. (I recommend precooking any toppings slightly to ensure much less fat/“liquid” to prevent a soggy crust.)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease 9 x 13 glass baking dish (metal does not work well; crust will stick) and line with parchment paper.
For crust, in medium bowl, whisk cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Whisk in eggs until mixture is well-blended and smooth. Add the Parmesan cheese and seasonings. Stir in mozzarella until completely moistened. Spread mixture evenly over parchment paper.
Bake at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes, until evenly browned, but not too dark. Let cool for a few minutes on a wire rack. When slightly cool, I “cheat” and lift the crust using the parchment paper and place all in the freezer for about 30 minutes until completely cooled. If you have plenty of time, you can cool the crust on the counter and then leave in the refrigerator for several hours uncovered. The goal is for the crust to dry out enough that it will be crispy/chewy and you can pick up with your hands.
Once cooled, remove parchment paper and place crust back in same pan (which is adequately greased from before—I even wipe it out a bit with a paper towel). Spread crust with pizza sauce, then cheese (even if you love cheese, do not add more than one cup as the crust is almost entirely made of cheese), and then toppings of your choice.
Bake at 375 degrees for about 15 - 20 minutes or until toppings are bubbly and look right. Let stand a few minutes before cutting. Makes about 8 servings and can be frozen for later eating.

GF Jules

2017-06-10T18:52:00.001-07:00

Hanging with my gluten-free besties at the #GFBloggerRetreat is so amazing! & so are the gluten-free products we get to try and report back to you on!
I scored big-time with this AUDREY color from sponsor Red Apple Lipstick! It's so smooth and creamy, plus no petroleum, no animal bits, no gluten, dairy, corn, harsh chemicals or GMOs. Made in small batches and made with sensitive AND discerning ladies like us in mind.
Their whole makeup line is amazing. I'm just diving in - can't wait to try the Mermaid Lagoon rockin blue eye shadow next!
Huzzah!
http://buff.ly/2rJ32xO
http://buff.ly/2rdCq4x
Do you use gluten-free cosmetics? Want to know more about whether you should? Check out this article: http://buff.ly/2rJ7fl1

Gluten Intolerance Group Recipe

2017-06-10T18:45:00.003-07:00

Smoothies are great in the morning for breakfast and also a wonderful fun afternoon snack. The combination of flavors is endless. Be creative and come up with something new this summer. Did you know you can turn your favorite smoothie into a frozen treat? Mix up your smoothie and pour into a popsicle mold!
Strawberry Banana
1 cup vanilla or flavored yogurt
½ – 1 cup milk
½ cup frozen strawberries*
½ cup fresh peeled banana
2 tbsp. sugar
Raspberry Orange
1 cup vanilla or flavored yogurt
½ – 1 cup milk
½ cup frozen raspberries*
½ cup fresh peeled orange
2 tbsp. sugar
Peach Mango Banana
1 cup vanilla or flavored yogurt
½ – 1 cup milk
½ cup frozen peaches and mangos
½ cup fresh peeled banana
2 tbsp. sugar
Blueberry-Banana
1 fresh peeled banana
1 cup frozen blueberries*
½ cup milk
½ cup ice
1 tbsp. honey or sugar
Kiwi Strawberry
1 cup vanilla or flavored yogurt
½ – 1 cup milk
½ cup frozen strawberries*
½ cup fresh peeled kiwi
2 tbsp. sugar
Spinach Banana
1 cup vanilla or flavored yogurt
½ – 1 cup milk
½ cup frozen or 1 handful fresh spinach
1 whole fresh peeled banana
2 tbsp. sugar
*If using fresh berries add ½ – 1 cup ice if needed.
Directions:
Add all ingredients except sugar to blender and blend until smooth. Add part of sugar, blend, taste, and add rest of sugar if desired.

Thanksgiving Tasting

2016-11-14T11:21:00.002-08:00

New Cascadia Traditional TM "The Gluten Free Artisans" TM

2 hrs ·

Thanksgiving Tasting! This Wednesday! 10:00am! This is your last chance to sample our Thanksgiving pies and rolls before committing to a special order. Tasting begins at 10:00am and lasts as long as our supplies do. In addition to pies and rolls, we will have two versions of our stuffing mix to sample, one meat and one vegetarian. We cannot wait to see you!

