Research suggests significant vitamin deficiencies in individuals with celiac disease, even among those on a gluten-free diet. This may be related to recent findings that many people with celiac disease who were diagnosed as adults do not demonstrate full intestinal recovery. However, it may also be caused by cutting wheat out of the diet leads to nutritional deficiencies unless something is added back to provide those missing nutrients. At a recent medical appointment, I discovered that I had low iron and immune function. As a result, I began seeking out ways to improve my health. In recent posts, I have discussed my efforts to exercise, eat well balanced, nutritional meals, my effort to move toward an organic diet, and my switch to natural cosmetics and self-care products.
However, the single most effective thing I have done to improve my health has been to start taking vitamins and supplements. I met with a local Shaklee representative, and she made recommendations based on my diet, lifestyle, and symptoms. The majority of Shaklee’s nutritional products are gluten free. After three weeks taking the supplements, I felt like I had more energy and fewer headaches. I have even lost a few pounds, and I’m sleeping better at night.
Here’s what I’ve been taking:
Vitalizer: contains 80 bio-optimized nutrients, including probiotics, omega-3s, and antioxidants
Nutriferon: clinically tested natural immune booster
Vivix: cellular anti-aging tonic that works at the DNA level
Energizing Soy Protein Shake: soy protein that helps to build muscle, support the immune system, retain normal cholesterol levels, and promote heart health.
If you’re interested in learning more about these products, click the links above or drop me a line. When I ordered the package listed above, I received three months of a free personalized Shaklee website, so you can check it out here.
Also, here is a list of all Shaklee gluten-free nutrition products.
Today my yoga instructor said that improving core strength, which involves the muscles in the abdomen and back, promotes healthy digestion. Enhancing core strength is a central tenet of yoga practice. So are relaxation and mindfulness, both of which have been shown to enhance immunity, general health, and mental health. I’m no yogi, but I can tell you that practicing yoga on a regular basis has made a huge difference in my health and outlook on life. Taking some time to slow down and practice focusing exclusively on the moment, the pose, and the feelings inside my body has allowed me to carry the practice into the rest of my life. When I’m in a restaurant, and nobody seems to know what’s gluten free, or when someone in my office is eating a big cheeseburger and fries that smell impossibly delicious, I can focus my mind and move through the frustration, the temptation. Similarly, when I’m tired, crabby, or tempted to blame myself for ingesting a hidden source of gluten in a restaurant, I can explore the negative emotions without getting lost in them.
But yoga is not only for Buddhist types. If you’re into a hardcore cardio routine, you might be reluctant to try yoga because it may not seem as intense as your regular workout. However, I had been running and doing crunches 4-5 times per week for nearly a year, and I had no signs of a single abdominal muscle. I started doing yoga twice per week for one hour and cut way back on my cardio and crunch routine, and within two months, my posture had improved, and I had abs. Yoga doesn’t involve crunches or poses dedicated specifically to working the abdominal muscles; instead, core strength training is built into nearly all of the poses.
So, if you haven’t tried yoga yet, I highly recommend that you check it out. Many studios have beginner classes. You can use this website to find yoga classes in your area. If you’re not into trying yoga in public for the first time, there are some great videos that you can get online. I recommend Yoga for Life with Kurt Johnsen. You can also catch Yoga for Life on the Veria network if you have Dish Network.
photo credit: WillShoot
Recently Chicago Magazine released a list of restaurants that can accommodate a gluten-free diet. Obviously this is terrific for those who live in Chicago but also for everyone who travels there — now, if only one of these places were located in O’Hare.
I have a few places to add to their list:
Frontera Grill is an amazing restaurant that serves traditional Mexican food with a twist. There were several menu items that I could have, including the fabulous guacamole. Their margarita list is quite extensive, and the drinks are delicious. Our meal was completely amazing, and I didn’t even have to alter my entrée—it was naturally gluten-free and the best thing on the menu. You might recognize the name if you’ve tried Frontera salsa, which is absolutely amazing and also gluten free. Both the restaurant and the salsa are the creation of Chef Rick Bayless.
Lou Malnati’s offers terrific gluten-free pizza. It must be supremely unhealthy because the “crustless” gluten-free pizza substitutes sausage for traditional pizza crust. Thus, it is both gluten free and very meaty. I have to admit that it was nice to be able to order pizza with friends, though. And it maintains the wonderful flavor and texture of Chicago-style deep dish pizza. Yum!
