Why Gluten Free Dieters Still Have Symptoms

Still having gluten free symptoms? Despite your race, skin color, eye color, sex, or job, gluten related illness can strike. Modern science research has objectively showcased that any person, regardless of their heritage, often cannot ingest and digest food and beverage containing gluten resulting in a variety of auto immune related illnesses. 

Gluten Free Experts

Who gives you advice about living strictly gluten-free? Some random gluten free expert on Instagram with tons of followers, a blogger with gluten sensitivity, a yogi mom with a few auto-immune children living a strict paleo diet, a fellow Celiac with a ton of Twitter followers, but why? 

I ask myself the same question over and over and do not understand why any of them have authority over another. If their pretty food posts, creative recipes and stories of restaurant socializing are inspiring you then it's important to find out who is not living symptom free, and if you're finding yourself often ill when you're supposed to be committed to healthier and smarter gluten free choices. 

Natural Products Expo East 2015

Education & Events 

September 16–19, 2015

Trade Show

September 17–19, 2015

Location

Baltimore Convention Center, MD USA

It's one of the most important occasions of the year for natural products. The "natural" here is legit and that term cannot be used loosely anymore. The Natural Products Expo East show is striving for supporting the increase of organic, non GMO (genetically modified organisms) and sustainable industry! Manufacturers, distributors, brokers, retailers, suppliers, services, speakers, leaders and agents of change connect to uplift the natural industry to continue it's acceleration into overtaking the new mainstream way of living. Why? Because most produce in the grocery store is GMO and the packaged goods also use a lot of low quality ingredients :( 

Udis & Smashburger Unite To Devastate Gluten-Free Safety

I can't tell you how upset I was after reading about Gluten Free Dude's finding that Smashburger used Udi's Gluten Free Bread (a once gluten-free leader) and failed an obvious cross contamination gluten-free test with a gluten free customer.   

Let's be very clear to those who manage a restaurant, servers and chefs along with those who are responsible at home to cook for gluten free family and friends:

1. It's not okay to serve gluten free products in a cross contaminated area so wash, clean and/or separate all utensils and food much better.
2. It's not okay to pretend you're promoting gluten-free options but exclude those with actual gluten related illnesses. Duh!

Is wheat grass gluten-free or what?

Honestly, I don't find joy telling you or myself to NOT consume something. Life is short and do you really want to be sick and unhealthy your whole life? I don't take those risks. I take other life thrills like bungee jumping, running and hiking 14er mountains and challenging myself when snowboarding, or through regular work day adventures...

The Truth Behind The Gluten Free Trend

Gluten today is not the gluten from our ancient ancestors. It's common sense that we live in a different world and the environment and sciences have changed. Humans have done a lot of "stuff" to this place. The entire food supply, soil, animal grazing (or lack thereof), insects are dying, weather adjustments and science monsters who created GMOs (Monsanto) have altered the entire planet. 

"People Treat Their Mouths

Like Garbage Cans"

FDA Gluten-Free Guidelines Arise

 

EDUCATE THE WORLD
As an old friend once said, "knowing is half the battle." These FDA gluten-free guidelines are not a law yet, but they're a step forward to deter the corruption in the gluten-free community from those who don't take it serious or are ignorant. And it's a mess! This is to educate owners, entrepreneurs, chefs, cooks, general managers, waiters, brands, marketers, retailers, brokers, neighbors and shoppers about the seriousness of gluten related cross contamination as a health concern that gluten is a damaging protein found in food grains that cause people to get very ill. The FDA has put together a guideline for how to label and prepare gluten-free in the USA which is behind many countries progression. Remember, despite it's many faults, shortcomings such as testing for <20 ppm levels vs testing for lower quantities, it's a good step into the right place and I am happy it's officially in the books. Take notes and learn more about the gluten-free lifestyle form @GlutenFreeG...

Dear FDA Gluten-Free Guidelines,

We can be happy and healthy if we avoid gluten free cross contamination risks.

Thank you for the steps ahead for gluten-free guidelines as the entire gluten-free community does appreciate your efforts, but there is still way too much confusion out there since there was no major public announcement to educate the good people of the world. Why not?

Eat Your Way To Health Not Rx Drugs

Nature treats and even cures illness. Rx pills often lead to more pills. How incredibly lucky we are to choose our path. 

Everyday, people go shopping for their favorite foods. One shopper's preference may be fruits, veggies, pastas and chocolate, but another may not buy any fruits and instead buy mostly packaged and processed goods such as canned soups, pastas, breads and deli meat. This could be for preference, budget or a variety of other lifestyle and cultural reasons...

Trader Joe's Is Committed To FDA Gluten-Free Claims But There Are Risks

Hey, Trader Joe's, WTF?

As a leader in the "natural" grocery world, what's the deal Trader Joe's?

