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Pick the Gluten-Free Food

FitSugar — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:00:59 -0700

There are those who avoid gluten because it causes breakouts or makes them tired. Then there are folks with celiac disease. If they eat gluten, they can permanently damage the lining of their intestines, causing serious health issues. What foods are safe and which should be avoided? Test your gluten smarts with this quiz.

Question 1 of 5

Which of these foods is free of gluten?

Gluten Allergies Becoming Increasingly Common

FitSugar — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 03:06:34 -0700

Have you noticed the plethora of gluten-free foods on the shelves of your local grocery store - pastas, cereals, baking mixes, and more. For folks suffering from celiac disease, a gluten allergy, these foods are vital to their daily diet, and according to a study by the Mayo Clinic, celiac disease is four times more common today than it was in the 1950s. It's estimated that one in every 133 people has celiac disease.

Allergies to gluten, the protein in wheat, rye, barley, and possibly oats, create a wide variety of symptoms including: painful stomach cramps, bloating, gas, increased appetite (due to malabsorption of nutrients), weight loss, fatigue, constipation, or diarrhea. Not only that but eating these foods causes damage to the villi in the intestines, affecting the body's ability to absorb nutrients properly. It can also be fatal, so it's really important to avoid gluten-filled foods if you're allergic.

So why the increase in prevalence in this disease? To find out read more.

The most likely explanation may be due to our environment. Culturally, we tend to be such germaphobes; all our cleaning and killing germs may be contributing to an overall increase in allergies, asthma, and immune system reactions. This "hygiene hypothesis" may fall short though since celiac disease is a global issue, affecting both developed and developing countries. A competing explanation revolves around the overly processed nature of most gluten products, and many people's diets consist mainly of foods such as bread, pasta, and baked goods. We may be overdoing it. Though scientists have yet to pinpoint the exact cause of this condition, I'm sure they're working on figuring it out since it's become so common. Tell me, do you know anyone with celiac disease?

Label Able: Certified Gluten-Free

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:30:00 -0700

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 Know Gluten?

FitSugar — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 11:45:00 -0800

You see packages with the words "gluten free" on them all the time. Do you know what that means and if it is good for you or healthier? Do you know anything about allergies to gluten? What do you know about gluten and being "gluten free"?

Source

Take the quiz

Baked Goods

FitSugar — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 15:00:00 -0800

When it comes to baked goods that fall under the healthy category, it has been my experience that it's pretty much hit or miss. Sometimes I try a new product and just love it, and other times I try a new product and would rather eat cardboard. There is usually no middle ground.

To find out where you can get healthy (and yummy) baked goods, read more

Protein Bakery falls into the hit category. They make incredibly good goodies that you'll love for so many reasons, the price not being one of them. First of all they add high quality whey protein to our all-time favorites like brownies, blondies and oatmeal cookies giving the goodies 5 times more protein and 10% less carbohydrates than your average baked good. The cookies are wheat free (but not gluten-free) since they're made with rolled oats, which also raises your daily dietary fiber. The packaging is modern and cute, making them great holiday gifts for all the health conscious people on your gift giving list.

Get your goodies here.

Food Review: Clean Cravings Gluten-Free Crusts

FitSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:00:00 -0700

I experimented with a gluten-free diet in college for a variety of reasons. My strongest memory from that period of my life was missing pizza. Crust was a digestive curse. Now if Clean Cravings and its line of crusts had been around, things could have been much different. The brand has created a line of crusts made without wheat, gluten, dairy, casein, yeast, soy, corn, sugar, peanuts, or nightshade vegetables. For folks with food allergies, this is a blessing.

To see how Clean Craving mini crusts taste and their caloric content, read more.

