gluten free

10 Gluten-Free Facts

by // // 1 Comment




gluten free, no gluten, celiac disease 10 Gluten-Free Facts

You have probably consumed a few gluten-free products and if not you have certainly seen a label or two in this day in age. For some like myself and my family it is a way of life. There is no “maybe I will try this” or “hmmmm, this doesn’t taste so great“-gluten-free is the only option.

Find out why-and, who is affected. 

Did you know?

1) 1 in every 133 Americans has Celiac Disease. That is approximately 1% of the population, with an expected 50-60% to be diagnosed by the year 2019*.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune digestive disorder in which the villi of the small intestine have been damaged, causing a direct interference with the proper absorption of the nutrients.

2) Celiac can affect men and women of all ages and races.

3) It is estimated that as much as 95% of the population is not yet diagnosed as having a gluten intolerance/sensitivity, Celiac, or other potential gluten related disorder. So if you think you are “not affected” by gluten, yeah, sorry to be the bearer of bad news but you just don’t know it yet.

4) A 100% Gluten free diet is the only existing treatment. (I know bad news for the poor pharmaceutical companies).

5) Other gluten linked or related issues (including but limited to); Infertility, Thyroid disease, Diabetes, Intestinal Cancer, Alzheimer’s, Osteoporosis, Anxiety, Depression, ADD/ADHD, Liver Disease, Migraines and other Neuropathic conditions.

Why you ask? Because gluten has destroyed the interior wall of the small intestine, allowing toxins to leak into the blood stream, and be carried throughout your body to reside in places it never should have been (your brain, thyroid, reproductive glands, etc.) So, what once was thought to be solely an intestinal issue is in fact so much more; it’s an inflammation issue too.

6) As of August 2014 new FDA Gluten-Free food labeling regulations will take place. “Gluten free is a voluntary claim manufacturers may elect to use when labeling their food.” However, as of August 2014 manufacturers will be required to meet the minimum 20 PPM (parts per million) for all foods labeled “gluten free“, “without gluten“, “no gluten“, and “free of gluten“. Most people with Celiac or gluten sensitivity can in fact safely consume and tolerate food containing this tiny amount. *

**This “INCLUDES” restaurants and other food serves. Did you know  96% of gluten-free individuals are brand loyal.

7) Gluten-free does not necessarily mean “better for you“.

8) Gluten-free sales reached $4.2 billion in 2012 and are expected to increase to $6.6 billion by 2017*. Gluten-free food production is a booming business and since it’s the only known “cure” for Celiac those statistics are not going to be changing anytime soon.

9) 50% of ones’ success is taking action; the other 50% is our attitude.

10) Antibiotics, pain killers, and preservatives which all affect the natural gut flora have also been to blame for the increased number of gluten sensitive people.

Without a sufficient amount of good bacteria in our body we become unable to produce enough enzymes to aid in the break-down of the gluten protein. Our increased/overuse of pain killers over the years has also aided in the loss of good bacteria. According to Dr.Brogan, use of these drugs “increases intestinal permeability allowing for [food particles] to access the immune system; setting off autoimmune and inflammatory processes.” [A.k.a. a gluten sensitive/celiac type response]





Resources;

FDA.gov

Datamonitor Group, 2009

Packaged Facts “Gluten-Free Foods and Beverages in the US”

Big Changes, Big Dreams, Big Challenges

by // // No Comments

This space I pour my heart and soul into weekly is the same space I dream of making the world a healthier place one reader at a time. I share the stories of my life experiences and offer up encouragement to see you through your days. 

My homestead is yours. If you lived next door to me my kids would scream your name with joy, color you countless pictures, and my family would undoubtedly greet you with a smile. That is what I want you to feel when you come to this space; a warm welcome shared over coffee or tea.  If we were sitting face to face chances are there would be days we laugh, dream, make plans to achieve the unthinkable, and sometimes we may even shed a tear or two together along the way. 

