All about Celiac Disease and being Gluten Free

There has been a bunch of talk about the “new celiac pill” GlutenEase.  I tried GlutenEase for the past couple of months and I have to tell you…they are really good.

It seems people are very confused on what it is and what it’s supposed to do for you.  Too many people think this is the “magic” pill for people with celiac disease.  That is not true!  They are enzymes…simple as that.  BUT…the company has designed GlutenEase with certain enzymes that help people with celiac disease digest small amounts of gluten so that it’s easier for us to get through the “celiac symptoms”.  What does that mean?  It means…if you go out to eat somewhere and eat something that you’re not sure if it had gluten in it or not, after you eat, take the pill.  It will help digest your foods faster and easier, so that you may not have any symptoms, or your symptoms won’t be as bad as they would have been without the pill.

What’s in these pills?  The 4 enzymes in GlutenEase are Protease, Lipase, Amylase and Cellulase.  Now you’re gonna ask…what is that?? Protease is the enzyme that breaks down protein.  Lipase’s role is in digestion, it transports and processes lipids, which are the triglycerides, fats and oils.  Amylase breaks down starches into sugar, some starches don’t have a lot of sugar in them (example rice and potato)…but ever notice how they can taste a little bit sweet?  That’s the amylase in your saliva. Cellulase is the enzyme that breaks down cellulose for digestion.  Did you know that most animals, including humans, do not make cellulase? What is cellulose?  It’s what we call dietary fiber…your greens.  That’s why we call them roughage…because we don’t have enough cellulase to digest all of the greens.  There is so much more to go into about enzymes…but it gets very complicated and scientific.  But, this should give you a quick rundown of the enzymes in GlutenEase.

Now, some people are a little confused about what GlutenEase is for and think that it is to prevent celiac symptoms.  That simply is not true….this is from the company…

”Enzymedica GlutenEase™; supports people suffering with gluten or casein intolerance. GlutenEase is not formulated to prevent celiac symptoms. GlutenEase contains a modified Protease Thera-blend with an enzyme activity called DPP-IV. Proteases high in DPP-IV activity assist in normalizing inflammatory response to the gluten peptide, thus better digesting and utilizing gluten containing foods. This proactively supports the gut, allowing proteins to be properly broken down and absorbed in their digested state; broadening the potential food groups a person may eat. GlutenEase may also be used by those who wish to remain on the GFCF diet to ensure complete breakdown of proteins safe and effectively. “

Now…what do I think about it?  I think it is great!  I take them after I eat out at a restaurant or if I eat at someone’s house, just in case, and they really seem to help with the symptoms.  9 times out of 10 I don’t have any symptoms at all and on the 10^th time, the symptoms have been much less than they normally would have been.

Let me make something clear though, these are not made for you to go to a pizzeria, eat a whole pizza and then take a pill and think you’re not going to pay for it later.  These are if you ingested gluten…by accident…in small amounts.

Here is coupon code for you all to try them out…

Phone: 888.918.1118

Coupon code: MC2010 (phone code only)

This code is good for $2.00 off (60 count) or $3.00 off (120 count)

Enzymedica – GlutenEase

Please write in and let me know what you all think about them after you have tried them!

Well I am excited!  Nature’s own has come out with two types of gluten free bread, extra fiber white and healthy multi grain.  I have tried both.  I loved both!  They were great!  The best part is that they weren’t frozen and you will be able to get them at a regular grocery store…hopefully!

Nature’s Own is trying them out in select stores at the moment to see what kind of response they receive.  If you would like to see if there is store near you, here is the link…Store list.

I toasted them, I ate them untoasted, I froze them in the freezer and then tried them…I even made French toast with them…they were great no matter what I did with them.  For those of you who can get Uri’s bread or have tried Uri’s bread….Uri’s is a softer bread then Nature’s Own.  Nature’s Own has a harder and thicker crust, which worked very well for the French toast.  So, if you’re looking for a softer bread, Uri’s is the better of the two…but if you’re like me and want a bread that doesn’t  taste “gluten free”  and isn’t frozen…then Nature’s Own is awesome.

This is what Nature’s Own had to say about the breads….

“Nature’s Own Gluten Free bread is produced in a dedicated facility that is wheat and gluten free. Available in two varieties, Extra Fiber White and Healthy Multi-Grain, Nature’s Own Gluten Free bread is sure to be a favorite with any gluten sensitive consumer. Gluten Free bread is 100% natural and contains no artificial preservatives, colors or flavors or high fructose corn syrup. Cholesterol and trans fat free, these loaves contain five grams of whole grain and three grams of fiber per slice.”

Sherry Harper, brand manager, Flower Foods tells us… “We recognized the challenge that consumers on

gluten free diets face and developed a bread that’s not just gluten free—it’s fresh, soft and delicious, too,” and she’s right!  It is soft, fresh and tastes great!

