The multitude of Symptoms.

Did you know that Celiacs has a multitude of symptoms. You know about the main/common ones which tend to be: Fatigue, stomach pain, diarrhea, Constipation, weight loss/gain, tooth enamel issues, head aches, foggy memory, malnutrition.  When you have Celiacs disease, it doesn't mean all of your symptoms have to be in one area (your tummy for example). With Celiacs, everything in your body can be affected.
There are actually 300 known associated symptoms. WOW

I have a number of these symptoms and way to many to list here but it makes sense when you look at the bigger picture. Not only does it take time for your body to heal after consuming gluten for a long time, but symptoms can last (as I am finding out).

Make sure to click on the link for the full list of the many symptoms.

300 symptoms of CD

Minneapolis Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest 2015

Is there truly a Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest coming to Minneapolis Minnesota?. 

Yes

When: May 16-17, 2015

Time: Saturday 10a.m.-4p.m. & Sunday 10a.m.-4p.m. 

Where:    Minneapolis Convention Center

               1301 2nd Ave. South

               Minneapolis, Mn 55403

For accommodations and for more information, click on the link below. 

Hope to you there, this is so exciting. 

Gluten Free Food Fest Information

Celiac Disease Care Package

The University of Chicago Celiacs Disease Center offers care packages to those who have been freshly diagnosed with Celiacs Disease via a biopsy or endoscopy.

As you can see in the above photo, I received mine about a month or so ago after my complete diagnosis through an endoscopy. I look at it as a gift for all that I went through.

The care packages are completely free however there is an area on their website where you can send donations. These packages included magazines, coupons, gluten free samples of cookies, oat meal, a gluten free diet dvd, and so much more. I was thoroughly blessed when I stumbled upon this and got on it right away since you are only able to do it within a year of your diagnosis.

You will have to fill out a form, include a letter from your doctor stating that you do indeed have Celiacs, the doctors information, the information of who did your scope and where you had it done and your information. It usually comes within 3 weeks or less.

If you just got diagnosed with Celiacs and had an endoscopy done. Check out the website below and get your free gluten free care package TODAY.

Gluten Free Care Package

General Mills & Their Effort To Make Gluten Free Cereal

I made a post just yesterday stating that General Mills were making gluten free cereal but the risk of cross contamination was high because it wasn't being made in a gluten free area. 
I came to this conclusion by reading the articles announcing the g.f. cereal. 
No where in the articles did it mention that it will be made in a dedicated facility and I confirmed it
by talking to someone on a gluten free page. 

I stand corrected and want to inform everyone that I confirmed with two ladies from General Mills that their Honey Nut Cherrios are indeed going to meet FDA standards for under 20ppm of gluten and will be made in a dedicated area. 

As of now, it will be safe to consume their (gluten free) cereal. If however, it does make you sick after eating it, I would recommend not consuming it anymore. 

I apologize for my quick post but I was sure it was not gluten free.
My mistake was not calling them up and confirming this with them. 
I assure you, this will not happen again! 

General Mills Gluten Free Cereal will be available in July of this year. 

I am excited to stand corrected because I now know it should be safe for me to eat one of my favorite cereals (honey nut cherrios) again. 

Thank you General Mills for making your gluten free cereal in a separate area, reducing the risk of cross contamination. I look forward to trying out the cereal come July. 


-Gluten Free Momma


UPDATE AS OF 2/20/15
I got an e-mail back from General Mills in a response to my e-mail about the risk of cross contamination and their gluten free cereal and this is what they said: 

"Thank you for contacting Cheerios with your inquiry.

Whenever we manufacture gluten-free products, we take specific steps to ensure that the process and equipment used does not provide any opportunity for gluten or gluten-containing ingredients to get into our products.  General Mills has stringent programs and precautions in place to ensure the product meets gluten-free requirements.

We hope you find this information helpful. Please let us know if we can help you again.

Thank you,

Rhonda Short

Consumer Response Representative"

Pizza Hut 

Making Gluten Free Pizza?

It is true, Pizza Hut has now conformed to being able to support those who have food allergies to wheat or for those who have Celiacs Disease. 

I did a little research and found that Pizza Hut is doing everything right. 

They will not only be using a gluten free crust made by (Udi's) & will be preparing the pizza in a dedicated area. 

Not to mention they will be working with a great group called GIG which stands for: 

Gluten Intolerance Group. 

They will be educating the staff at Pizza Huts all around on how to make sure the risk 

of cross contamination is non existent and how to work with those who cannot have regular pizza. 