Bistro 110, as reviewed previously, provides delicious French food and many gluten-free options upon request.
We also had terrific luck eating at the Garden Restaurant in the Art Institute of Chicago. Sadly, the restaurant is now closed, but I imagine that the new restaurant, Terza Piano, located in the new modern wing would also accommodate a gluten-free diet. However, I recommend that you call ahead to confirm.
Of the restaurants on the list that I have tried, here are my personal favorites:
Wildfire has the best (ok, the only) gluten-free hamburger on a gluten-free bun that I have ever eaten in a restaurant. It came with a side of cheesy, scalloped potatoes, and it was heaven! I couldn’t stop raving to the poor waitress, who probably thought I was totally nuts, but it really was incredible. For dessert, we had gluten-free chocolate cake, which was also totally fantastic. The service was also great and so was the atmosphere. This is one of my favorite restaurants ever! I don’t have anything bad to say about it. You must go if you haven’t been there yet.
P.F. Chang’s, as reviewed previously, is a fantastic Chinese restaurant chain.
Pizza Fusion, as menioned previously, is a terrific, earthy friendly and organic pizza chain. Their salads are also very good, and they have an extensive list of organic, gluten-free wines and beer. The food is delicious, and it smells exactly like my favorite pizza place when I was growing up. I especially love this company because it is socially responsible, all of the ingredients are organic, and they have a killer gluten-free brownie.
One last thing: Beware — Uno Chicago Grill is listed as accommodating a gluten-free diet. However, what Chicago Magazine doesn’t tell you is that neither of the downtown locations (Pizzaria Uno nor Pizzaria Due) provides any gluten-free menu items. So, you have to go out to the suburbs to get the gluten-free menu, which includes gluten-free pizza…
photo credit: Fabio Miola
Recently Drew and I travelled to Kansas City for a long weekend. Before we went, I compiled a list of restaurants in the area that offer gluten-free menu options. I did not include those places with gluten-free pseudo-menus (i.e., a list of the restaurant’s regular menu options without all of the good stuff. Read: fajitas with no tortillas, salsa, guacamole, cheese, or sour cream. Um… plain grilled chicken?). Anyway, the list was really helpful to us, and I thought I’d share it with you. We didn’t have an opportunity to try every restaurant on the list, but my favorites are starred below. Click on each restaurant name to connect to the gluten-free menu. (Yes, there’s even barbeque!)
Blue Bird Bistro
1700 Summit St, Kansas City, MO 64108 - (816) 221-7559
Bonefish Grill
6334 N Lucerne Ave, Kansas City, MO 64151 - (816) 746-8179
Carrabba’s Grill
10586 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS - (913) 385-7811
19900 E Valleyview Pkwy, Independence, MO - (816) 795-9944
Daniel’s Bar-B-Q
12200 Johnson Dr, Shawnee, KS - (913) 248-4477
Eden Alley Restaurant
707 W 47th St, Kansas City, MO 64112 - (816) 561-5415
First Watch
1022 Westport Rd, Kansas City, MO - (816) 931-1054
409 Armour Rd, Kansas City, MO - (816) 842-7300
19321 E US Highway 40 # L, Independence, MO - (816) 795-0814
Fortune Wok
11236 W 135th Street, Overland Park, KS - (913) 239-8646
14537 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS - (913) 681-8863
Grand Street Café
4740 Grand Ave, Kansas City, MO 64112 - (816) 561-8000
Jack Stack Barbeque
13441 Holmes Rd., Kansas City, MO 64145
9520 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS 66212
101 W. 22 St., Kansas City, MO 6410
4747 Wyandotte St., Kansas City, MO 64112
Kona Grill
444 Ward Pkwy, Kansas City, MO 64112 - (816) 931-5888
Lulu’s Noodles
333 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108 - (816) 474-8424
Outback
1731 NE Douglas St., Lee’s Summit MO 64086 - (816) 246-7555
Pei Wei Asian Diner*
9222 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS - (913) 693-9777
15141 W 119th St, Olathe, KS - (913) 254-7283
PF Chang’s
102 W 47th St, Kansas City, MO 64112 - (816) 931-9988
Pizza Fusion*
4800 West 135th St?#250, Leawood, KS 66224 - (913) 685-0033
Red Robin
1919 Star Dr, Liberty, MO - (816) 792-3030
7111 W 95th St, Overland Park, KS - (913) 642-9800
8657 W 135th St, Overland Park, KS - (913) 894-2222
Stone Canyon Pizza
6433 N Prospect Ave, Gladstone, MO - (816) 455-7727
Ted’s Montana Grill
7420 NW 87th St, Kansas City - (816) 746-8337
101 E 14th St, Kansas City - (816) 842-1977
Uno’s Chicago Grill
4710 Jefferson St, Kansas City - (816) 931-1599
9050 NE Barry Rd, Kansas City - (816) 415-0010
8420 W 135th St, Overland Park, KS - (913) 851-9500
Waldo Pizza*
1543 NE Douglas St, Lees Summit, MO 64086 - (816) 875-2121
7433 Broadway St, Kansas City, MO 64114 - (816) 363-5242
photo credit: Rock Chalk Jayhawk (KU!)