I love to laugh and there truly isn’t much I don’t say without smiling. I had a good friend once say to me “Jen, I’m pretty sure you could tell me the saddest story, but with a smile all the while“. I’m not so sure this is a good thing as I’ve become quite good at hiding behind that genuine smile over the years. The truth is we all break sometimes and experience pain- that’s life, right? 

I’m learning to accept help when needed and give what I can’t control up in prayer. It’s a process- a long one at that. If you were sitting across from me chances are pretty good now days that we would laugh until are belly’s hurt and sometimes we might let out a good cry. You know that cry of complete frustration, anger, confusion, and lack of control. That ugly cry, we all hold back to only share with those closest to us. 

Sharing my story here, in this place, isn’t always easy but I think it’s important; it’s the place I get to show my kids the only thing scary is not taking action, and the only thing to be ashamed of is the failure from not trying. It is this same place I get to encourage you to do great things and raise great leaders for tomorrows future. 

I am seeking; 

Big Changes, Big Dreams, and Big Challenges

If you missed my post yesterday “Learn How to Read a Label” , the piece of my homestead you would be missing is my love hate relationship with food. I love to eat it. I hate how it has literally controlled controlled my life at times.  

The part of the story I have never told until this week is 3/4 th’s of my children have varying degrees of food intolerance’s. I share this with you not as a desperate mom looking for pity upon her situation, but rather as a mom determined to make this world a healthier place for her her kids. We all have been given a passion, purpose, or calling; what is yours? What makes you tick? What is the story that you are suppose to share?

What if in an instant you couldn’t buy your child a doughnut at the nearest drive thru? 

What if your preschooler couldn’t use the sensory bin at school because the play-doh contained gluten.  

What if holidays became more of a stress than a joy? 

What if your child were to wake you out of a dead sleep crying that her feet were burning from a food she ate hours before; a food which was clearly handled improperly, yet, promised to be gluten free. 

What if your family could never go out to eat together? 

What if you had to bring your children’s food to every birthday party, graduation, and public gathering? 

You would be desperate too, right? Desperate for change? Desperate to educate others on the importance of reading labels, food handling, and the seriousness of food reactions. That is my passion; now, what is yours? Leave me a comment or drop me an email I love hearing from you.

This space I’ve encouraged you to write, share, and tell your story is the same space I dream of welding our stories together. Lets learn together, live life to its fullest, and lead others to do the same. 

I’m super excited and have a number of projects going on behind the scenes. If you haven’t already signed up for my email list do so now; for discounts on upcoming offers and all the latest behind the scenes information. 



Learn How To Read A Label

by // // 1 Comment
“Mom, can I have a salad with carrots and celery” yelled, the tiny girl from the backyard to her mother. Yes, that tiny girl was me. I’m a natural born health nut with a lifetime of knowledge, research, and experience under my belt. I love food. I love healthy food. However, food and I have a past that has truly in some ways become my future. I can often be found saying “food is going to be the death of me” and the truth is it’s likely to be the death of all of us if we don’t get it together.

Learn How to Read A Label

I’ve learned a lot through my years of reading medical textbooks, journals, but it holds nothing in comparison to my experiences. The little girl who loved salads and would choose an apple over a cookie eventually turned food obsessed. You know that time in your life called adolescents when you go to middle / high school and well, you “think” you know it all. Oh yeah, and you “think” you are “cool” but simultaneously you feel totally out of place. We can all agree that it is an awkward stage of life, right? It was around this same time that my life in school was a bit difficult having gone from a a public to private school and my home life was well, a bit messy too. I longed for control and I tried to control the one thing I knew “food“. There I was counting calories [even though I didn’t need too] and obsessing over everything that entered my mouth; there I was, teetering on the edge of anorexia and bulimia. How in the world did I get to this place? 

