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Showing posts with label gluten free. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gluten free. Show all posts
9.09.2013
Rad Recipe: Warming Lentil & Sweet Potato Salad
Fall is almost here! And while I'm near devastation that hot sunny days will soon come to an end, I'm looking forward to warming myself up with some sweater-n-jeans lovin' and delectable fall foods, like my all time favorite tuber: sweet potato!
In this power house salad, the fiber-rich lentils help lower cholesterol, balance blood sugar, increase your energy, and even aid in elimination (*ahem* poop - my fave topic. But probably shouldn't talk about it in a recipe...).
Our darling sweet potatoes are vitamin packed and help balance blood sugar. How sweet of them. Spinach, rich in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, protects against inflammation (boo), oxidative stress (double boo), and cancer (ugh).
Bonus! Cook once, eat twice! A dish like this is perfect for refrigerating to be used later in the week, or brought to work for lunch.
Ingredients
½ cup green lentils
1 large sweet potato
¼ cup raw or sprouted walnuts
¼ cup raw dates, chopped
1 tsp dijon mustard
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp maple syrup
Dash of sea salt and ground pepper, to taste
Dash of cinnamon
2 cups baby spinach
Directions
1. Cook lentils in a pot until tender using a 4:1 water to lentils ratio. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer and cook for about 30 minutes on low.
2. Meanwhile, dice sweet potato, spray with cooking spray and sprinkle with cinnamon, salt and pepper, and bake cubes at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes.
3. Fill a bowl with baby spinach, and toss in lentils and sweet potato when done; add in walnuts and dates as well.
4. Combine mustard, vinegar and maple in a jar and shake to combine. Pour over salad.
5. Enjoy!
7.01.2013
Put your game face on and level up!
When I was a wee little one, i used to love to come home from school, get me some milk ‘n cookies and sit down to diligently do my homework right away!
....
False. I rushed home to play hours upon hours of NINTENDO. I was obsessed. With Super Mario Brothers in particular. There was something exhilarating about becoming an expert in various levels, knowing the lay of the land and anticipating every Goomba or Koopa Troopa that lurked in the shadows. I could care less about the Princess (sorry sister). So, then what was the point of it all?
LEVELING UP, BABY.
For me, it was all about the journey and optimizing my new found skills and awareness to take it to the next level. Was I going to beat the game my first time playing? Of course not. It took curiosity, persistence and learning new skills and tricks to get there.
For me, it was all about the journey and optimizing my new found skills and awareness to take it to the next level. Was I going to beat the game my first time playing? Of course not. It took curiosity, persistence and learning new skills and tricks to get there.
Are you seeing the metaphor here?
Much like in real life, it takes curiosity, persistence and experience to take things to the next level. This applies to our healthy habits too! Does one go from Taco Bell Queen to Green Juice Goddess in a single day? Nope. Moving along at our own unique pace will lead to the most sustainable changes. And even the smallest changes can lead to big differences - every move matters.
✓ Read the label
✓ Less ingredients, the better
✓ It’s ok to be confused. There’s a lot of misinformation out there - so ask! Ask the staff at the store, ask a friend who’s healthy or go the distance and seek support from a pro like a health coach or doctor.
Remember, too, that it’s OK to fall back sometimes - we all have our bad days. You are the CEO of your life - no one can fire you for eating that Domino’s pizza the other night. In fact, if you do choose to drop down a level and nosh on some junk, do it with gusto and acceptance. Enjoy every minute of it, then level back up because life is about the journey. Don’t forget to enjoy the ride.
If you’re ready to LEVEL UP your health game, then sign up for the Summer Sizzle Detox and join others who are on the path to feeling awesome in their skin this summer! Click HERE to get started.
Much like in real life, it takes curiosity, persistence and experience to take things to the next level. This applies to our healthy habits too! Does one go from Taco Bell Queen to Green Juice Goddess in a single day? Nope. Moving along at our own unique pace will lead to the most sustainable changes. And even the smallest changes can lead to big differences - every move matters.
That’s why I'm giving you some tips on leveling up in your health journey, no matter what level you’re on. Check out this lil' chart I put together to pinpoint wether you're a novice, gamer or pro in 4 areas I get asked about often, and see how you can level up (or down).