I've called, emailed, tweeted and spoke to store manager/s and asked them the same question... I'm so confused with all of your random g and gluten free labels that I don't know whom/what to trust. Why are you flip flopping and sort of kinda encouraging the gluten-free fad diet movement after all of the health movements showing gluten is a real concern? Therefore, I asked them, "Do you test your gluten-free products to verify your gluten-free claims on your labels?" The answer has been in the recent months, "yes and no"...

New FDA Nutritional Revision Leaves Out Gluten-Free Again

The folks at Fooducate have shared a draft of First Lady's Let's Move initiative to tweak the nutritional label for consumers to make better choices when they read labels. The conundrum with food labeling is that the majority of packaging is all product branding, butterflies, puppies, persuasive text, colors and other magical imagery. Of those consumers who decide to read the nutritional information, it requires intense concentration in store to do mathematics in their head to multiply serving size x info in the chart, attempt to understand what the % of daily value signifies and make an informed decision for themselves and their family. And who is making the decisions about what it all really means? There usually is hidden sugar, confusing fat data and lack of sourced ingredients to make a completely informed decision on whether this brand's product is any good or just another unhealthy snack that should only be eaten in moderation (at most).

Subway Ingredient Also Found In Yoga Mats: Azodicarbonamide

Do not eat here!

Thanks to Food Babe's article, millions of USA consumers are now aware that their favorite fast food gluten based bread products use an all-american common unpronounceable ingredient that is banned in most of the world, azodicarbonamide: 

What the Heck is "Azodicarbonamide"

BANNED IN EUROPE, AUSTRALIA & SINGAPORE 

BUT PERMITTED THROUGHOUT USA

WHAT THE HECK IS IT?

Azodicarbonamid is commonly used as a flour bleaching agent in common gluten and dough conditioners according to the the FDA. It's also the same ingredient used in yoga mats, shoe soles, floor mats, and window gaskets.  It's linked to asthma and other possible allergies for works involved in plants... Further, those who work with this ingredient wear masks far more urgently than just to protect their face, but to protect their entire health! Who at the FDA approved this and why is the FDA to be trusted after yet another ridiculous global issue?

Antibacterial Soap Reported By FDA As "Dangerous"

Okay here I go, STOP using antibacterial soaps, seriously. Go with all-natural soaps that are just as good if not better for you, your family, and the environment as the ingredient, triclosan (sounds lovely doesn't it) in these products are finally publically reportedly very bad.

Thanks to the FDA (who approves anything if you pay them) announcement to the mainstream, we're now at risk if we use anti-bacterial soaps. Almost every corporation and home in the USA, perhaps in the world, maybe at some point, used a product with triclosan, the chemical found in all anti-bacterial soaps. It's a claim that says very clearly that you're cleaning yourself to remove possible bacteria from your face, body, hands, etc which in theory is good, but actually with deeper analysis is not good at all.  What confuses me the most is this claim has been in the market for a VERY long time without research and studies in the mainstream to educate, typical actually, since the FDA is very late to the party very often. Is it their fault or someone else's about this late breaking finding?

FDA Gluten-Free Regulation - Welcome To The Real World

It's time to get a tad more excited for the FDA gluten-free regulation in August 2014, but not pat FDA on the back, oh no. Although it's not crystal clear and the policing of restaurants and brands is as grey as a 21 shot at your 21st bday party, we must get happier than the alternative, nothing.

FDA Urges Restaurants To Comply With Gluten-Free Regulations

ARE WE EXCITED, EH?
      
WHAT'S THIS MEAN?  
    
WHAT WILL ACTUALLY HAPPEN?

The FDA follow up announcement was shared with me via Celiac.com and I am very excited about this update, albeit FDA has passed no laws! This additional clarification puts a well needed pressure on the restaurant industry to be completely accountable for their gluten-free menus options. I've lived in NY, NJ and Colorado and have visited dozens of states in search for restaurants with legitimate, safe gluten-free options finding a 99.9% failure rate. Have you given in to the typical, irresponsible gluten-free menus before?

Gluten-Free Labeling FDA Update

GOOD NEWS vs BAD NEWS

Last week we heard news from the FDA that they're finally regulating food packaging for voluntary use of "gluten-free" labeling whether made in USA or imported into the USA for a mandate of <20ppm. This is a heavy topic so let's analyze it together to get a better understanding of what this means now and tomorrow for gluten-free consumers.

GF FDA Regulations Coming!

Gluten-Free in the mainstream for the right cause yesterday.  CBS reports that the FDA mentions they will push regulations to monitor Gluten-Free claims.

The issues, as shared many times before, are that companies are not held accountable for claiming gluten-free labeling, which has nearly no regulations to date. And to max out the trials and tribulations that those with Celiac Disease suffer vs those with are on the gluten free band wagon.