Pumpkin Praline Bars

2016-10-12T12:18:00.000-07:00

Pumpkin Praline Bars (Grain-Free, Dairy-Free)

Yield: 9 bars

Recipe courtesy of Everyday Grain-Free Baking

Ingredients

Pumpkin Bars

1 cup blanched almond flour
1 tsp coconut flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup pumpkin purée
1/3 cup honey
2 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract

Pecan Praline Topping

1 Tbsp coconut oil, melted
2 tsp honey
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
1/3 cup pecan pieces

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly oil an 8x8-inch baking dish; set aside.
For the pumpkin bars: In a small bowl, combine the almond flour, coconut flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, add the pumpkin, honey, eggs, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla. Whisk until well combined.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet and continue whisking until thoroughly combined. Add the batter to the prepared baking dish and use an offset spatula to even out the top.
For the pecan topping: In a small bowl, whisk together the melted coconut oil, honey and cinnamon. Add the pecan pieces and toss well to coat.
Sprinkle the pecan topping evenly across the top of the pumpkin bar batter, making sure to gently press it into the batter a bit.
Bake for 22-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool before cutting into bars. Enjoy!

- The Nourishing Home

Glutino

2016-09-12T11:30:00.001-07:00

I had the most perfect pizza for dinner last night. It was Glutino Spinach & Feta pizza. I found it at Safeway. It was $4.99, which I thought was a bit expensive for such a small size, but the taste made up for it. I baked it on a rack in my toaster oven for 16 minutes. It was light golden brown and very crispy. It did satisfy my craving for pizza without making me feel too full or bloated. I know Glutino makes other varieties as well. Give them a try, you may be pleasantly surprised!

Sweet Potato Chicken Burger

2016-09-02T17:31:00.002-07:00

Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Refrigerate: 2-3 hours

Ingredients:

1 pound skinless, organic bone-in chicken
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped
1 cup cilantro, chopped
1 tablespoon green chilies chopped fine
1/2 teaspoon red chili powder, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, or to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Coating:

1 egg
1 cup almond or coconut flour

Instructions:

Add water to two saucepans, and bring both to a boil. Place chicken in one, sweet potatoes in the other.
Remove from heat when chicken is done (about 15-20 minutes) and sweet potatoes are done (about 10-12 minutes)
Once cooled, shred the boiled chicken into small pieces. Mash the potato. Mix together in a bowl.
Add in cilantro, chilies, and spices
Form 2-inch, round patties
Leave in fridge to firm (ideally 2-3 hours, but I was impatient and waited 30 minutes)
Remove from fridge, then dip each side in the egg mixture (just one egg beaten)
In a separate bowl, coat each cutlet in flour
Place on a cookie sheet on top of parchment paper. Allow it to freeze.
When you’re ready to eat, simply take one out and pan-fry it with some ghee or coconut oil.

- The Hearty Soul

A Tasty Recipe

2016-09-01T12:22:00.003-07:00

Shrimp Fajita Fettuccine

Serves 3-4

INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
3 bell peppers, sliced
1 onion, sliced
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons salt
12 ounces cooked fettucine
1 cup pepper jack, shredded
PREPARATION
1. Heat oil in a pot over high heat.
2. Cook the shrimp until pink, then remove from pan.
3. Next add onions, peppers, cumin, chili powder, cooking until peppers and onions start to soften slightly.
4. Add the fettuccine and pepper jack, stirring until evenly combined and cheese is melted.
5. Serve!

- Tasty - Check them out on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/buzzfeedtasty/?fref=ts

Celiac Disease

2016-08-20T12:09:00.000-07:00

Here are some facts you may not have know about Celiac disease.

1. CELIAC DISEASE IS NOT AN ALLERGY

Celiac is an autoimmune disorder. Once a person has it, they will have it for the rest of their lives.

2. VERY COMMON

Celiac disease is one of the most common autoimmune disorders today.

3. HEREDITARY

Celiac is heredity meaning it is passed down through generations. If one of your parents or a family member has it, you are more likely to get it.

4. GLUTEN IS EVERYWHERE

Gluten is not just for food, it is also in vitamins, makeup, toothpaste, and adhesives.

5. NO CURE

There is no cure for Celiac disease, the only treatment is a gluten-free diet for the rest of your life.

6. DERMATITIS HERPETIFORMIS

20% to 25% of people with Celiac will get this rash. It is very itchy and painful.

7. CHILDREN

Celiac affects children. About every 1 in 100 children are diagnosed with the disease.

8. DAMAGE TO SMALL INTESTINES

9. SYMPTOMS SHOW UP AT ANYTIME

There is really no onset stage of Celiac symptoms. They can show up anytime, from childhood into adulthood.

10. SYMPTOMS

Commons symptoms of Celiac disease include fatigue, joint pain, headache, rash, and stomach pain. Sometimes there are no symptoms.

11. BLOOD TEST

A blood test can tell for certain if you have Celiac disease. If a family member has it, you should probably get tested for it.