Juice
You wanna make sure you're getting real juice - as in 100% real juice. The best kinds are organic, non pasteurized and not from concentrate.
Wanna go pro? Fresh pressed is king, so make your own! The lower in sugar (= less fruit), the better.
Bread/Flour
Here's where "white" really is devil. Try to stay away from highly processed refined breads and flours. Can you squish that bread loaf into a ball easily? Then it's highly processed and not "real" food at this point. Go for organic whole grain varieties, which have more nutrients and fiber (and are tastier in my opinion).
Go pro: try sprouted grain breads! Brands like Food for Life and Manna can be found in the freezer section at your local health food store.
*If you're gluten sensitive, then stay away from glutenous grains all together - opt for gluten free flours like almond or brown rice*
Snack Bar
Are there a hundred ingredients you can't pronounce in that bar? Then ditch it. Again, organic is good but doesn't always mean better... with snack bars, you really want to watch out for the sugar content. Sadly, some organic snack bars are no better than a candy bar! I would try to save snack bars for "emergency" moments (like when traveling or when you can't access food easily) - not as a meal replacement or daily snack.
Pro tips: make sure your bar has a lower sugar count and is higher in protein. Try making your own - it's actually fun and you have control of what goes in it!
Cleaning Products
Man oh man, talk about toxicity. There are so many chemicals that go into cleaning products and they absolutely have an effect on our health! Definitely check out Environmental Working Group (EWG) and their guide to healthy cleaning. It takes the guess work out of choosing cleaning products and exposes the worst offenders.
Going pro: DIY is not trendy - it's smart! AND CHEAP. So try lowering your toxic load and cleaning expenses by making your own cleaning products. I get tons of great ideas from Pinterest (warning: TIME SUCK).
BONUS: Here are some general ground rules to follow that will help guide you in your health game:
✓ Read the label
✓ Less ingredients, the better
✓ It’s ok to be confused. There’s a lot of misinformation out there - so ask! Ask the staff at the store, ask a friend who’s healthy or go the distance and seek support from a pro like a health coach or doctor.
Remember, too, that it’s OK to fall back sometimes - we all have our bad days. You are the CEO of your life - no one can fire you for eating that Domino’s pizza the other night. In fact, if you do choose to drop down a level and nosh on some junk, do it with gusto and acceptance. Enjoy every minute of it, then level back up because life is about the journey. Don’t forget to enjoy the ride.
If you’re ready to LEVEL UP your health game, then sign up for the Summer Sizzle Detox and join others who are on the path to feeling awesome in their skin this summer! Click HERE to get started.
6.18.2013
A Rad Recipe from Summer Sizzle Detox!
Who says detox recipes have to be bland and boring? NOT THIS GIRL. Since I'm a choco-holic, I had to share the love with you all. Enjoy!
Chocolate Covered Cherry
1 cup water, unsweetened coconut milk, hemp milk, or rice milk½ avocado
¾ cup of frozen cherries
1 tablespoon ground flax
1 tablespoon ground chia
1 tablespoon raw cacao
½ dropper of stevia
3-4 ice cubes (optional)
Throw all ingredients into a high speed blender and blend baby blend. Enjoy with a cherry on top :)
5.22.2013
Powerin' Up with Gopal's Power Wraps
Powerin' Up with Gopal's Power Wraps
Love these bad boys!
These wraps are like the healthy organic vegan version of a slim jim. They're smaller than nun-chucks and pack just as mean of a punch.
The Gopal Power Wraps come in 6 different yummy flavors like curry, italian, mexican and japanese. They're a great source of plant protein and minerals, with sprouted sunflower seeds and fun flavors wrapped in high grade, fish-free nori. Dehydrated to maintain raw goodness, they can easily be taken on a plane, train, and automobile.
My faves so far are masala and japanese... and Gopal's got some other snacks I'm eye'n. So next time, try snappin' into one of these guys when you're on the go.
5.16.2013
Alleriges suck. 5 easy ways to put out that fire...
You
know it’s coming... the red itchy eyes. The stuffy nose. The constant
sneezing and wheezing. The headaches... oh the headaches! Seasonal
Allergies.
