We are coming back!!
We know that it has been a while and that we owe our readers a big apology…work has been killing both of us. But we are getting back to business starting the week after Christmas. I promise.
So stay tuned and look back here soon!!
GFBill
So much to say so little time…
I have so much to say in this post that I will call this a mish mash of stuff…here we go!
Gluten Free Fenway Part II – Sorry to say that I have been to couple of more games this year and the one cart that said Gluten Free and lived in the healthy selections area of the concessions now sells candy. First, they still do carry a GF cookie and Brownie, but if someone didn’t tell you that they were there you are not going to find it. Second, not sure how Swedish Fish can be termed healthy (don’t get me wrong, downright my favorite candy). There is still concessions though that you can get a hamburger or hot dog without a bun and that only cook French Fries in their fryers so just ask around and you will find them. But needless to say I am a little disappointed that they took down the sign…
FDA on Their Way – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reopened the comment period for its 2007 proposal on labeling foods as “gluten-free” on August 2nd. The agency is also making available a safety assessment of exposure to gluten for people with celiac disease (CD) and invites comment on these additional data. For more information and to make a comment go to http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm265838.htm
On a Personal Note: Had an appointment at the Celiac Center at Beth Israel the other day (it’s Bill by the way) and the Dr. is very happy with my progress. The only problem is that now I have to lose some weight. So not only am I on a Gluten Free diet but now I have to be on a Gluten Free diet diet. I guess I could be in a worse place than gaining weight and having my body absorb nutrients again. So I will cut down on the bread, the rice and the chocolate chip cookies and start to eat a little healthier.
That’s what I have for today…I will try to be more focused next time (if that is at all possible!!)
Is my house Gluten-Free?
I often ask myself, ‘Is my house gluten-free?’ With Bill’s recent and unfortunate encounters with hidden gluten, it really makes me wonder just how is gluten getting into my gluten-free house – or life! Neither my wife or my daughter are gluten-free, so automatically there is definitely a place for contamination in the kitchen, which I am very careful with. But, setting this aside, what else in my house has gluten in it? – outside of the kitchen.
It’s truly amazing the amount of products that use wheat or other grain as a filler or binding agent. Bill mentioned lipstick, and that’s not the only bathroom product that may contain gluten. The list continues in the bathroom beyond lipstick to toothpaste, soap, hair gel, shampoo, blush, foundation, lip balm and deodorant. Women’s and men’s products alike have the same issues. Check this site out for a list of GF bathroom products: http://www.glutenfree-lifestyle.com/glutenfreeproductsbytype.html It’s worth taking a moment to do so.
You may ask yourself, ‘why would a dude worry about makeup?’ – well … when you are hugging, kissing, or intimate with your partner, you are inadvertently exposing yourself to gluten. Depending on your sensitivity to gluten, you could be taking in gluten in ways you never imagined. As crazy as it seems, it’s important to think beyond the kitchen and what you ingest at mealtime.
The bathroom medicine cabinet brings a whole other myriad of gluten into life as well. Even disease-specific medications, such as asthma inhalers and other drugs contain gluten. We’re not medical experts, so you’ll have to research each of the items you take and talk to your doctor. http://glutenfreedrugs.com/list.htm offers a good list, but your doctor should confirm.
As we continue our tour through the house, be sure to look in your laundry room. Many laundry detergents contain gluten. Yup – you could be wearing, sleeping in, or walking in gluten and not know it! Again, due to the extensive use of wheat and other products containing gluten to thicken, bind, and extend products, it’s likely you might be exposed to gluten in a way you never imagined. Here’s a short list of detergents that other GF-folks have researched: http://ourplacelivingglutenfree.blogspot.com/2010/04/update-gluten-free-laundry-detergent.html I urge you to do your own research as well.
Whether you are new to the GF-club, or a seasoned veteran, it wouldn’t hurt to take a tour of your house with your GF-glasses on to see what else is lurking out there. It wouldn’t hurt to rethink the things that are marked as gluten-free either! You never know. Maybe we need to brand a GF-Flag that can hang outside our doors?!
