My Story

Due to popular demand, Ok, thanks to Emma's mom for your request :) I have returned to blogging. It's been quite some time since I've really gotten into this and I apologize. My computer crashed (but that was expected since I dropped it. Oops!), my oldest son returned home to live (YAY!), summer was very busy with kids and company, my health took a nose-dive, blah, blah, blah. But I want you to know that now that I'm back, I'm back with a passion - with a fire in my belly, with a desire to educate and inform others on the importance of taking control of their own health and making wise decisions on what they eat as it is so true, "you are what you eat." I want others to learn what I've learned - and am continuing to learn - so that perhaps we all can live life to our fullest potential. A life full of health and happiness. My desire is to help prevent disease so that one doesn't have to live the after-affects of its damage and destruction. I have seen the devastation, which most likely led to death in this case, because one was not diagnosed with Celiac- a very controllable illness with simply a proper diet. Something so simple, yet so overlooked in the medical world.

I know this to be true for my own appointments with an immunologist this summer. Upon showing the immuno my results from the IgG NeuroScience Food Sensitivity Test ordered by my chiropractic neurologist (Dr. Gulla at n8 Wellness in Colorado Springs) which showed I was sensitive to 90 foods - everything I was eating - she said, "Those types of tests mean nothing. It's our testing that shows what's important. I wouldn't worry about these results and wouldn't change a thing in your diet, expect maybe reduce your intake of the foods which are high on the list."

While I liked what she had to say for it was a "WooHoo!! I can eat whatever I want to!" I knew in my crazy belly that she was wrong. There was a reason why I was reacting to everything I was eating and that reason couldn't be a good one. In my quest to learn more, I discovered just how far from the truth she was. Dr. Gulla informed me that with results like mine, I had to have Leaky Gut..again, or most likely, still. With Lyme disease, nothing ever stays the same, most conditions remain an unsolvable mystery and just plain complicated, and one will always have issues with their belly. Those darn bugs - and parasites - love to live in one's belly and make a mess of everything they come into contact with. And with leaky gut, this means they can squiggle their way out of one's gut and into the rest of one's body creating even more havoc. To make matters worse, some Lymies - like me - cannot tolerate the tradition treatment (glutamine and aloe) for leaky gut. So, what's one to do? I have yet to find the answer but I'm working on it and promise I will let you know as soon as I find out.

What's the big deal with Leaky Gut you may be wondering? Oh, it's a very, very big deal. Google it and be amazed at what you learn (I'll be posting a lot more on this subject in the near future). Since 70-80% of one's immune system resides in one's belly, it's imperative to one's overall health both today and all tomorrows that one's belly is well. If there's damage to it and it's not able to function properly one can contract not just colds and the flu, but auto-immune diseases of all kinds - including cancer. This is never a good thing. And to have an immunologist look at my report and totally dismiss it is just plain wrong! To think if I listened to her and not Dr. Gulla, I could continue collecting chronic illnesses (I have nearly 20 diagnosis as a result of Lyme), continue to feel sick and tired and be so tired of feeling sick and tired, and may even contract an illness which would take my life away - not just my lifestyle like most the ones to date have done.

So it's out of this my heart is filled with a passion to educate and inform. To provide possible answers and solutions (remember I don't have a medical degree, just am a 'professional patient'), recipes and how-to's, and point people like you in the right direction so that you may recover what you've lost, regain your 'balance' in life, and be restored, renewed, and revived to live your life to the fullest each day.

So, you are not just gluten-free, but dairy-free, too

"What?! First, no gluten and now no dairy, either?" You may be asking in tears and frustration. If this is the case, don't worry. I'm here to help. So, take a deep breath and exhale knowing that there are now plenty of great-tasting dairy-free alternatives on the market and going dairy free may be the next best thing for your health since going gluten free. A casein-free diet (casein is the protein found in milk and is also used as a binding agent in some cosmetics, paints, and nail polish) has been found to be very beneficial for a number of reasons - from those with autism to anyone with an auto-immune disorder or wishing to avoid one.

Below is a list of foods that contain casein taken from Living Without magazine:

• All bovine milk products
• Milk - White or chocolate
• Cream
• Half & half
• Yogurt
• Sour Cream
• Cheese
• Butter
• Sherbet
• Ice Cream
• Ice Milk
• Creamed Soups and Veggies
• Soup Bases
• Puddings
• Custard
• Whey

Casein-Free Alternatives

• Rice Milk
• Soy Milk (not a fan of soy personally)
• Hemp Milk
• Coconut Milk
• Any nut milk - almond, cashew - especially homemade
• Pareve Creams and Creamers
• Sorbet
• Italian Ices
• Ghee (ensure it says Casein Free as not all brands are - see www.spunkycoconut.com to learn how to make your own)
• Coconut Butter
• Coconut Milk
• Earth Balance "Butter" Spreads - also in soy free
• kosher pareve foods
• Foods certified as kosher non-dairy or pareve
• Note: for a non-dairy alternative to powdered milk, there are rice, goat, and coconut milk options available. You just might have to purchase on-line as it's a difficult item to find

Foods/Items that MAY contain casein

• Margarine
• Tuna fish
• Dairy-Free Cheese (most brands)
• Cosmetics
• Medicines
• Nail polish
• Paints
• Lactic Acid
• Artifical Flavorings
• Semi-sweet Chocolate
• Hot Dogs
• Lunch Meats
• Sausage
• Ghee

If an item as "dairy free" it still may contain casein. And as you may have noticed by the list, many non-food items contain casein. So, once again, it's "let the buyer beware." Please read labels and "if in doubt, go without." Get to know your options and don't forget to smile and have fun :)

What then shall I eat???