1 in 4 people suffer from allergies of some kind - seasonal, food, skin,
etc. You are not alone! It doesn’t help that this year is supposed to be
a rough one for those with allergies, at least in Chicago.
I'm
here to tell you there are other things to help you out besides downing
a handful of Claritin and passing out for 4 hours (well, at least you avoided
symptoms during those 4 hours...).
Allergies
are your body's reaction to specific foreign bodies, and can vary for
different people. Having bad allergies is a sign that your immune system has tagged certain things as "bad" and is working overtime to fight them. It's your body's immune response that's to blame for those symptoms we all hate.
The next time you find yourself reaching for the medicine cabinet, why not try these easy remedies first.
Here are my top 5 ways of quelling that allergic fire...
1. Neti that nizzle!
I love me some pot... NETI POT that is.
Nasal
irrigation has been used since ancient times, with the earliest records
found in the Ayurvedic tradition. The old school way of doing it was to
just cup salt water in your hands, sniff it up your nose and blow it right
out. Pleasant visual there.
I find that tools like the neti pot make this experience much more
pleasant, and even fun (if you’re a weirdo like me). There’s something
about seeing gross stuff being flushed out of my nose that sends a
feeling of accomplishment over me...
Neti
at the first sign of congestion. It would also be a good idea to neti
on a regular basis for maintenance. One thing that I found super helpful
- which is also apart of the nasal irrigation tradition but got lost
somewhere along the road - is to oil the inside of your nostrils with
sesame oil after you neti. This re-lubricates the nasal passage so that
the dryness doesn’t provoke an overproduction of mucus.
2. Choose nettles + feverfew for relief (this is a two-for-one!)
Nettles
are another old school remedy - Native Americans used stinging nettle
for thousands of years to treat allergies and other ailments. Stinging
nettle leaf is a major antihistamine that aids in the prevention of hay
fever symptoms... without the side effects of typical allergy
medications. That means no danger of passing out from drowsiness and
missing those lovely spring days! You can get nettles in the dried form
for making tea, liquid tinctures to take as drops, or freeze dried in
capsule form.
Feverfew
is a great anti-inflammatory medicinal herb and works synergistically
with stinging nettle leaf! You can take Stinging Nettle Leaf (must be
freeze dried to retain active compounds) along with Feverfew so they can
tag team your allergy woes.
3. Ditch dairy
...and
gluten! Oh yes I did. You might be saying “Oh brother, here we go again
with the dairy/gluten-free thing.” But here’s the truth: both
dairy and gluten are inflammatory foods. Which means they provoke your
immune system by causing extra inflammation and can make symptoms worse!
Besides feeding the inflammatory fire, many people are actually
sensitive or allergic to these foods and don’t even realize it. This
creates an immune system that’s working overtime and over active. Not to
mention damaging your gut - where 70-80% of your immune system exists!
Word of advice... try eliminating these foods from your diet for a period
of one week and see if you feel a better.
4. Put on that tankini and get some sunny D!
Git
yer butt in some sunshine stat. Asthma sufferers... I’m looking at
you. Of course, everyone needs appropriate amounts of vitamin D and fact
is, most of us are deficient. But if you have asthma, optimizing your
vitamin D levels is paramount according to this study linking asthma with lower vitamin D levels.
Ideally,
you'll want to get your vitamin D from safe sun exposure. You could
also do a safe tanning bed or an oral vitamin D3 supplement. Worried
about vitamin D toxicity? Most Americans are very deficient and
therefore can use higher doses, but always ask your doctor to check your
D levels when doing blood work. And if you’re sourcing your vitamin D
from basking in the sun, your body makes the exact amount you need with
no risk of ODing on D!
5. Drink Green Tea
As
you may know, green tea has some pretty powerful antioxidant phytonutrients. EGCG
(epigallocatechin gallate) is one of them - it actively blocks histamine
and immunoglobulin E (IgE - one of our antibodies) production which
means it reduces allergy symptoms. Thanks again, green tea. Drink it
daily or add matcha powder to smoothies. My favorite kinds are
gunpowder and genmaicha (green tea + roasted brown rice).
