Contamination Issues

As we talked in our last post, the trickest part of g-free living is invisible gluten. It can be found in naturally g-free foods, vitamins, medications, toothpaste, beauty products, lipsticks, and cosmetics. Today, we'll take a further look into your kitchen and refrig with 4 simple Tips.

1. Stay clean

• Wash your hands frequently
• Clean out your silverware drawer from crumbs
• Wipe down doorknobs, handles, counters and cooking surfaces frequently

2. Think Strategically

• Keep your toaster away from your silverware and utensil drawers
• Label your GF groceries, condiments - especially those in the refrig
• Seperate your GF foods from gluten-containing foods by creating a seperate area in your pantry, refrig, and freezer

3. Double-up

• Anything that a knife would go into, double-up on that item so one is GF. Then label it
• Buy and label GF utensils - spatualas, cutting board, rolling pin, wooden spoons, colander, baking sheets, etc..

Just like gluten shows up in the most unlikeliest foods, so it also sneaks up in the most unlikeliest household and personal care items. It is used to prevent powders and spices from clumping, to keep colors from fading, and to create stickiness in envelope seals and stamps. Because these constant, tiny exposures to gluten can add up and create havoc, our next post will be on how to pay close attention to the products you use outside your kitchen - such as your lotions, lipsticks and hairspray and the vitamins you may be taking.

Knowledge is key to making g-free living easy and free. Hang in there!