Our 13 year-old daughter was just diagnosed with a variety of food allergies. And to make things even more interesting here at home, some of hers are different than mine. While I hate to see her struggling to make the necessary changes, I am very proud of her happy attitude and efforts to ensure she does not eat anything on her "Do not eat" list. The problem is finding suitable alternatives as the words corn, dairy, soy, yeast, and egg are typically hiding somewhere in nearly every mix or recipe - even though they're gluten-free.

Fortunately, I'm in the position of telling her that she's not being punished or should not feel as if she is no longer 'normal' because she cannot eat 'normal' foods like pizza, cereal, Mac and Cheese like her 'normal' friends - but that she's one of the "lucky" ones. The typical American diet leads to sickness, disease, and even death as it's filled with toxins, chemicals, heavy metals (there's mercury in high fructose corn syrup, my friends). In fact, recent research stated that 80% of what is sold in 'normal' supermarkets is poison for the body as it is nutrient deficient, genetically modified, full of hormones, pesticides, antibiotics, and only God knows what else. As I've told my daughter, her new 'diet' is a diet that everyone should follow if they want to live life without serious health problems. Her 'diet' is what is going to keep her, and the rest of our family, living life abundantly.

While making the transition may be difficult, it will be well worth it in the long run.

To make this more applicable to you, here is a list of foods I believe are healthy for most people, especially when organic: (NOTE: Please have a personal food allergy test done to ensure these healthy foods are truly healthy for you. click here to find out more information)

• low to moderate glycemic-index fruits
• Veggies except those belonging to the nightshade family
• Olive, grape seed and coconut oils
• Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, and most other nuts (except peanuts and if you have a an allergy)
• Nut butters without additives
• Farm-fresh eggs (unless have an allergy)
• Grass-fed, hormone-free, antibiotic-free meat
• Wild-caught fish
• Legumes (not canned)
• Spices (ensure gluten-free or if have an allergy)
• Coconut, almond, cashew or rice milk
• keifer
• Brown rice and other kinds of rice except white
• Gluten-free and even grain-free breads, crackers, cookies and desserts
• natural food bars

Where's the Wheat?

If you are like me and have celiac disease, or have a wehat allergy, even the smallest amount of gluten may hurt you. In my case, even the tiniest molecule gets me every time so I have learned just where the wheat is hidden. To stay well, I need to be GF ALL the way every day in every way.

Did you know your favorite lipstick may contain wheat germ oil, a wheat-derived vitamin E oil? Did you know the flavor of your Chapstick may contain gluten while another flavor of Chapstick may not? Same goes for your shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, mascara, etc... If your hairspray contains gluten, you may be inhaling gluten everytime you style your hair and walk into a salon. If you son eats Cheez-Its and gets his fingerprints on the refrigerator handle and then you open the refrig, you may get exposed to gluten. If you spouse uses a gluten-containing lotion, runs an errand, and then you take the car to run one of your own - simply upon placing your hands on the steering wheel, you may have been just exposed to gluten. Because of these constant and incidental exposures can really add up, you need to know "where's the wheat" to stay well and live well.

Here's a basic list of some GF personal care products as kind of 'survival guide' -

• Key Soap
• GF Savonnerie
• Pangea Organics (except oatmeal soap)
• Burt's Bee (some contain gluten, so check before buying)
• Dr. Bronner's (the vitamin E is derived from soybean oil)
• Kiss My Face (many are GF, but check labels)
• Tom's of Maine (except natural Moisturizing Hand Soap Liquids and Moisturizing Body Wash)
• Tropical Traditions lip balms, lotions and body creams (personal fave)

Hair Care

• Desert Organics
• Giovanni Organic
• Burt's Bees Grapefruit and Sugar Beet shampoos and conditioners
• Garnier Fructis hairsprays
• Pantene hairsprays
• Arbonne FC5 Shampoo

Cosmetics

• Arbonne (most are GF, ask for a list)
• Smashbox (everything is GF! love their products)
• M.A.C. (most are GF, ask for a list)
• NARS (everything is GF)
• Everyday minerals
• Bare Escentuals
• Monave mineral Makeup
• Larenim Mineral

Kid Care

• Arbonne Baby care
• California Baby
• Burt's Bees Baby line (most are GF0
• Suave kids Shampoo
• GF Savonnerie

Toothpaste

• Tom's of Maine
• Now
• Young Living Essential Oils toothpaste

Deodorant

• Desert Organics

Young Living Essential Oils also carries some amazing GF products. Ask for a list. I use their Thieves Household Cleaner to wipe down household surfaces.

Vitacost (www.vitacost.com) is a great shopping source. Their prices can beat Whole Foods buy nearly 50% on some products and shipping is only $4.99.

Because the list of where gluten can hide is quite extensive, I've decided to take the hassle out of the picture and go with items I know are GF. It sure beats standing in the aisle reading label after label after label. However, for your protection, on the next post I will provide you with that list. May you enjoy your GF life every day!

Be well - moriah