Remember that addressing the root of allergy problems and the severity of the symptoms takes more than just a cover up job with meds. It’s important to know that there is a whole lot more we can be doing to make allergy season less doomsday-like and more "bring it on, allergies ain't got nuthin' on me"-like. If you're interested in finding out more about how you can make real changes, holla at me by clicking here to schedule a breakthru session.
4.09.2013
Give it to me Raw: Cacao!
Above is a pic of sundried raw cacao nibs and the cacao fruit! Yes, it looks a little alien-ish, but in a strangely yummy way. Raw cacao is actually the seed of the cacao fruit - roasted and made into a powder, these lovely seeds are used to make cocoa powder and chocolate.
Didjya know...
Cacao has been treasured for ages - used both in a ritual beverage and a major currency system in pre-Columbian Mesoamerican civilizations! Cha-ching. Today we know that cacao has one of the highest counts of antioxidants (the less processed the better!)
There are around 300 identified compounds in cacao - including magnesium, calcium and sulfur. As some of us know, chocolate affects the brain by causing the release of certain neurotransmitters which can trigger emotions, one of which is euphoria. Hello! That's because it has various "bliss" chemicals that tickle our fancy, but can also be addictive (duh).
As a self-confessed chocolate addict, I choose to go raw or pick a really dark organic chocolate with no added sugar to indulge in. Throw the nibs in your trail mix or raw cacao powder in your almond milk latte to perk you up in all the right ways!
Didjya know...
Cacao has been treasured for ages - used both in a ritual beverage and a major currency system in pre-Columbian Mesoamerican civilizations! Cha-ching. Today we know that cacao has one of the highest counts of antioxidants (the less processed the better!)
There are around 300 identified compounds in cacao - including magnesium, calcium and sulfur. As some of us know, chocolate affects the brain by causing the release of certain neurotransmitters which can trigger emotions, one of which is euphoria. Hello! That's because it has various "bliss" chemicals that tickle our fancy, but can also be addictive (duh).
As a self-confessed chocolate addict, I choose to go raw or pick a really dark organic chocolate with no added sugar to indulge in. Throw the nibs in your trail mix or raw cacao powder in your almond milk latte to perk you up in all the right ways!
3.26.2013
My Favorite Trail Mix. Ever.
How gorgeous is this mix??
Speaking of trail mixes.... here's one of my all time faves! Not to mention, trail mixes are a staple for me whenever I travel. This one is low on sugar and packs a superfood nutritious punch, full of protein, antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and deliciousness. You can buy a pre-made trail mix, but I prefer to visit the bulk section at Whole Foods or a health food store and make my own - that way I get exactly what I want in the proportions I want. This blissful mix has organic pistachios, Himalayan raisins, mulberries, gojiberries, macadamia nuts, cashews, and of course cacao nibs ;) Time to get nutty.
3.12.2013
Be cool and tap that app.
That's right. Cheetos, that perfectly constructed lab "food" that took thousands of dollars and hours to get juuuuuust right... got a big fat D and a handful of warnings to go along with it. The picture is from an app I use called Fooducate, and it's one among the MANY new health and eco- conscious apps available to the masses (of smartphone users).
It can be a confusing and daunting food world out there. Wild Wild West. Smoking gun at every turn of the grocery aisle. BAM! Victims of a corrupt food nation and we didn't even see it coming. Just the other day, I skipped out on reading the label of a seemingly innocent goji berry snack I purchased (hey - even health coaches let their guard down at times). Apparently the manufacturers thought it would be awesome if they doused the perfectly wonderful raw goji berries with tons of additives and added sugar - turning the pure and delicious gojis into poison, and making me out to be a fool.
"GOTCHA SUCKA!" - that's what I imagined them saying as I bought the overpriced bag without a second thought.
Overly dramatic of me you say? Hardly. If you look at what this kind of behavior and lack of transparency by food corporations has done to the state of health in America and beyond, then it's hard to disagree. That's why it's KEY to take advantage of awesome new tools available to us now.
