SoapBox Soap Gluten Free Product Review

Welcome to SoapBox Soap, where each purchase benefits someone else in need. Soapbox Soap has a true mission to give back and provide hope to someone who very much needs the improved hygiene or nutrition that sometimes people take for granted (just saying).  Yes. The SoapBox team will make a donation for every product sold. They have helped people all the way in four continents, such as Haiti, Ecuador, Honduras, Canada, Kenya, Uganda, Thailand, India, South Africa, Zambia and even in the backyards of USA.   They provide soap locally to families at homeless and women's shelters along with nursing homes in America. It's empowering that they can aid 3,000 children's lives every day by simply providing a bar of soap, clean water and vitamin supplements to people in need for every bar that WE purchase.  

The Ultimate Valentine's Day Preparation

No joke ladies and gentleman, as first featured in the Onion, there is no doubt a sexual halo around Valentine's Day. Some are more courageous than others, but needless to say, it's still a romantic time of year to share, chase and spend time with someone you care about. Old St Valentine may be wondering how/where the times have changed, but hey it's #Merica 2015 and we're not getting any younger, we're getting more advanced and more silly and bizarre. Take it for what it's worth, and play your day tomorrow on Valentine's Day with some jazz, special gluten-free created foods and look your best :) however that connects with you. As first shard by the Onion in 2010, here is your Valentine's Day tip of the day.

I'll be spending Valentine's Day on a double date with the woman of my dreams, and my parents. In fact, we're having a chicken and salmon bbq dinner in the snow. Take out the thermal underwear and pour your gluten-free vodka for a cocktail it's going to be cool out there, possibly in the single digits. Add some Russian potatoes salad, hearty green salad and a side of mixed greens on the bbq (asparagus, onions, mushrooms and peppers) with oil and pink salt. Eat good, be well, enjoy the good times. Spend time with someone you love or just be with those you care about so that you're living well and laughing everyday.

How To Eat Gluten Free From A Diagnosed Celiac Disease

Receiving a diagnosis is usually going to change your life for the better! With a doctor's diagnosis and enough research around the journey to this diagnosis, should shed light on what's the new chapter in your life to recover and sustain your health. If you haven't felt that you've done ample studies, testing, and your doctor doesn't make you feel warm and fuzzy about a life gluten-free without medication then you may want to get a second or third opinion.

Going gluten-free for those with Celiac Disease can in a few months or longer regain your nutrition absorption, gain weight, reduce common symptoms and you should get your blood checked and even a follow up endoscopy or colonoscopy to be sure you're healing. However, the only way you can get on the road to recovery is a 100% gluten-free lifestyle and that includes cross contamination risks that we face everyday, everywhere we go. Reducing your gluten intake will only help a little because if you keep 'poisoning' yourself by taking risks at restaurants, friends homes, purchasing packaged goods, or in your own home then you're going to be sick forever.

These changes should not scare you, but embrace them as you have a second chance on living healthy and smart. You can gain an education on where food comes from, manufacturing, labeling laws, and how to prepare you down food to stay in control with reduce risks. When I was diagnosed in 1997 as a young 14 year old, I was scared and needed help, but the first thing I learned was hot to say 'No" and where to find my comfort foods which was salads and unfortunately chips! Having the ability to go somewhere and have fun while being able to say "NO" to risks changed my life to continue to be a functioning athlete at a high level and find joy throughout my entire life because I was healthy and in control of life :)

How To Live 100% Gluten-Free by A Celiac 

• Stop eating out 99% - The truth is that a restaurant can't be gluten-free when the risk of contamination is everywhere (chef hands, aprons, surfaces, pots, pans, and human mistake.  If you choose to go out you should eat at the same few places because you can trust them. This is always a risk, but hopefully it can become a low, more trusted risk. Most gluten-free apps showcasing gluten-free menus are not gluten-free and you need to be very careful where you trust. 

• Learn how to cook/bake - It's vital to your recovery and your life as a human being to diversify your skill-set and understand how to cook and bake. In doing so you'll walk into the grocery store, farmers market and succeed in a whole new way in life and effect others in doing so. Prepare your own foods, explore new ingredients, and realize that there are so many new options out there and plan your day/week accordingly. I'd even suggest taking a cooking class, but those rarely have gluten-free facilities and the aprons are covered in gluten :( so be wary. 

• Learn about food sources - When you find out where food comes from and how animals are treated, you likely will be disappointed. Truth. A box of packaged food is far removed from fresh unless it's a certain raw product. Learn about food through the supply chain and make smart decisions. 

