Why gluten free feels good to me!!!!

A gluten-free diet is a diet that excludes the protein gluten. Gluten is found in grains such as wheat, barley, rye and triticale (a cross between wheat and rye).


Allowed foods
Many healthy and delicious foods are naturally gluten-free:

• Beans, seeds, nuts in their natural, unprocessed form
• Fresh eggs
• Fruits and vegetables

It's important to make sure that they are not processed or mixed with gluten-containing grains, additives or preservatives. Many grains and starches can be part of a gluten-free diet:

• Amaranth
• Arrowroot
• Buckwheat
• Corn and cornmeal
• Flax
• Gluten-free flours (rice, soy, corn, potato, bean)
• Hominy (corn)
• Millet
• Quinoa
• Rice
• Sorghum
• Soy
• Tapioca
• Teff

Always avoid
Avoid all food and drinks containing:

• Barley (malt, malt flavoring and malt vinegar are usually made from barley)
• Rye
• Triticale (a cross between wheat and rye)
• Wheat

Avoiding wheat can be challenging because wheat products go by numerous names. Consider the many types of wheat flour on supermarket shelves — bromated, enriched, phosphated, plain and self-rising. Here are other wheat products to avoid:

• Bulgur
• Durum flour
• Farina
• Graham flour
• Kamut
• Semolina
• Spelt

Avoid unless labeled 'gluten-free'
In general, avoid the following foods unless they're labeled as gluten-free or made with corn, rice, soy or other gluten-free grain:

• Beer, Makes me bloated so I don't care ;)
• Breads, CARBS
• Cakes and pies, CARBS and SUGAR
• Candies, SUGAR
• Cereals, CARBS, and SUGAR
• Cookies and crackers CARBS and SUGAR
• Croutons, CARB bubye!
• French fries, CARB see ya but I will miss you!!! ;)
• Matzo, ummm not gonna happen I am Jewriffic ;)
• Pastas, CARB see ya
• Salad dressings
• Sauces, including soy sauce
• Seasoned rice mixes
• Seasoned snack foods, such as potato and tortilla chips usually CARBS see ya
• Soups and soup bases
• Vegetables in sauce

Certain grains, such as oats, can be contaminated with wheat during growing and processing stages of production. For this reason, doctors and dietitians generally recommend avoiding oats unless they are specifically labeled gluten-free, which will not be happening with me "the avoiding oats thing" ;).... I will agree to buying the gluten free quick cook oats in bulk section of my co-op but cutting out oats will not happen with this family, we eat oatmeal for breakfast at least 3-4 times a week...  Favorite for sure!!! ;0  My girls and I can make a mean bowl of oatmeal, the most creative oatmeal maker in my house has to be my daughter Bryten who insists on adding everything in she can until I start saying "honey turmeric almonds might not be yummy with the cranberries and coconut sugar ;)....


Although the list above might be discouraging, it is good to know.   And it is challenge that I will take, I feel that I will be making far more from scratch to insure that it is gluten free!  Meaning less buying and consuming!  The first couple weeks I was saying I need gluten free crackers, and bread!!  Now I am not even craving those kinds of things, just like when you become a vegetarian and are getting over the meat.  Buying those meat free meats, and processed replacements although it Bridges the gap it is not a good habit to form ;)  ...

Another thing I was noticing is a minor pattern that several of these foods are serious carbohydrates,  don't be misled by fad diets that make blanket pronouncements on the dangers of carbohydrates. They provide the body with fuel it needs for physical activity and for proper organ function, and they are an important part of a healthy diet. But some kinds of carbohydrates are far better than others.  I know that my body feels better when I eat less carbohydrates, there is certain blood types that thrive on carbs.  The thing is that if carbs are your Achilles tendon then going gluten free might help aid you in curbing your carb intake!  For me that is true for sure!  I don't have Celiac disease, but I do have a minor allergy to wheat and one heck of a carb problem ;)  Bread makes me the happiest to be honest.  I could eat bread every minute of every day!!!  And french fries forget about it, never met a pomme frite that I didn't adore!!! ;) So to help me to stop myself with the carbs, I have gone gluten free.  And sugar free, although the carbs and sugar goes hand and hand so you get where I am going with this I imagine ;).  When eating a cleaner diet, free of wheat and sugar and heavy processed carbs I feel so much better.  My mind is sharper, I have more energy to exercise.  All around win if you are like me and want to gain optimal health to be around for a very long time for my children and their children.

Here are a few of my favorite books, blogs, and websites for the gluten free curbing carb endeavor!

For over 2 months now I have been a frequent flyer of these websites:

http://glutenfreegirl.com/

http://www.manifestvegan.com/

http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/

Books:

She has 2 books and they are magic!!!!

http://www.amazon.com/BabyCakes-Gluten-Free-Sugar-Free-Recipes-Talked-About/dp/0307408833/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352092282&sr=1-1&keywords=babycakes+cookbook 

http://www.amazon.com/Gluten-free-Sugar-free-Cooking-Delicious-Allergy-Free/dp/1569242933/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352092347&sr=1-1&keywords=gluten+free+sugar+free+cookbook 

http://www.amazon.com/Gluten-Free-Vegan-Delicious-Animal-Free-Recipes/dp/1600940323/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352092377&sr=1-1&keywords=gluten+free+vegan+cookbook


 Following gluten-free diet without having celiac disease can be harmful to health.  But using a gluten free diet to obtain a better relationship with carbohydrates is A okay in my book...  Again everything in moderation pals!!!  This will be an updated post as my journey continues to get my bod feeling it's age...  "Thirty and flirty and thriving". 

If you know where that is from you are my true pal!!  Please comment if you have

any great gluten free advice!  I would love to learn more!  Tread Lightly!