What do you think of this fabulous thing Pizza Hut is doing?. 

Tell me about it by commenting below. 

-Gluten Free Momma

Please not:  Make sure and call head to see if your local pizza hut even has this available. I was told that mine did but as it turns out, that wasn't exactly the truth. 

The Fundamentals Of The Gluten Free Diet

I have decided since I have been getting several requests, I would make up a fundamental list for those who are thinking about going on a gluten free diet. 

Before I begin, let me clarify that going on a gluten free diet just because it isn't making you feel very good, having gluten intolerance or just doing it for weight loss means that you do not have to take this list as serious. For those of us who have Celiacs disease, this is a must read & it must be taken very seriously. 

First of all, there are a lot of naturally gluten free food products out there on the market and these are just some of the items 

• Potatoes
• Rice (white, brown, wild & black)
• Quinoa
• Meat (chicken, pork, hamburger, bacon) 
• Corn (Also applies to Corn Torillas) 
• Vegtables (fresh, canned & frozen) 
• Fruit (fresh, canned & frozen)
• Beans (canned, dried) 
• Yogurt 
• Cheese 

*Keep in mind, boxed potatoes may contain wheat or been manufactured in the same facility as wheat. Look at all of the rice bags, cans & boxes because they may be manufactured in the same facility as wheat as well. Mission brand of corn tortilla specifically states that it is gluten free but always look on the label to make sure it does not contain (wheat, barley, rye or any wheat flour). 

Make sure to look for any syrups in the canned fruit as they may add (malt or wheat) to thicken it. 

Look at all labels on ALL cheese and yogurts as they may include (flavoring, caramel coloring, or wheat) <three things that (may) contain gluten. Yoplait is a gluten free brand of yogurt. 

The main foods & condiments that contain wheat are the following (Keep in mind this is not the full list): 

• Bread (wheat, white, multi grain etc.) 
• Bagels
• Pastries (donuts, cookies, cakes, cupcakes) 
• Pastas (all wheat flour ones) 
• Meat (that is marinated, smoked or has extra flavoring & spices) 
• Tortilla (except corn) 
• Cereal 
• Oat meal 
• Chips 
• Fruit drinks/sods
• Beer
• Some candies
• Soy sauce 
• Soups (Some soups are gluten free now)
• Chilli mixes in a can
• Some seasonings 
• Chicken & beef broth
• Ice cream can sometimes contain wheat
• Licorice (sorry licorice fans! :( ) 
• Pizza
• Lasagna 

Even some medications can include wheat in the ingredients or use it in the gelatin process. 

Be aware when it comes to wine as some wines are made in a barrel and gluten is used as the glue in the barrel, posing a huge cross contamination issue. If you want wine, look for wines that are specifically gluten free or ones that weren't made in a barrel. 

DO NOT GO OUT ON A GLUTEN FREE SPENDING SPREE 

It can be very overwhelming at first because you aren't sure were to start. If you go out and have a gluten free spending spree, you will quickly become frustrated and you will realize what a big mistake that was. Let me tell you from experience that RICE BREAD is something you want to avoid at all costs unless you are okay with it crumbling in your mouth and tasting like you are chewing on medicine. I thought this would be a good plan to purchase the rice bread and it turned out to be a total joke. So, my suggestion for those who are just getting on the gluten free diet, DO NOT GO OUT AND BUY A WHOLE TON OF GLUTEN FREE FOOD WITHOUT FIRST TRYING IT OUT. I encourage you to see if you can find sample packs online that you can purchase, go on gluten free giveaway pages & attend gluten free expos/fests. This is your best way to go about making sure you purchase food you know you will love. 

SUGGESTIONS:

If you just found out that you have Celiacs by an endoscopy, check out this website and fill out the form to receive a FREE gluten free care package full of gluten free samples. 

Click Here To Get Your Free Gluten Free Care Package     (Keep in mind this is really only for those who have Celiacs disease and can show proof of it). 
A great gluten free giveaway website is Gluten Free Frenzy found here:  
www.glutenfreefrenzy.com. 
There will be a gluten free fest coming up here in Minneaplois Mn come may 16-17th of 2015.  For more information visit this website: Gluten Free Allergy Fest

When looking at a food label, you will want to pay close attention to the following ingredients: 