It's time to arm yourself like the 21st century smartphone-carrier you are... this means no more excuses. Transparency can be right at our fingertips - if we choose it. Make the right move and download these 9 cool apps that will help empower you when confronted with confusing and sometimes overwhelming food choices:
1. As a kid, I had this weird fascination with the scanner at the grocery store... and apparently it hasn’t entirely gone away because I can’t stop scanning my food with the Fooducate app! This free app lets you scan the barcode of any product (or just shake it for a random item), and proceeds to give you a letter grade, the number of calories per serving, and other health-related information. I likey a lot.
2. Similar to Fooducate, The GoodGuide mobile app makes it fast and easy to find safe, healthy, green, and ethical products, instantly delivering the information you’re looking for when you need it.
3. Say it ain’t Sole... avoid overfished and PCB-ridden seafood with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch app. It’s easy to navigate and contains the Monterey Bay Aquarium extensive research and expertise regarding mercury, toxins, and sustainability of seafood choices. This app gives you quick lists of fish as the "best choice," a "good alternative" or one to "avoid." Super informative and detailed, this will help you choose in a jiffy at the fish counter.
4. Did you know that there’s a really good chance the seemingly healthy conventional celery stick you ate as a snack was highly contaminated, since conventional celery tested positive for 57 different pesticides. Eek. The Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen app will help you discern the dirties from the Clean Fifteen with their easy to use shopper’s guide to pesticides.
The following are for iPhones only.
{sigh}... to my dismay - Android user :(
5. What’s on my food? If you really want to know, then this app is for you. From the Pesticide Action Network, the most recent data (ranging from 1999 to 2007) is used to give you super specific info that you most definitely want to know, showing possible carcinogens, hormone disruptors, neurotoxins, and more.
6. I love me some Mark Bittman. And now you can have him in your little pocket with his very own How to Cook Everything app, which has 2,000 recipes - there’s also a vegetarian version (2,000 meatless dishes). The best-selling author and NY Times columnist also gives us shopping lists, kitchen timers, and illustrations for cooking techniques such as chopping and peeling, all in his no-nonsense style. And if you don’t read his Op-Ed column in the Times, start now.
7. Say Hell No to GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) with Non-GMO’s shopping guide app called ShopNoGMO. Those suckers are very sneaky and are in pretty much anything packaged, so make sure you let this little ole app help you avoid GMOs in the foods you buy at your grocery store.
8. Seasons app is all about foods that are in... you guessed it - season! From fruits, veggies, lettuces, herbs, mushrooms, and nuts - it lets you search by “local” and “imported” season. It also includes an international Farmers’ Market finder, you know, for all you lucky jetsetters who are not in Chicago right now (whose local food list items can most likely be counted on one hand during these colder months...).
9. Have an allergy or 2 (or 3...)? Or just want to avoid certain foods? Then check out Cook IT Allergy Free. This app has over 200 recipes that can all be customized to be made allergy free. Tell the app everything you’re allergic to, and it’ll automatically adjust the recipe to include a substitution. You can save your adjusted recipes, keep notes on your “trial & error,” create a shopping list, and more.
Do you have a favorite app that's not listed here? Let me know by writing a comment below! Share the wealth y'all.
3.11.2013
Sweet Eats: Blueberries with Cashew Creme
Blueberries with Cashew Creme
I love a good guilt-free dessert, don't you? This one also happens to be dairy-free, gluten-free and organic :)
The raw blueberries pack tons of anti-inflammatory phytonutrients and antioxidants, while the cashews, rich in heart healthy monounsaturated fats, provide magnesium to lower blood pressure and are high in protein and fiber. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup raw whole cashews, rinsed
- 1 cup alkaline or filtered water, cold (or just enough to get creamy consistency)
- pinch of sea salt
- 1/4 cup agave nectar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 whole soaked vanilla bean squeezed to release seeds
- 1/3 cup Raw Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, warmed until liquid
- 1/3 cup Irish Moss Paste (optional)
- handful of organic berries
Preparation
Soak the nuts the night before (or a few hours if you have the time). Cover the nuts with the water and set aside on a kitchen counter or cover the dish and place in your refrigerator.
Drain and Rinse the Cashews. Add the drained raw cashews to a high speed blender, Vitamix or Blendtec Total Blender, with enough water to cover plus about an inch more.