12. UNDIAGNOSED OR MISDIAGNOSED

It is estimated that 90% of those with Celiac disease are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.

13. TESTING

If you test negative for Celiac disease but show signs of it later on, get tested again. You can have a false negative test.

14. CAUSE

The actual cause of Celiac disease is not known. Scientists are still researching it.

15. CAN’T OUTGROW

If your child is diagnosed with Celiac disease, they will have it forever. It can’t be outgrown.

16. NUTRIENTS

People with Celiac disease may not be absorbing nutrition properly because of damage to their intestines.
- Dailynews.us

Chickpea Burgers

2016-08-15T15:59:00.002-07:00

For the Chickpea Burger

¹⁄₃ cup olive oil, separated

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 small stalk celery, finely chopped

1 tbsp. fresh thyme leaves

Salt and pepper, to taste

1 (15-oz) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

1 cup cooked brown rice

8 cloves garlic, roasted and peeled

¹⁄₄ cup sesame tahini

2 tsp. lemon zest

¹⁄₄ cup finely chopped parsley

1 egg

For Serving

2 oz. sprouts

1 small cucumber, thinly sliced

2 Roma tomatoes, cored and sliced ¹⁄₂" thick

3 oz. feta, crumbled

3 pocket pitas cut in half crosswise, or 6 hamburger buns, split and toasted

Instructions

Heat 2 tbsp. olive oil in a 12" skillet over medium high heat. Add onions, celery and thyme and cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and reserve. Wipe skillet clean.

Place chickpeas and rice in a food processor, along with garlic, tahini, and zest. Pulse until chickpeas and rice are chopped, but not yet a paste, about 8 pulses or about 10 seconds. Transfer mixture to the bowl with the onions. Add parsley and egg, season with salt and pepper, and mix well to combine. Divide mixture into six 4 oz. patties, about 3" wide x ¹⁄₂" thick. Place on a plate and refrigerate for 20 minutes or until ready to use.

Heat 2 tbsp. oil in skillet over medium high heat and cook burgers in batches of 3, flipping once halfway through until toasted on each side and cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining oil and burgers.

Divide burgers, sprouts, sliced cucumber, tomato and feta between pita pocket halves or buns and serve.

- GIG of Portland

What is Gluten and Where is it Found?

2016-08-03T15:47:00.001-07:00

Gluten is the elastic protein in wheat, rye and barley. It is used as a
thickening agent in some sauces, soups, stews, salad dressings, and
other products. Most breads and baked goods rely on gluten for
elasticity.
Some people avoid gluten because of an allergy to wheat, which
causes typical symptoms associated with allergic reaction. Others
are gluten intolerant, experiencing conditions such as joint/muscle pain,
fatigue, and headaches. The most serious gluten condition is Celiac
disease, which attacks the immune system. If left untreated, intestinal
damage can lead to other serious nutritional and immune disorders.
- Boars Head Products
- Helpful Resources:
Celiac Disease Foundation - www.celiac.org
Celiac Support Foundation - www.csaceliacs.org
Gluten Intolerance Group - www.gluten.net
National Foundation for Celiac Awareness - www.celiaccentral.org

Delicious eats that are all taste and zero grain.

2016-07-22T16:29:00.000-07:00

Whether you’re celiac, sensitive, or simply focusing on your health, more and more of us are saying goodbye to grains. Gluten and grain intolerance have been on the rise for the last two decades and seem to match the rise in brain-related health issues like anxiety, depression, dementia, ADHD and more.
In the last decade alone, gluten intolerance levels have increased from 1 in 2,500 worldwide to 1 in 133.
William Davies, the cardiologist who wrote the New York Times bestseller Wheat Belly, believes that wheat is the culprit behind many unpleasant digestive and metabolic issues. He’s based his belief off of his own clinical research and his findings that after advising his cardiac patients to fully nix wheat and wheat products from their diets, not one of them experienced a heart attack.
Quite remarkable!
To elaborate on his theory, he also notes that centuries of selectively producing wheat crops has rendered them essentially toxic to humans today—and he seems to be correct in his notion.
In fact, researchers published a study in the British Journal of Nutrition that tested Dr. Davis’ theory of modern vs. ancient grains with twenty IBS patients. The results were clear—testers consuming a modern day wheat diet saw no improvement in their condition, but those on the ancient-wheat diet experienced drastic improvement in their daily symptoms.

