Monthly Archives: March 2011

Watch out for those hidden glutens….they can be sneaky

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I was chatting with some friends recently who were saying how careful they always are when they have a friend over (who has Celiac Disease) to their home.  They diligently read labels when preparing food, snacks, beverages, etc. I asked them if they were aware of the hidden glutens that exist. For example, did they know that some deli meats have gluten fillers? They answered that they would never have thought it to be in meat, because meat is just meat, right? I also mentioned to them that some snack chips like Pringles now contain wheat.

It’s amazing what can contain gluten and we just aren’t aware. Some soups even use gluten as a thickener so you have to be careful with those too. I know right away that any soup that says “Cream of” in the name is pretty much off limits.

It is important to know where these hidden glutens can show up and under what names they may appear under when checking a label.

For a complete list, I recommend visiting Celiac.com but let me touch on a few of these now.

Watch out for anything containing the following as they MAY contain hidden gluten:  Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP), Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP), Modified Food Starch, Monosodium Glutimate (MSG), Malt, Malt Flavoring, Malt Vinegar, Matzo, “Natural” flavor, Emulsifiers, Teriyaki Sauce, Soy Sauce (unless you know it does not contain wheat) , Edible Starch, Binders, Fillers, Maltodextrin, Yeast Extract, Cyclodextrin and the list goes on….

To be safe, I always recommend a Google search for the name of the product and then the words “gluten-free”.  You can always contact the manufacturer too if time permits.

There are also places where hidden gluten can be that we may never think of, such as the glue in envelopes and stamps, some soaps, toothpaste, mouthwash, lipstick, shampoo, sunscreens, makeup, lotions, hair gel. Remember that anything you put ON your body can also go IN your body.

We also have to watch medications because not only can they have gluten fillers in them, they may have been dusted with flour on the outside. Again I recommend visiting Celiac.com for a list of safe medications.

There are miscellaneous items too like rubber gloves that are powdered…be aware when you go to the doctor or dentist! PlayDoh contains wheat and some children like to eat it. Some art supplies like paints and glue may also contain hidden gluten.

Bottom line is when in doubt check into it first. It is better to be safe than sorry!

Please note: This site does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Weight loss update (and some tips too)

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I am now just a couple of pounds shy of being down forty pounds since going gluten-free. Eleven of those have been lost just recently since I started on an anti-inflammatory diet.

I can’t begin to tell you how easy the weight is coming off now. In the past couple of days alone, I have lost four pounds!

Being gluten free and trying to lose weight has really posed challenges for me at breakfast time. One thing from my plan that I would like to share today is a good substitute for cereal in the morning and also a good source of fiber. It is recommended to have two tablespoons per day of flax seed. I grind them in my coffee grinder along with two tablespoons of sunflower seeds and sesame seeds. Grinding the flax seeds releases their fatty acids. It is important to grind them in a clean coffee grinder because after a few days, the oil content of the seeds is no longer fresh.   I then substitute almond milk for cow’s milk, add some raw honey and sliced banana and it’s delicious!

So you are probably asking, why raw honey? Raw honey is generally unheated and is better for your body. It is also high in antioxidants and contains amylase, which helps predigest starchy foods.

I just picked up some Raw Protein Powder by Garden of Life and plan on making smoothies for breakfast too. This is a rice-based protein powder versus using a soy protein powder. I have given up soy as it showed up as another intolerance of mine when I had a blood test. The smoothie recipe taken from “The Anti-Inflammation Diet and Recipe Book” is 2 tablespoons protein powder, 1 cup organic frozen berries (cherries are ok too), 2 cups milk (I use almond milk). You can also do half water, half milk.  I plan on adding my two tablespoons of ground flax seeds to the smoothies too.

Thanks again for your support! Only have about seventy more pounds to lose. I plan on doing this by my next birthday in November…that is my goal anyways!

Please note: This site does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.