Can Genetically Engineered Foods Trigger Gluten Sensitivity?

There’s a lot of talk taking place on the Internet about whether there is a link between gluten intolerance and genetically modified foods, as well as concerns about whether it's creating an epidemic. Below is  an interesting video with Jeffrey Smith and Tom Malterre, MS, CN discussing GMO’s and Gluten. It’s always great to be informed so that you can make better decisions when it comes to anything that may affect your health. So, keep abreast of the interesting articles that are out their about the gluten free community and remember to read pay attention to the labels on your products. Education is Freedom. Lovely Is As Lovely Does.

Yes, Going Gluten Free Helps the Body Stay Healthy

Hmmm, is gluten-free body care cosmetics necessary? Well, it's easy for someone who's not suffering from the symptoms of Celiac Disease to say no. However, those with inflamed scalp and hair loss begs to differ after they've tried using a shampoo or conditioner with wheat in it. Or when some of us start to itch and breakout from lotions or cosmetics that are formulated with it too. I've met many with the same or similar problems while doing product demos in several retail stores and gluten free expos across the country. Many state that they've learned to be medical advocates for their own body and pay attention to how their skin reacts to what's being placed on or in it. With this being said, below is an interesting article from New Hope Media discussing a survey that explains how improving health, 'feeling better' are top reasons many are choosing to live the gluten free lifestyle:   

http://newhope360.com/food-beverage/survey-finds-improving-health-feeling-better-top-reasons-why-people-go-gluten-free?NL=NH-03&Issue=NH-03_20150325_NH-03_957&YM_RID=%27email%27&YM_MID=%27mmid%27&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_1&utm_rid=CNHNM000000559591&utm_campaign=11795&utm_medium=email

The Allergy Train, by Celia Kaye via the Huffington Post Healthy Living Blog

I was just about to post my latest blog on gluten free body care and discovered a wonderful article on the Huffington Post Healthy Living Blog. However, after reading Celia's very interesting story, I decided this is definitely a better story to post for GlutenFree WheatFree Wednesday. Below is what she had to say:

I'm pretty accepting of the fact that I can't eat gluten-containing foods without suffering the consequences. I know that it will irk some people and result in dubious looks from others. I know that when restaurants charge more for gluten-free sandwiches it's because gluten-free bread costs them more than regular bread, and I am happy about the fact that they offer it at all rather than grumpy about the extra cost. (The difference in price is tax-deductible anyway.)

It frightens me sometimes in restaurants when I have to explain what I can't eat and why, because I don't trust that the crash course I gave the waiter was sufficient and that my food won't be cross-contaminated. But I don't get annoyed when someone doesn't know what celiac disease is if they listen to what I tell them.

For some reason, though, I'm still surprised when someone in the food service industry gets it completely wrong. I mean, gluten is a pretty hot topic right now. I can't imagine how someone who works in a restaurant has been so thoroughly sheltered from all gluten-related talk. Apparently, it's possible.

Here's what happened to me recently at a restaurant. While the waiter rattled off the list of available desserts, I mentally checked the ones that were usually gluten-free. Crème brûlée without the cookie, ice cream, sorbet. Great! Three options. Knowing that there were two gluten-free customers at the table, the waiter told us that none of the desserts were gluten-free. Not surprising. Desserts in restaurants like that usually weren't unless they were somehow modified -- like crème brûlée without the cookie -- and often the desserts were pre-made and unmodifiable. So, after the rest of the table had ordered dessert, my gluten-free comrade and I ordered ice cream. To continue reading her store click here  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/celia-kaye/food-allergies_b_6785406.html 

Joy Behar Can't Be That Ignorant About Celiac Disease!

Joy Behar can't be that ignorant about celiac disease given the fact that she worked for years with Elizabeth Hasselbeck, a known celiac that's had many discussions about the disease on the television show, The View.  So I believe it's obvious to those who know her and the show, that she is simply using the subject to draw attention to herself. Sad because, she's an attractive lady with a lot of talent, so why use ignorance to showcase one's self.

Because of her comments I've decided to tell a bit about what I deal with due to my intolerance of wheat and gluten. Everyday I work hard to keep from being exposed to wheat and gluten when I have to eat out or travel; but when I do and discover I have managed to get the stuff in my system, the following are issues that happen as a result of being exposed to wheat and gluten:

The symptoms can range from what may seen to be insignificant, such as my headaches, swollen glands, diarrhea, reflux, bloating and stomach pain, cramping, gas, itchy redness of the skin, eczema, hair loss and move on to more significant problems such as malabsorption, inflammation, anemia, and cause my other autoimmune disorders to flair up to say the least. 