Delicious Grain-Free Treats

Sometimes—despite knowing all of the reasons why we should ditch the modern grains and the toll they take on our bodies—we find ourselves craving our favorite sandwiches, wraps, and crunchy snacks. Fortunately, there are many fantastic swaps you can keep on hand in your kitchen to prevent falling victim to a guilty grain indulgence.
Raw Wraps. These yummy wraps were created with the goal to produce a product that makes you change the way you think about gluten-free substitutes. While many can taste bland and have little to boast about nutritionally-speaking, these are made from simple, real ingredients. Flavor choices include spinach wraps and kale wraps in a variety of size selections.
Wrawp. The Veggie Life wraps from Wrawp are fruit-free and made with organic lettuce, organic spinach, organic flax, organic coconut, organic turmeric, and black salt. You can use them to make a tasty wrap for any meal, or snack on them by themselves—plus, they’re a great way to sneak veggies into the diets of your pickier eaters.
Julian Bakery. Paleo bread from Julian Bakery is available in Almond, Coconut, Honey, and Cinnamon Raisin—and a vegan version is to come! While I would suggest limiting this to 1-2 times per week, it’s quite the suitable substitute when you just can’t quit your daydream of a savory sandwich.
They also offer Paleo Wraps made from three simple, but tasty ingredients—coconut meat, coconut water, and unrefined virgin coconut oil.
ChocolaTree. This brand will satisfy any grain pain. Their large product line boasts chia crackers, kale chips (in cheddar, rosemary, and chipotle), vegan cheese crumbles, pizza bread, onion bread, and two very fun flavors of wraps—tomato and curry. So you don’t have to choose just one, they also offer samplers that contain multiple products at a discounted price.
Ditching the grain is your gain, and with these delectable substitutes, it’s also easy.
- Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman

Zucchini Tater Tots

2016-07-20T12:38:00.002-07:00

Prep time

45 mins

Cook time

30 mins

Total time

1 hour 15 mins

Recipe type: Side, Gluten Free, Vegan

Serves: 40

Ingredients

3 large russet potatoes, peeled
2 zucchinis, about 2-3 cups shredded
1½ teaspoons salt, plus more for sprinkling on top
Olive oil

Instructions

Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil and cook potatoes for 20-30 minutes, until fork tender but still have some give in the middle. Drain water and let potatoes cool until they are comfortable to handle. You want them to still be warm.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Grate potatoes on the large side of a box grater and put into a large bowl. Grate each zucchini and squeeze out the liquid using a clean dishtowel. Place grated zucchini into the bowl with the potatoes and add 1½ teaspoons salt. Use your hands to mix everything together.
Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Use your hands to form small cylinders with the mixture. Use about 1 tablespoon per tater tot. Place the cookie sheet in the freezer for about 10 minutes to allow them to firm up.
Brush the top of each tater tot with a small amount of olive oil and sprinkle each one with salt. Bake tater tots until browned a crispy, about 30 minutes flipping halfway though. Serve with ketchup if desired.

Notes

Recipe makes approximately 40 tater tots.

- GIG of Portland

2016-07-05T11:09:00.001-07:00

Is Vanilla Gluten-free?

2 Comments... Speak up!
Written by Tiffany Janes / Published in Celiac Disease

Both vanilla extract and natural vanilla flavor are safe for those on the gluten-free diet. Even though to make each product, vanilla beans are soaked in water and alcohol, it is considered gluten-free. However, this was not known until just a few short years ago. That is why you’ll often see in gluten-free cookbooks and on gluten-free recipes sites, the term vanilla with “gluten-free” before or after it. The truth is that no vanilla – extracts or otherwise – contain gluten. Imitation and artificial vanilla extract are also gluten-free, though niether is nearly as good as the real thing.
McCormick recently began labeling their pure vanilla extract gluten-free, even though it always was gluten-free. There is no gluten-free product list on the company’s website which is annoying since they have started labeling at least the vanilla extract gluten-free. McCormick, like so many other companies, realized that some people will choose an item that is marked gluten-free over others that are not, when given the opportunity. However, there are less expensive vanilla extracts than the McCormick brand.
In Shelley Case’s book “Gluten-Free Diet: A Comprehensive Resource Guide”, vanilla, vanilla extract, vanilla flavoring and vanillin are all listed in the gluten-free additive and ingredients list. It’s again confusing for someone new to the diet who might pick up a gluten-free cookbook at the library where every reference to vanilla calls for a gluten-free version. That would indicate there might be a gluten containing version of vanilla out there somewhere.
While it’s frustrating that for so long, very little was known about what was and was not gluten-free – at least in terms of many processed foods – the safest thing to do is rely on factual information from nutrition experts like Shelley Case. She has devoted much of her dietitian career to helping those in our community safely follow the gluten-free diet. Vanilla is gluten-free so buy whatever brand of it you want to. It matters not if ‘gluten-free’ stamped on the box or not.
References:

Gluten-Free Diet: A Comprehensive Resource Guide