Add the rest of the ingredients in the cashew mix. Process the contents on HIGH till the contents are totally smooth and creamy. Throw some rad berries (of your choosing) on top. I chose organic blueberries :)
3.08.2013
Stevia Wonder: Organic and Green
If you're trying to stay off sugar or just want to add a bit more sweetness in your life (without all the bad), then organic green stevia is your saving grace. Stevia is derived from the leaves of a species of plants in the sunflower family and in extract form is 300x more sweet than regular sugar! Das sweet.
The cool thing about stevia is that is doesn't really have an effect on your blood sugar like any other sweetener. It's a great low-carb, low-sugar alternative that's WAY better than any artificial sweetener. I prefer to use the organic green powder variety because it's less processed than its white powder or liquid versions. Use it in your smoothies, desserts or anything else you want with a sweet touch.
2.26.2013
Sweet Eats: Arize Kombucha
Arize Artisan Kombucha from Living Well Brewery is a recent obsession of mine. Nathan Wyse brews this hand-crafted, raw kombucha right here in Chicago at The Plant (a pretty cool net-zero energy vertical farm and food business operation).
For those of you who haven't heard of kombucha (all two of you), it's a fermented tea made from a mother (bacteria and yeast culture) that touts benefits such as aiding digestion and amping up your immune system. Wyse uses only certified organic, fair trade, wild harvested and local ingredients in this probiotic drink. Arize blends yerba maté, tulsi (holy basil) and black tea as the base. It's pretty darn delicious. Reminiscent of bubbly minus the hangover ;) I recommend drinking it in a wine glass. In the tub. Bob Marley optional.
For those of you who haven't heard of kombucha (all two of you), it's a fermented tea made from a mother (bacteria and yeast culture) that touts benefits such as aiding digestion and amping up your immune system. Wyse uses only certified organic, fair trade, wild harvested and local ingredients in this probiotic drink. Arize blends yerba maté, tulsi (holy basil) and black tea as the base. It's pretty darn delicious. Reminiscent of bubbly minus the hangover ;) I recommend drinking it in a wine glass. In the tub. Bob Marley optional.
2.25.2013
Mmmillet!
Uh bird food?
Yes, yes, millet seeds are indeed used for bird food. BUT millet's an
awesome ancient grain that's been around a long ass time (we're talking
neolithic era here) and is even mentioned in the Old Testament - hence
the Ezekiel bread brand name.
This
gluten-free grain is used for all sorts of goodness, from flour to
beer, but I prefer it straight up for all its nutty deliciousness. Throw
in some beans and cilantro like I did on the right - perfecto!
*Bonus!* Millet contains fiber, iron, B vitamins, manganese, phosphorus, and magnesium – and is highly alkaline, making it easily digestible and soothing to the stomach. Holla!
To get millet that's dry 'n fluffy, the best way to prep is toasting it first.
To
toast: Place a heavy-bottomed pot or large pan with a lid over high
heat. Place 1 cup of millet into the pot and stir constantly until the
grains start popping and jumping around. Be sure it doesn't burn. Remove
the pot and lower the heat slightly, stirring constantly to cool.
Next, carefully add 2 cups boiling water or veggie stock and sea salt to taste.
Return to a boil, then reduce the heat and cover the pot. Simmer until all the liquid has been absorbed, about 25 minutes. Turn off heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff immediately with a fork. Makes 3 1/2 to 4 cups cooked millet.
Next, carefully add 2 cups boiling water or veggie stock and sea salt to taste.
Return to a boil, then reduce the heat and cover the pot. Simmer until all the liquid has been absorbed, about 25 minutes. Turn off heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff immediately with a fork. Makes 3 1/2 to 4 cups cooked millet.
2.11.2013
Rrrrl Good Recipe: Heart Beets Juice
I
love me some fresh jugo, of all colors in the rainbow, but one of my
faves is a good ol' luscious RED juice. This one's got kick from ginger
that warms the heart in the cold winter months and stimulates
circulation. Not to mention beets bring in anti-inflammatory and
antioxidant powers.
Confession: it kinda makes me feel like I'm a
character in True Blood. And I like that. Don't judge.
