For any Celiac in Canada valuable info !

please visit this website if you would like to claim your gluten free food on your next income tax return:

http://www.penny.ca/Disability.htm

congats on making your life a lil better

to those who are curious about celiac

Three factors are required in order to contract the disease. First, a person must have a genetic disposition for it. Second, the person must consume gluten, and third, the disease has to be triggered. Common triggers include a viral infection, pregnancy, surgery or a trauma.

The disease is characterized by damage to the villi of the small intestine upon consumption of gluten. Villi are small, fingerlike projections lining the small intestine. It is their job to reach out and grab the nutrients in passing food. When a celiac ingests gluten, these fingers are damaged, often shrinking, flattening or disappearing, and nutrients pass through unabsorbed. This can lead to forms of malnutrition in well-fed individuals who may experience weight loss, loose stools and a distended stomach from bloating.

The good news is that the damage to the villi is not permanent and improvement in health usually begins immediately after adopting a gluten-free diet. No medication is required, but the diet does require a serious lifelong commitment. Specifically, gluten is found in all forms of wheat, including spelt, farina, semolina, triticale and kamut, as well as barley, rye and possibly oats. Gluten also is used as a thickener in a host of food products and some medications. It even is used in the glue on the back of lickable stamps, in some toothpastes and as a powdery coating on some chewing gum.

Symptoms for the disease vary greatly in type and intensity, and some people have no symptoms, making this disease difficult to recognize and leading to chameleonlike references. Extreme fatigue, often due to iron-deficient anemia, is one of the most universal symptoms. The word celiac comes from the Greek word "koila" meaning belly, which is where the most common symptoms originate. Abdominal cramping, severe gas, bloating, oily stools, weight loss or weight gain, and joint pain are just a few of the potential signs that gluten is wreaking havoc with your small intestine.

This information was provided by :
http://www.pureliquidgold.com/gluten-effects.htm

Before and after wheat

This is me before the wheatloss and after . There was 45lbs lost with no work outs . No wheat and chasing a toddler . Just thought I would share how much this journey has physically changed me for the better . The top photo is after !

Wow it works

So I've done almost a weeks worth of baking soda hair rinses and I must say I like what I see . My scalp is not itchy at all anymore , and the oiliness has reduced drastically . Its still shiny and isn't flat . I still haven't found a great conditioner yet so my hair is getting a little dry . Another option I'm looking at is mud shampoo . Just need to find a local retailer for it .

On a sadder note . I was totally bummed when I found lavender in my bio oil . Lavender another no go for this body health princess .So the search continues for body lotion ...

Eating right for your blood type

Since going wheat free I've been dabbling on other sights with eating interests . I found eating right for your blood type quite interesting .

Type O which is what I am should stick to high protein (red meat) and stay low in carbs .They should limit the intake of wheat germ, whole wheat products, corn, and avoid dairy products and most nuts. They should eat a variety of fruits and vegetables as well.

Type O types are commonly affected with hypothyroidism, high stomach acid (leading to ulcers), and thinner blood with greater resistance to blood clotting .

For all those interested I have attached a link:
http://www.drlam.com/blood_type_diet/

What I didn't know

What I did't realize until recently is how much wheat is in the other daily products I use . I have been super careful about what I ingest , but as of late it has come to my attention that its in so much more .

Make up . Really had no idea on this one but it explains my irritated face and uneven skin tone . I've been babying my face with bio oil and been make up free for about a week and my problems have cleared up drastically . The redness is almost completely gone .

Shampoo & conditioner . Explains my itchy painful scalp . Again had no idea so I never looked . Now I've looked and hey there it is . Wheat protein . Ugh . I have started a no shampoo & conditioner regime to get my scalp healthy . Starting with a few weeks worth of baking soda rinses . Yay .

2 tablespoons baking soda
add enough water to make a paste
massage into scalp
leave on 1-3 minutes
rinse well

Lotion . You know that stuff you put just about everywhere . Ya lets just see how itchy I can get . Luckily I have switched to an oil based homemade body scrub which helps lock in moisture and keeps my skin soft .

1 cup extra virgin olive oil
2/3 cup brown or white sugar
you can add a few drops of essential oils

So any Wheatless people out there beware of other hidden wheat . I know that I am going to take an even closer look at what I bring into my house from now on .

wheat free cookies that are awesome

Awesome cookies made in my test kitchen today

1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 single package maple & brown sugar oatmeal
2/3 cup chocolate chips

put everything into 1 bowl
mix together
spoon onto cookie sheet
bake at 375 for 8 mins .

let cool on cookie rack

eat.

Wheat & the Celiac

I never knew something like this could be triggered or fully activated by child birth . I did have some symptom before giving birth but I never did relate it to something like a wheat intolerance . I was diagnosed with arthritis in my early 20's , had problems with being anemic , trouble with joint pain , and would bloat up at least 2 pant sized after eating almost any meal. After having my daughter it got immensely worse . Severe abdominal cramping so bad it felt like labor pains , running to the toilet and staying there for long periods of time which is hard with a newborn , getting the shakes , fatigue , and becoming malnourished .I lived with that for 3 months not knowing what was causing it .

I eventually went to the doctors they told me to watch what I was eating and limit the caffeine . So basically I was on my own trying to figure out what it could be . No more fast food seemed to help and eating more dairy based foods like yogurt and cheese did too . Thing is those replacements were for my breakfast and snack which both contained high wheat intake .So it took me 2 months after my appointment to figure out it was wheat . Its not like I had heard of anything like a wheat intolerance before of any of its side effects .

I've been wheat free for over a year now . I feel much much better . No more bloating , belly aches , arthritis , or anemia . Also a plus is being 45lbs lighter without having to exercise . Whoop! My story continues but I will save it for another day .

eating wheat

The most painful food I cant eat is the one which seems to be in the majority of the food produced . Honestly would you think of wheat when you put that BBQ sauce on you dinner ? No you wouldn't . Unfortunately it took me a few times to realize I need to check everything . Sauces , spice blends , ice cream and soo much more .Its overwhelming . Its not just looking for Wheat on the labels it also modified cornstarch because you know regular cornstarch is too expensive so lets just add some wheat to cheapen it up .

Ordering out is now quite difficult . You can usually get away with a salad but don't get any dressing because you never know and always state no croutons or you'll end up with a salad you cant eat . Sure you could try and pick them out but if you are supersensitive it only takes a crumb .

Forget Pasta . No industry out there uses the rice noodles I love ... unless its Chinese , but they get you with the sauce. :P

Thats all the blogging for now .