FitSugar

Surprising Foods That Contain Gluten

Heather Dale — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:43:15 PDT

For anyone with celiac disease - or an allergy, intolerance, or sensitivity to gluten - the six-letter word "gluten" most likely has a prominent place in their daily conversations. I try my hardest not to be that annoying friend who grills the waiter about every item on the menu. But gluten is no laughing matter, especially if your body can't process it and you are trying to adhere to a gluten-free diet - which is why you need to be armed with the right information before dining out or even going to the grocery store.

A protein found in wheat, rye, and barley, gluten is usually the main ingredient in grain-based products like breads and pastries since it allows flour to rise. When I first went gluten-free, my rule of thumb was this: the doughier the item, the more harmful it is for me. The usual suspects include bread, crackers, cookies, biscuits, breaded meat, croutons, pasta, pizza crust, noodles, muffins, noodles, and cake.

But I have found foods with hidden sources of gluten that I would never have guessed I needed to steer clear from. Find out what some of these foods are.

Gluten-Free Challenge: May 22 and 23

FitSugar — Fri, 21 May 2010 12:30:51 PDT

Gluten-free foods are popping up all over and not just in specialty health food stores. I've seen them in mainstream grocery stores, on restaurant menus, and even on beer lists at bars. Gluten-free is well on its way to becoming a household catch phrase, which is great news for the one in 133 people suffering from celiac disease, which means they're allergic to wheat, rye, barley, and possibly oats.

To raise awareness for this condition, this weekend, May 22 and 23, is the first ever Gluten-Free Challenge. The Gluten Intolerance Group is teaming up with Pamela's Products, and asking everyone to avoid foods containing gluten for those two days. Why go gluten free? It's not because it's healthier, but it's to raise awareness of this condition, so that people can understand firsthand what it's like for people who can't eat gluten. It's also a way you can show your support to a friend or family member who has celiac. Do you think going gluten-free for two days would be difficult or a cinch? Are you going to try?

Cocoa Crisis: Allergic to Chocolate?

FitSugar — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 08:00:25 PDT

Last week, a friend invited me over for dinner to meet her new guy, and I brought some of my refreshing chocolate sorbet. When I arrived all smiles and ready to ask a million questions as any good friend would, I couldn't believe what I found out - this new beau could not have cocoa. That's right - allergic to chocolate! After hearing that, I was the one asking him a million questions.

Apparently, chocolate allergies are pretty rare. Since chocolate is made up of several ingredients including cocoa, milk, nuts, and soy lecithin, allergies can be triggered not only by cocoa, but also by one of these other ingredients. So if you do meet someone who has an allergy to chocolate, they're most likely allergic to one of these foods as well.

Symptoms of a chocolate allergy include headaches, heartburn, hives, or difficulty breathing. In severe cases, a person can go into anaphylactic shock from eating this sweet treat. It's pretty serious, and the only way to avoid issues is to pass on the triple chocolate mousse, Hershey's Kisses, and cocoa gelato.

This is so sad to me, since I am such a lover of all things chocolate. Tell me, do you know anyone with a chocolate allergy?

Food Review: Home Free Cookies

FitSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 03:30:00 PDT

When I first cracked open a box of Home Free's peanut-free, tree-nut-free, egg-free, and dairy-free cookies, I thought: what poor person has all of those food allergies combined? I couldn't quite figure out the target market. But now I think I have it figured out. These organic cookies are meant for moms who want to serve treats guaranteed safe for any kid, whatever her allergy.