I have never shared that story until now; not because I am ashamed or embarrassed but I have thought it held little meaning to the rest of my life until now. Luckily, as much as I was “out of control” I was still very much “aware“ and pulled out of my food hell in the blink of an eye. However, oddly enough little did I know food would come back to haunt me again but this time it would be different…

We welcomed our first daughter the Fall of 2005; just 17 quick months after we were wed. Shortly followed by our second daughter the Summer of 2008. This time our parenting outlook was different. Our first was  a bit of a surprise and like any new parents we were a bit all thumbs learning to balance a new baby, a home, a job, and a marriage. However, with the second tiny beauty we were more experienced; we had a handle on this parenting thing, and we were “in control“. Ummm, not so much. This little blessing only wanted her mom, wanted to be held constantly, was a terrible sleeper, hated food, and only wanted to nurse. As time passed her sleep was still terrible, her tantrums started to become more frequent and severe, and it soon became clear we were not “in control“. She was; or was she not? Is it really, possible for a such a tiny being to have that much power and did she really like waking out of a dead sleep to scream for hours?

Children, were not entirely new business to me. Having “raised” a small army of kids I babysat, mentored, and taught over the years. I did know a thing or two about children; and developmental stages. Not to mention, I do have a degree in Behavioral Science. I have worked countless hours with special needs ranging from severe mental/physical disabled to in home therapy with those diagnosed with various spectrum disorders, including autism. Why is it so hard for me to figure out what is wrong with my daughter then?

Then, there was “the tantrum“; the one she never really recovered from. A three hour full blown fit over animal crackers. I  remember the day like it was yesterday. This, was not in fact normal and this was clearly her being “out of control“. I cried and I searched for answers; you know where everyone looks Dr.Google. Here’s the difference, I had experienced tantrums like this before working with my Autistic patients. I had the knowledge to know that sometimes diet can play a leading roll in our behavior, perception, understanding, and comprehension. What we consume does have the power to transform us. We are what we eat. It was then that it became clear as day the problem was food. There I was faced with the realization that the same food that fuels our bodies is the same food that has the ability poison our state of living. Food can in fact control you; it had after all controlled me so many years ago.

I had my answer; she was gluten and dairy intolerant. It has since been three years since that dreadful discovery of needing to go gluten and dairy free. Knowing what I do now; I also venture to say my sweet girl is in fact suffering from Celiac Disease [more on that later], but more importantly the lesson I learned is “knowledge” is in fact power, gain back control of your life and learn how to read a label. 

Coming soon; see how I transformed our kitchen in 24 hours; and how you can take the necessary steps to transforming yours. 


The story doesn’t end there, we welcomed another beautiful blessing into the world in 2010 this time a son. I knew his chance of having gluten related issues was approximately 1 in 30 oppose to the normal 1 in 133 since having an immediate family member diagnosed as having a gluten related issue. The statistics holding true, my oldest son is in fact gluten, dairy, dye, and corn sensitive. 

Bringing me to my final and fourth food allergic/sensitive child. This bouncing boy born in 2012 came into the world smiling but he has remained the biggest mystery of all. Another awful sleeper, more eczema, more belly aches, more gastrointestinal issues, more everything. I don’t get it. How? He is already gluten and dairy free. We monitor his corn in take already. What is it? Never sleeping more than 2 hours at a stretch. Ugh, I’m going to lose it. There I was staring Dr. Google in the face; again! With every type of the keyboard I prayed for wisdom and if I know one thing it’s when we lean hard God is there to catch us. I was leaning; 19 months is a long time to go without sleep. BAM! It’s potato, tomato’s, peppers; he has a night-shade intolerance /sensitivity. There it was the wisdom and light I prayed so hard for; and, with that has come rest, lots of rest. 

Here is the thing, I hate labels with a passion. Years of working with special needs will do that to to you. I especially don’t like labeling kids but the truth is it’s what the label say’s that matters most. We go through life with labels, reading them, judging them, and ignoring them. If you don’t know what, how, or why the label is there I encourage you to learn. Learn how to read a label. Live a healthy life. Lead/ advocate for those who need you most. 

Every label has a story. Every story has a person behind it.