Join a CSA or go to your local farmer’s market to pick up fresh, chemical-free seasonal fruits and veggies. Make an effort to eat as many fruits and vegetables as possible.- Take a multi-vitamin. Recent research shows that even people with celiac disease who follow a strict gluten-free diet have nutritional deficiencies, including vitamin B. Vitamin B is essential for turning your food into energy, so taking it can lead to increased energy. Be careful to get the right amount though because too much can lead to neurological symptoms.
- Eat more frequent meals. Without complex carbohydrates like whole grain wheat, it can be difficult to maintain a consistent blood sugar level over time. I find that three small meals and two snacks works best. I have a fruit smoothie for breakfast, a piece of fruit or a handful of nuts for a mid-morning snack, followed by a salad or yogurt and fruit for lunch. Then, I often have string cheese for an afternoon snack and something rich in veggies and protein for dinner like stir-fry.
- Drink water and breathe deeply. Both are essential for ridding your body of toxins and getting oxygen to your cells.
- Exercise. My immunologist recommends 30 minutes of cardio five times per week. Check with your doctor to see what’s right for you. It’s the perfect time of year to get outside. Incorporating physical activity into your daily life, like biking to work or taking the stairs instead of the elevator, is an easy way to fit some exercise into your busy schedule. Alternatively, I find that exercise is a great time to get away and clear my head, especially when jogging and doing yoga.
If this list seems daunting, just take one thing at a time, and work at your own pace. It took me several months to get into the habit of working out regularly, and I built on that by starting to eat more fruits and vegetables. What can you do today to make your gluten-free life a little healthier?
photo credit: mikaela
Recently Starbucks released their first gluten-free treat, Valencia Orange Cake. Drew and I stopped in to taste it this morning on the way home from the local farmer’s market. Starbucks keeps the gluten-free cakes right in the case with the rest of the bakery items, which means no running to the back to rummage through the cupboards, and each cake is individually wrapped to avoid cross-contamination. This impressed me right away: Starbucks learned the market and listened to our feedback. We ordered the cake along with some green tea, and we found a quiet table in the back of the store. As soon as I opened the package, the scent of oranges was unmistakable. I took the first bite and was immediately impressed by how moist and fluffy the cake was. It was the moistest and most fluffy gluten-free cake I’ve had. The flavor is very good-you have to really like oranges, but hey, who doesn’t like oranges? The cake is topped with crunchy almonds. Delicious! The one drawback is that it’s not super low-fat, but it is a nice treat, and it’s fantastic that a store with such a ubiquitous presence is starting to provide gluten-free baked goods. I will definitely be going back for more!
For more information about Starbucks Valencia Orange Cake, the production process, and the measures in place to prevent cross-contamination, click here.
Recently I entered a department store to check out my favorite shoe department, when a cosmetician at the Origins counter approached me about Origins cosmetics and skin care products, which are natural and free of hazardous chemicals like parabens, petroleum, and paraffin. Of course, the first question I asked was, “Well, ok, but is it gluten free?” Surprisingly, the answer was mostly, “yes.” The ingredients of each product are clearly written in plain English on the box, so it was very easy to figure out which ones contained wheat, barley, and rye. After making my selections, I emailed the company to confirm that the products were actually gluten free, and they were. Although Origins would not send me a complete list of gluten free products, they did confirm or deny the gluten free status of the specific products that I was interested in purchasing. Below I have listed the customer service representative’s response to each of the products I asked about. Her response was quite comprehensive, and she included other common allergens such as soy, rice, and corn.