We need more major brand names out there to start making gluten free items that can be sold in groceries stores.  Hopefully, Nature’s Own will be the start of this for breads, as was Betty Crocker for brownies and Chex for cereal.  People with celiac disease and/or gluten intolerance are getting tired of constantly having to go to a whole foods market just for bread…and those of us that don’t have one in our backyard and have to drive over an hour to get to a whole foods market…well this would be heaven for us!

So…go online to the website, let them know that we need this bread, find out where you can purchase the bread and get the word out there!!

Nature’s Own gluten free breads

My french toast...it was awesome!

I just read an article online that really ticked me off…to no end!  Reader’s Digest has written an article telling people that if they are at dinner party and don’t want to eat the dessert…just tell them you have celiac disease or gluten intolerance to make it easier on yourself….WHAT???  They have got to be kidding me…right?

I have been dealing with celiac disease for years now and every time I go to someone’s house or out to eat, I am embarrassed to have to say “no thank you” to 90% of the items that are being served.  Not only that, but then I have to go into a huge conversation to explain why I can’t eat the food and then what would happen if I did.  It is embarrassing and it gets old…quick.  I would love to be able to go anywhere and say “yes…thank you” when someone offers me something to eat.

Reader’s Digest has just opened a whole can of worms that they are probably going to wish they didn’t.  People with celiac disease already get the eye rolls and the attitudes from people, because they think “we’re making it up” or “it’s really not that big of deal” and “we can have 1 piece…it won’t kill us”…all because the medical community won’t teach people about the disease or learn about it. This little article is just going to make it so much worse for us.

I have a question…is there a reason that people just can’t say “no thank you…I am really full” or just “no thank you”?  I don’t understand why anyone would have to say or even want to tell people they have a horrible disease or food allergy…do people think that having celiac disease or food allergies is a fun thing?

Please let me know your thoughts on this…and I hope you all have a happy and healthy day!!

Well, we all know that if you can’t have gluten, you will pretty much eat any pizza that is gluten free and love it!  Especially if you don’t have any pizzeria’s that offer gluten free pizza where you live…like me!  I went on vacation to Florida the past couple of weeks…where they have all kinds of gluten free stuff, unlike where I am from…we have NONE!  So, I was quite happy just to be able to go out to different restaurants and order off a gluten free menu, but while we were there we went to Pizza Fusion and Mellow Mushroom and had their gluten free pizzas.  As we all know, everyone’s taste buds are different…but we took a vote and we all decided that Pizza Fusion was the winner! Even my 12 years old son said…and I quote…”Pizza Fusion’s gluten free pizza was better that Mellow Mushroom’s non-gluten free pizza”.  I didn’t have the regular pizza, but I can definitely tell you that the Pizza Fusion gluten free pizza was better than the Mellow Mushroom gluten free pizza.  I can’t really put my finger on what was better about it, except that the Pizza Fusion pizza seemed to have more taste and less grainy.  It tasted more like a “real” pizza and less “gluten free”.  For those of you who have had gluten free pizza….you know what I mean.  I also felt that Pizza Fusion had more of a selection of toppings and they even had gluten free brownies…I couldn’t eat it, I was so full…but I took one home to eat later…IT WAS AWESOME!!  I also felt that Pizza Fusion took more care in their gluten free items and you truly felt that they wanted to make sure the pizza was gluten free.

I have never carried out a pizza at Mellow Mushroom, but I did order a gluten free pizza for carry out at Pizza Fusion and when you get the pizza, they tape it all up with “gluten free” written all over it and the person who made the pizza signs the box…which makes feel a little bit better about making sure it’s gluten free.

I have included the company’s websites…so check them out, try them out and let us know which one you think is better!!  Can’t wait to hear from you!!

Mellow Mushroom

Pizza Fusion

Celiac Health Management now offers people the chance to talk to a certified nutritionist about their gluten free meal planning.

Let’s face it…if you have celiac disease….you have more going on with you then just celiac.  Most people have other allergies, whether it’s corn, dairy or something else, or you have diabetes, heart problems, overweight, underweight…you name it!  Wouldn’t it help to talk to a nutritionist about all this?  Get yourself on the right track!

Well…Celiac Health Management is to the rescue!  They offer gluten free meal planning, where you can tell them what your diet needs are, what foods you don’t like, what foods you do like…and they will design a menu just for you!  They will send you recipes and meal ideas for at least 7 days worth of meals.

Ever feel like your getting gluten, but just not sure where it’s hiding??  Then you can get a  gluten diet analysis…where you can send them what you have eaten for 3 days and they will analyze the meals and find where the possible gluten is hiding.

Then to top it off, they also offer  2 weeks of nutrition counseling.  You can speak to your nutritionist for 2 weeks…everyday…to discuss whatever you need…whether it’s meals, exercise….you name it!

Click Here to talk to a nutritionist today!