Gluten Free = Safe for me!! (Not so fast!!)
Before I even start to write the post, I know what you are saying. Bill another T-Shirt saying…you are a marketing genius. Now here is the only problem, I have no T-Shirts to put them on. But who knows, maybe someday there will be a full complement of GFY merchandise. Okay now on to the important stuff…
For those of you who have been following us for sometime you have seen that I (Bill– I have scared too many of Jason’s family and friends) have had some ups and downs since being diagnosed with Celiac Disease in February of this year. I have felt really good, I have felt really bad all while staying on a pretty stringent Gluten free diet. As I said in one of my earlier posts that I am still dealing with some depletion of vitamins and minerals which cause all sorts of different problems in my day to day life. The reason that I was having these problems was that I was not healing the way I should because of “hidden gluten.” What…hidden gluten..everything I eat says Gluten Free.
(Before I go any further, I need to make sure people know that I am not a doctor, nutritionist, scientist or activist. These are just the thoughts and opinions of someone in the struggle).
What I found as I searched for hidden gluten is that Gluten Free doesn’t really have a definite meaning. In 2004, Congress passed a law requiring the Food and Drug Administration to define the phrase. In 2008, the FDA blew its deadline. And in 2011, we still have no official ruling.
Because of this companies can and do label things gluten free that carry smidgens or more of gluten . There are studies going on to see exactly how much gluten will damage a person’s (with Celiac Disease) intestines. Most studies say you do not want to have more than 50 milligrams of gluten in your diet at any time. The only problem is that there is no such thing as a “Glutenometer” which will tell you how much gluten something has.
For me I have to be pretty careful because even the littlest bit of gluten will affect my healing and keep me malnourished. So I look for things that are certified by one of the agencies that test for gluten in food. The only problem with these agencies is that they also don’t have the same standards and sometimes require food vendors to pay exorbitant fees just to become certified. I have a pretty good relationship with a local Gluten Free food vendor and they told me that it costs $5000 a year to become certified. Which is a lot of money for a small vendor, so some people will not go for the certification. It is a real vicious circle!!
So as I said I am not an activist and don’t plan on marching on the Capitol anytime soon, but I don’t hesitate to write my congress people and the FDA to tell them to “Get on the Ball and define Gluten Free once and for All” (I know another T-Shirt).
I hope everyone is having a great summer!!
Crazy Russian Girls Cake is Crazy-Good!
My best friend lives in Bennington, VT and visits as often as he can. And, when he does, he is gracious enough to bring along gluten-filled (for my wife and himself) and gluten-free (for me!) treats. He’s lucky enough to live in a town where a local baker has taken up the gluten-free baked goods gauntlet. Crazy Russian Girls Bakery was born out of a love of food, baking, and feeding people. They welcome everyone with their food and it’s no wonder why.
As I mentioned, I’m only able to inhale in these GF treats a few times a year, but let me tell you, they are delicious. I’ve enjoyed everything from cupcakes to a multi-layered chocolate cake. Every bite is wonderful. (My apologies to those who are allergic to chocolate. I’m not sure what is worse, chocolate or gluten!)
Each cake is moist and the texture is spot on. There’s no gritty feel to their cakes and they hold up to their gluten-filled counterparts. The frosting is nothing to shake a stick at either, but what’s not to love about sugar, butter and cream anyway! No complaints here.
My wife and I lived in Bennington for a short while. It was back in the day where no one knew what gluten was, or how to be free of it either. There was only one health food store in town selling only some of the very earliest of GF products. I mostly made everything at home and focused on things that were naturally gluten free – like vegetables, meats, rice, and potatoes – go figure! I wish the bakery had emerged back then – I would have been there every morning to get a coffee and a nice treat on my way into work.
Well, I’m glad they are here now. And … I’m even more glad that I have a great friend who brings me treats I can eat. Yum! And, yes, Crazy-Good!