	1 5-inch crust	1 5-inch crust (rosemary)
Calories	160	160
Total Fat (g)	1.5	1.5
Saturated Fat (g)	0	0
Cholesterol (mg)	3	2
Sodium (mg)	280	290
Carbs (g)	34	34
Fiber (g)	3	3
Protein (g)	2	2
Calcium (mg)	2 %	0 %
Iron (mg)	6 %	4 %

These crusts have a satisfyingly moist and chewy texture, and they're full of nutty flavor with subtle sweetness. Use them to make pizza, top them and serve as appetizers, make sandwiches, cut and toast them and serve with dip, or eat them on their own. As far as gluten-free foods go, I've tried my fair share, and these really do taste good. So far, my favorite way to eat them is to smear on a layer of pesto, sprinkle some mozzarella cheese, and add a slice of tomato. Pop it in the toaster and this savory snack tastes warm and chewy with a hint of crispiness. You can buy a three-pack of five-inch minis for $5.99, or a single 12-inch crust for $7.99 - definitely not cheap, but to avoid stomach cramps and still eat tasty foods, I'd say they're worth it.

Have You Ever Tried a Gluten Free Diet?

FitSugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:30:00 -0700

Somewhere between leaving home after high school and graduating college, I toyed with the idea of giving up gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. So many people I knew were living gluten free lives and claimed to feel so much better for giving it up. In fact, gluten free living seems to be on the rise.

Doctors estimate that one percent of the US population has Celiac disease, an extreme intolerance to gluten, but according to food marketers upwards of 15 to 25 percent of food consumers (that's you and me) want gluten free foods. Many see eating gluten free as a new fad diet. You all remember that Oprah Winfrey 21 day cleanse included giving up gluten.

I am curious about you . . .

Source

Tummy Troubles? Could Be Gluten

FitSugar — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 11:15:00 -0800

Gluten is in everything. From bread, to pasta, to cookies, to crackers, and even soy sauce - it's hard to get away from it.

Gluten is the protein in wheat, rye, oats, and barley. Some people are born with a genetic disorder called Celiac disease (CD), and eating anything with gluten in it can cause major bodily problems.

The thing about CD is that you won't necessarily have symptoms starting at birth. It can be triggered by emotional events, like going away to college, or physical changes like pregnancy or puberty.

Well, whatever sets it off, there is no cure. In order to avoid knife stabbing stomach cramps and other tummy troubles (use your imagination on this one), a person with CD has to steer clear of anything containing those offensive glutinous grains.

If you think you might have CD, talk to your doctor about getting screened for the condition.

Fit's Tips: If you or someone you know is looking for great info on CD, I learned so much from this book. The author's down-to-earth attitude and sense of humor make an otherwise traumatic disease, much easier to live with.

Jenny McCarthy Is Gluten- and Dairy-Free and in Shape

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 05:50:00 -0700

In Shape magazine, that is - on the cover of the May issue. Actress, author, autism activist, and mother Jenny McCarthy said she ballooned to 211 pounds after the birth of her son, who's now 6 years old. Weight Watchers helped her slim down since it taught her about portion control and to be conscious of what she eats.

Then three years ago she switched to a diet that's gluten- and dairy-free, to match her son Evan's diet. Not only did it help her shed even more weight, but it's greatly improved her son's autism symptoms. A typical day consists of an egg white omelet for breakfast, then for lunch and dinner she enjoys fresh fruit and veggies (she purées them to make her own soups) with fish. For snacks she loves “those little packets of nuts from Starbucks.” Jenny also stays strong and flexible by practicing yoga, and is even trying to teach it to her honey, Jim Carrey. Check out the May issue of Shape for her 15-minute yoga sculpting workout.

Source

Food Review: Almond Nut-Thins

FitSugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:00:00 -0700

I have a friend who can't eat foods that contain gluten, and the other night I was having a little dinner party. I wanted to make sure she could eat the cheese and crackers, too, so I decided to pick up some gluten-free Almond Nut-Thins. I've definitely eaten some not-so-great gluten-free foods in my day, so how did these taste? To find out read more.

Serving Size	16 crackers
Calories	130
Total Fat	2.5g
Saturated Fat	0g
Cholesterol	0mg
Sodium	115mg
Carbs	23g
Fiber	less than 1g
Sugar	0g
Protein	3g

I've got to say that these crackers didn't look too appetizing when I peeked in the box, but when I tried them, they had a nice buttery flavor. The texture was very light, crunchy, and crispy, and they tasted great on their own or with hummus or cheese. Plus, check out the calories - only 130 for 16 crackers! Not to mention that each serving is cholesterol free, low in sodium, and contains 3g of protein (from the almonds). I'd definitely buy these again for myself and not just for my gluten-free friends.