Even when I'm not traveling or eating out, I can and have found myself having problems with being exposed to wheat and gluten or problems that occur due to these issues. For example, I have Hashimoto Disease, as do many celiacs. When this was discovered I was placed on thyroid medication but continued to have many problems with taking this particular medication until I discovered that the generic thyroid medication was the cause of my problems. Although I have many other immune issues not taking the generic thyroid was the answer for some of my problems. 

After many years of taking Synthroid with some improvements, about a year and a half ago, I started feeling tired, seeing swelling around my neck, puffy face, hoarseness, headaches, severe hair loss, weight gain, cold all the time, weakened adrenals, muscle weakness, hoarseness, dry skin issues with my feet and irregular menstrual periods. Many of these were the symptoms I had prior to finding out that I had Hashimoto Disease, so I just couldn't understand why this was starting to happen again until I discover that after many years of receiving my Synthroid from a Pharmacy called Pharmaca, someone had decided to change my prescription to generic (you see the gluten intolerant must be careful with the various generic brands of Levothyroxine, only two are gluten-free).  

Moving forward nine months, my body was starting to get back to normal (whatever normal is for those of us dealing with gluten intolerance). However, once again I started feeling bad only to discover this time it was Good Day Pharmacy who took it upon themselves to switch my thyroid medication to generic even though I personally had them place it in their records that I was allergic. So once again I moved on, this time down the road to Walgreens Pharmacy and they were successful at giving me my first bottle of Synthroid, but the following month they had switched my medication to generic and the individual we spoke to blamed me and the Doctor's office for their error. The individual stated that we did not fill out paperwork properly in order for them to give us the proper prescription, which was not true or I never would have received the first bottle of Synthroid. It was also requested that it be placed in their files that I was allergic to the generic version and it was confirmed being done. So once again, I'm presently recovering from being exposed to generic thyroid medication, which has cause hair loss and many of the other issues to resurface (I'm starting to wonder if someone has it out for me, but I know God/The Universe has my back).

Many of the gluten intolerant have other autoimmune illnesses as a result of the damage that has been done to their system. In fact, many are sensitive to multiple ingredients like dairy, soy, corn, eggs, grains, etc. As you can see there are so many layers to this condition, so hopefully you can understand why it's both painful and upsetting to see and/or hear someone demonizing people who suffer from celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.  It's especially upsetting to watch celebrities use their platform to spill out misinformed and damaging information to create controversy in an effort to draw attention to increase their fame. 

For many of us, gluten intolerance is not a fad diet and we are on a continuous journey for better health. Recently it was brought to my attention that the manufacturer of Synthroid is not able to guarantee gluten-free status due to cross contamination issues. Please find below a list of Gluten Free Thyroid Medications:

• Armour
• Cytomel
• Levothyroxine (Lannet, Mova brands only)
• Levoxyl
• Nature-Throid
• Tirosint
• WP Thyroid (formerly Westhroid Pure)

Let's remember to continue to educate the ignorant. Lovely Is As Lovely Does!

'Organic Lifestyle' Are We Truly Living an Organic Lifestyle?

'Organic Lifestyle' Are We Truly Living an Organic Lifestyle? 

 
Now that Lovely Lady Products is growing and becoming more of a presence in the organic community, I find myself pondering the question, "what exactly does it mean to live the organic lifestyle?" This gave me some pause for thought. Starting on the home front with myself, I contemplate is it enough that I eat organic food and use nothing but organic body care to take care of my skin? Or is it now a lifestyle when, as I get later in my years, I''ve deepened my care of the environment and all of its creatures? I still get embarrassed by recalling my younger years during which I thought wearing furs was sophisticated, not fully grasping I was so naive in the trials of our youth. It took me years to give up the expensive cosmetics and perfumes that I thought were the best, still find some of them in my old bags, luggage and lurking around my home after so many years. What about how I treat others? Am I behaving in an organic fashion in how I treat my fellow man? We talk an awful lot within the organic community about saving the planet and the environment. But, how do we save ourselves from the hurt we inflict on each other? The industry I work in is very competitive, but such is life. Can''t we be competitive without being disrespectful and hurting another company's success by participating in criminal espionage? In some business circles, there is something referred to as "co-opetition". Why not, since we claim to be advocates for the organic lifestyle? How can we care about the planet and work hard to protect animals if we''re not showing respect for our fellow man? Competition is healthy, I don''t see that as a negative so long as one is using hard work to gain the edge instead of deviant behavior, which is certainly not part of living the organic life. Let''s face it, we''re not perfect, but we can strive to be decent in our adventures. Besides, perfection sure would be boring but being decent heals the world. Now if the goal is to improve and save the planet, including all of it''s creatures doesn''t that include us? I''m just saying.......Lovely Is As Lovely Does'