Heart Beets Juice
- 2 beets
- 3 large carrots
- 1 large handful of spinach, parsley or another dark leafy green
- 3 stalks of celery
- 1 green apple
- 2 small cucumber
- 1 inch ginger
Prep and wash all produce. Juice and serve. Makes 16-20 oz.
2.04.2013
Q&A: Is This lil' G causing Big Trouble?
Hey Player Players!
Now whether you were rooting for the 49ers or Ravens - or you were just partaking in Super Bowl madness for the beer, pizza and mini taquitos - you might be hurting from post-game stomach pains. There's a good chance that a lil' g-thang might be causing that rumbling in your tummy... which brings me to today's post:It's Q-to-the-A Time!
This week's question comes from Irma! She aks:
What’s with gluten? I know what it is, but is it
something that’s worth eliminating from my diet or can I just consume in
moderation?
Ah yes. Gluten. Lots of buzz and confusion
surrounding this little protein. To eat or not to eat it - that seems to be the
question on lots of people’s minds. Lemme try to shed some light on this sticky
topic...
Gluten (Latin for “glue”) is a protein that’s found
in wheat products as well as foods processed from other grains like barley,
rye, spelt, kamut, oat, triticale, semolina, pumpernickel and farro. Some people may be sensitive to gluten while
others can be severely allergic or intolerant. And some people have no problem
with it at all. But for those that do, symptoms can be
wide-ranging and varied.
For people who can’t properly digest gluten and
yet have been eating these grains for years, there’s a good chance that their
digestive system is damaged. Gluten can cause tears in the intestinal lining,
which then leads to malabsorption of nutrients like carbohydrates, fat,
protein, vitamins and minerals (er... das not good). This condition is called
Celiac Disease, an autoimmune disease that can manifest in different ways for
different people. Symptoms may range from diarrhea and constipation to chronic
fatigue and depression. You can test for Celiac disease through blood tests and
biopsy.
Keep in mind that while Celiac Disease is a
serious condition and should be not be taken lightly, it’s a fairly small
percentage of the population. There is, however, a large population of people
that are sensitive to gluten but aren’t full blown celiacs. These people
would also benefit greatly from a gluten-free diet.
If you’re reading this suspecting you have a
sensitivity or Celiac Disease and are all like
“GREAT. MY SYSTEM’S ALL JACKED
UP AND I’M DOOMED A LIFE OF MALABSORPTION AND NO PIZZA!?!”
... I’m here to tell
you that there IS life after gluten. Here are some tips to get you on track!
1. First of all, our bodies are awesome
self-healing machines - but they need the right support and environment to do
what they gotta do. That’s where a gluten free diet can help significantly.
When you take out the gluten from your diet, you’re giving your digestive
system a huge break to finally start healing and absorbing the nutrients that
you need!
2. Check out Gluten Free Diet by
Shelley Case and Wheat Belly by William
Davis to get the lowdown on
all things wheat ‘n gluten. They provide a wealth of info and insight, and will
def be great resources if you’re looking to cut the stuff out.
3. YOU HAVE OPTIONS. Lots of them. Besides foods
like vegetables, fruits, and meat (um, that covers a lot right there!), there’s
also rice, buckwheat, teff, amaranth, quinoa, and corn that you can put on your
safe list.
For a person who’s gluten intolerant, going
gluten free can be life changing.
Here are some awesome gluten free resources and
options to check out:
websites/blogs
www.celiac.com
www.glutenfreediet.ca
Gluten Intolerance Group
www.glutenfreepassport.com
Celiac Chicks
Whole Life Nutrition
products
Breads:
Food for Life
Whole Foods (the store) gluten free bakery
Organic corn tortillas
products
Breads:
Food for Life
Whole Foods (the store) gluten free bakery
Organic corn tortillas
Flours/mixes:
Bob’s Red Mill
Pasta:
Tinkyada (rice pasta - LOVE this brand)
Ancient Harvest
In my humble opinion, we could all use a little
less gluten in our diets. But remember, life is NOT about deprivation - so get
out there, explore and experiment! You just might find that a life sans gluten
is just the thing you’ve been needing.
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