• Barley (flakes, flour, pearl)
• Breading, bread stuffing
• Brewer's yeast
• Bulgur
• Durum (type of wheat)
• Farro/faro (also known as spelt or dinkel)
• Graham flour
• Hydrolyzed wheat protein 
• Kamut (type of wheat)
• Malt, malt extract, malt syrup, malt flavoring
• Malt vinegar
• Malted milk
• Matzo, matzo meal
• Modified wheat starch
• Oatmeal, oat bran, oat flour, whole oats (unless they are from pure, uncontaminated oats)
• Rye bread and flour
• Seitan (a meat-like food derived from wheat gluten used in many vegetarian dishes)
• Semolina
• Spelt (type of wheat also known as farro, faro, or dinkel)
• Triticale
• Wheat bran
• Wheat flour
• Wheat germ
• Wheat starch

LOOKING PAST THE FOOD LABEL

When looking at a food label, you need to not only pay attention to the ingredients but where it is being manufactured. If it is being processed in the same area as another product that contains wheat, there is a high possibility that there is cross contamination in your (so called) gluten free product. 

*Keep in mind wheat flour stays in the air for 24 hours* 

The main foods that you need to be cautious about are: 

• Cereals (even though they say they are gluten free) 
• Pastries 
• Pastas 
• Snack items 

However, everything no matter if it is gluten free or not must state under the label if it is manufactured in a facility that contains wheat or any other allergen. 

LIVING GLUTEN FREE AT HOME

When we talk about living gluten free in your home, you need to be cautious about wheat on surfaces, utinsels, pans, handles etc. 

Make sure to have a clean surface (wash with water and soap) before handling any gluten free item. 

Make sure you wash your hands before handling anything gluten free (this includes under your nails).  (Also make sure to educated family members & children about this important rule as well.) 

Look through your pantry, cupboards, fridge and freezer and remove anything that contains gluten. Make a list of these items, so that you may go out and purchase alternatives.  

In situations like mine where I am the only one that needs to be on a gluten free diet, I'm forced to make my meals before everyone else because I do not want to cross contaminate my meal.  *When something does become accidentally cross contaminated, make sure to have alternative frozen food items that you can pull out and make quick (Udi's G.F. Burriots are a great option for those times.)

When using an oven, always place the gluten free meal on the top rack and the gluten food on the bottom reducing the risk of crumbs and what not falling on your meal and cross contaminating it. 

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU HOST A PARTY OR GATHERING

When people are over, make sure and let everyone know about your situation before they eat, guiding them on what to do. Encourage them to take one spoon full of the dish, drop it on their plate (above it) making sure not to touch any gluten containing food on the plate, thus eliminating cross contamination. Try to have all breads and gluten food on one side of the table and your gluten free on the other side. Some websites have gluten free labels that you can buy to put in, on or in front of your food to label it. 

Here is the link to the website that sells gluten free labels: 
Gluten Free Labels

WHEN EATING OUT GLUTEN FREE

Eating out can be tough too, my biggest concern is the cross contamination. 

I always suggest those who need to be very careful of that, to plan ahead. Call the restaurant and see if they have a gluten free menu or can accommodate you. 

Make sure that they understand that you will need a separate (washed) pan, a clean stove, clean utensils/tools, that you cannot use a toaster & need to be careful about what you use on your food (seasoning wise). 

If this is a restaurant which makes their own bread daily, I would personally avoid that restaurant altogether because there is flour in the air and on pretty much every surface. 

Most restaurants now days are willing to work with their guests and if you give them enough time ahead, are willing to make a gluten free meal just for you. 

I would avoid fast food restaurants at all costs because the staff is not educated enough and you may get wheat in your meal on accident. 


TWO GREAT RESTAURANTS FOR G.F. DINING ARE: 

1. Ernies Pub & Grill in Burnsville Mn. (They have the biggest g.f. menu in Minnesota. 
2. Chipotle (call ahead and have your bowl made from fresh ingredients in the back). 

PRICE

A gluten free diet is a tough one, it's spendy because most of the gluten free food is twice if not more expensive then it's counterpart but overall, if it helps you feel better & stay healthier, it's worth the trouble. If you are converting your whole family over to the gluten free diet, I suggest maybe purchasing from a bulk gluten free store online. 

I sincerely hope this has helped some of you kinda get a grasp on what a gluten free diet is all about. I am here if anyone has any questions. 

Otherwise, 

Enjoy your gluten free lifestyle. 

*Note, It may take 6 months to a year to see a huge difference in your health and well being on a gluten free diet. This is not an over night kind of diet. For those of us who have CD, it could take up to 5 years for us to be completely healed. Do not get discouraged, you're not the only one on this journey!*