I'm skeptical about how big that audience really is, but for healthy sweets, these were pretty impressive. I tried two varieties: the soft oatmeal cookies and the mini chocolate chip cookies. Both had minor faults, but they were also much tastier than I expected. For my thoughts,

read more. The oatmeal cookie was pretty sizable and had a nice, chewy-oat texture with just enough sweetness. One cookie has 120 calories and four grams of fat with almost all organic and whole-grain ingredients, so I felt good about eating them. Each box contains three pairs of individually packaged cookies (why? so wasteful!), and unfortunately, each pair of cookies stuck together and didn't look pretty when I pulled them apart. The mini chocolate chip cookies had a totally different vibe: crunchy and sweeter, much like a Famous Amos. While the oatmeal cookies tasted more like health food (which I liked), the chocolate chip ones could easily be served to kids who probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Each serving of six mini cookies has 140 calories and six grams of fat, but you could also just eat one for a little sweet treat. Home Free sells all of its cookies online here, including a chocolate-chocolate chip flavor (full size and mini) and a full-size version of the chocolate chip. If you have food allergies (or just lots of paranoia about them), these are definitely worth taking a bite of.

Do You Know Nuts About Food Allergies?

FitSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 03:30:00 PDT

From peanuts to shellfish to wheat gluten to dairy, the list of foods that cause people problems seems to get longer every year. But while some people actually suffer from food allergies, others are just dealing with food intolerance.

Do you know the ins and outs of these potentially dangerous foods? Text your knowledge with my quiz.

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Possible Cure For Peanut Allergy Found

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:00:00 PDT

Peanut allergies have become surprisingly more common recently, and it's scary to think that taking an innocent bite of an energy bar fortified with peanut flour could end with fatal results. Scientists have been trying to figure out the cause of this life-threatening condition, but it looks like now they may have found a way to cure peanut allergies.

A recent study at Duke University Medical Center helped five children, who previously suffered from severe peanut allergies, to eat peanuts with no reaction. Over several years, scientists gave the children small amounts of peanuts, and with time, their bodies learned to tolerate the allergen. Using oral immunotherapy, the kids started eating minuscule amounts of peanut flour equal to one thousandth of a peanut, and worked their way up to the equivalent of 15 peanuts. The results from this pilot study seem promising to the more than 3.3 million people who suffer from peanut allergies, but the scientists still need to track the children for a few more years to make sure the treatment cured them permanently.

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Do You Know Someone With a Food Allergy?

FitSugar — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 03:00:00 PST

I suffer from seasonal and pet allergies, but I'm so thankful I don't have any allergies to food. Many people do, though, and it seems these allergies are more common than ever. It's evident when you go food shopping or to a restaurant, and food labels proclaiming products as gluten-free or nut-free are growing more and more prevalent. It's great that these foods are available since reactions can be fatal. So I was wondering . . .

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Label Able: Certified Gluten-Free

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:30:00 PDT

If you're one of the 3 million people suffering from an allergy to gluten then here's some good news. More and more products are donning this trademarked symbol that lets you know they are certified gluten free by the Gluten Free Certification Organization (GFCO). This group inspects products to ensure that they contain less than 10 parts per million (ppm) of gluten, which is an amount low enough not to cause a reaction in someone with this allergy. If a product passes the test, like this Stonyfield Farms yogurt then the manufacturer is allowed to add this symbol to their label.

Gluten is the plant protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and some oats. People allergic to gluten suffer from severe stomach problems, and in order to avoid symptoms the only option is to avoid it. That's why it's imperative they know which foods are safe. If you're interested in seeing the complete list of products labeled with this symbol, check out the GFCO website.

Do You Have a Food Allergy?

YumSugar — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 07:13:33 PST

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Have You Ever Seen a Dietician?

FitSugar — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:45:00 PDT

Eating healthy is no small feat, especially if you are on the run, have special dietary needs, or are trying to lose weight. In all these scenarios, meeting with a dietitian can help. I think it is a great idea to have an educated eye sizing up your nutrition, which is why I've included having a session with a dietitian as a must have for October.

A dietitian will asses your diet and then provide advice and recommendations on how to improve your eating habits to help you reach your goals.

I was wondering if any of you have ever seen a dietitian, and what your experience was like. Were they helpful? Did you learn any valuable info or tips?