• Read labels - When in doubt don't eat it. Many products are verified gluten-free if not, call them up and if they have done 3rd party testing and can PROVE it, otherwise then skip it, and go buy something fresh not in a box/pack :) like fruit and vegetables and live without a bad risk that day. 

• If someone glutens you, never ever go back - Whether it's family, friends or a restaurant. Do not allow yourself to be a victim so bring your own food and stay in control. You can still hang out and socialize, but do not eat the food there again and confront them privately and say that it's best that you prepare your own food ahead of time. Don't let it get awkward and just move on while having fun. If they can't handle the confrontation then have mediator who can help. 

• Avoid Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) - There is not enough research to showcase that GMO are safe at all and on the contrary research shows health risks. Plan to eat organic or at least hybrid food and wash them well. Google "GMO Facts" and you'll never eat a GMO again. GMOs are scary and I do not eat them by asking questions and shopping organic smartly and thrifty. 

• Lear to say "No"99% of the time - Seriously, this is a big challenge, but you can do this kindly, and prepare ahead of time with fresh snacks, raw foods, and prepare meals because most places do not have gluten-free options. Don't trust strangers who can't prove their foods or beverages are not contaminated. So look around and trust your instincts to say NO before YES. Most friends and family will learn how to properly shop and care for your gluten-free needs, but they need to learn the right way, the hard way. 

Help remove an upcoming Super Bowl ad for Nascar

As first launched by +Gluten Dude, an advocate for Celiac Disease health, awareness and righteousness, we need your help to sign an important petition immediately. This ad from NBC for Nascar is launching in front of the massive Super Bowl TV audience, so we need signatures to boycott the ad before the Super Bowl because it insults the gluten-free lifestyle. Yes. Another insult and this time to a large and massive reaching audience this time, and we can't let this happen. You and your social circle need to act tonight, Friday night, asap.  Read here to learn all about how this ad, actors and those associated with NBC can promote and insult people with an auto immune disease, Celiac Disease, and call us weak and how we're an American problem, ugh! It's a shame and it's sad that today, people with diseases have to face this type of hardship by the mass media and those in the main stream who control what millions of people will see who are fans of this Nascar sport, for a laugh. Education and ignorance will love long in this country of America. As opposites it inevitably will always exist. Don't be on the wrong side of history and Sign the petition here, and please share this immediately with those who support Celiac Disease - gluten free lifestyle health. 

SIGN THE PETITION TODAY

BEFORE THE SUPER BOWL

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...

What's Your Meaning Of Gluten-Free?

Is this gluten-free?

This is a complicated yet easy question to analyze. Something either has gluten or it doesn't right?  However, we don't live in a homogenous style world... Not in the USA and not in any kitchen. Therefore people will believe what they choose and live how they decide that's best for their health, wealth and lifestyle, period. Regardless of someone's health symptoms, financials, and equality overall, each of us chooses to smile, laugh or frown, live in pain, we live in distress and sometimes we see things that we believe are correct, despite our body or others telling something different. We argue and we quarrel, but do we learn and change?  Most of the time, I would assume yes, but ask yourself this question? With that said, I ask you if you truly believe that you're living a gluten-free life or if you're just living your life by reducing some of this and some of that.

• Do you have gluten in your house and use the same silverware, cutting boards & pots? 
• Do you have a dishwasher and do you clean with a dedicated gluten-free sponge? 

Perhaps you believe that you feel better when you reduce some gluten or reduce wheat or dairy, but the truth is the never ending education on each is great, so have you invested in your ongoing food education?  Some admit they haven't, some believe they have, but I encourage you to keep reading, and opening yourself or others to learn about why and how you feel and challenge yourself, family and friends to be healthier by being gluten-free smarter.

Is this gluten-free?

Is this gluten-free?

Is this gluten-free?

Is this gluten-free?

FDA guides brands to declare gluten-free if products have been verified <20 ppm gluten contamination, and that's microscopic! However, this isn't enough as most Celiacs believe they react and show symptoms on a committed gluten-free lifestyle. Personally, I eat no gluten-free and the risks I must take I carefully monitor by body and get blood checks throughout the year to see if my body's gluten antibodies are active. There are other testing <10ppm and <5ppm and hopefully the FDA will lower their standards so that the entire community can change forward.  Who do you trust and where do you find resources? The truth is it's impossible to know if  anything is gluten-free because the farm, processing, packaging, fulfillment and handling supply chain contaminate everything. It's true.  Therefore, eating legit farm fresh, home grown and made is your best way of living the way humans did before processed and packaged goods. Truth is the truth.

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