Products confirmed to be gluten free:
Products that are somewhere in the middle (contain oat):
Products to avoid (contain gluten):
- Ain’t Misbehavin Hairspray contains corn, soy, and wheat
- Organics Nourishing Face Lotion contains soy, wheat, and corn
- Clear Head Mint Shampoo contains wheat
- Clear Head Mint Conditioning Rinse contains wheat
- Hair Dresser contains corn, soy, and wheat
I have been using A Perfect World Skin Guardian, Moisturizer and Deep Cleanser, and Moisturizer. It makes my face feel very soft without being oily, and it eliminated all of my dry areas. I am able to apply my makeup much more smoothly, and it lasts all day without reapplication. I especially love the light orange scent! I have also been using Modern Friction twice a week, and it leaves my skin looking bright and squeaky-clean.
I have also used Full Story Mascara, which I love. It seemed like my mascara was constantly getting in my eyes throughout the day and sticking to my contacts, but I don’t have that problem with this mascara.
I also really like the Organics Totally Pure Deodorant. There has been so much bad press about the aluminum in most leading deodorant brands that I feel better using the Origins instead. It has a nice scent, and it is completely translucent.
Finally, the product that has impressed me the most is The Great Pretender Shimmery Self-Tanner. It leaves me with a nice golden glow, and I like the subtle shimmer. Best of all, it smells great (a little minty), which is rare for a self-tanner, and it doesn’t contain a lot of weird chemicals like the others I’ve tried.
Based on the experience I’ve had with my first few Origins products, I plan to switch to them for the rest of my cosmetics. I love that their products contain natural ingredients that are free of carcinogenic agents and that their ingredient lists are easy to understand. I feel really good about using these products, and it’s great to know that you can look great without compromising your health.
If you are interested in purchasing Origins products, please first contact the company to check that the specific items you plan to buy are gluten free.
When I first made the transition to a gluten-free lifestyle, and trust me, it’s really more of a lifestyle than a diet, I didn’t really care too much about what was in the foods or cosmetics I was using as long as they were gluten free. I found it overwhelming enough to figure out the gluten-free thing without thinking about whether the product was actually good for me. Recently I have been thinking a lot more about what I put in my body and on my skin, and this reminded me of a professional standard to which I am held.
I am in the field of psychology, and in psychology, we have an ethical guideline to first do no harm. Whatever happens in the course of treatment, as practitioners we vow to at least make sure that our actions don’t harm our patients. I think that the same should be true of the products we put in and on our bodies: they should first do no harm. This obviously runs counter to much of what American culture advocates with the supremacy of cheap meals and quick, easy solutions to our problems. However, being on the gluten-free diet has made me much more vigilant about the ingredients in the products that I use-where they come from, how they’re made, and who is making them.
I have been doing yoga regularly, breathing deeply, eating far more fruits and vegetables than I ever have, and paying closer attention to my nutrient intake. So, in keeping with this theme, the next several posts will be specifically focused on healthy, natural products that don’t sacrifice taste, style, or beauty. They will feature cosmetics, self-care products, restaurants, grocery items, and recipes. While I promise not to go completely “granola,” I am interested in finding more healthful gluten-free options because we could sit around eating Snickers all day, but where would that leave us?
photo credit: Electra Fied
Recently I was in New Haven to present my research at a conference, and it was the first trip I’d taken without Drew since I was diagnosed with celiac disease. I packed enough non-perishable food in my suitcase to survive the trip if I couldn’t find anywhere to eat. Unfortunately, the airline lost my luggage, and I didn’t get it back for a couple of days. Luckily I had done some research online before I left, and I had discovered a place called Claire’s Corner Copia that advertised gluten-free menu options. So, I ate a very expensive gluten-free meal in the hotel restaurant the first night I was there, and the next day, I ventured out to find Claire’s.
It turns out that it was only two blocks from my hotel, and Claire’s has organic, vegetarian food and a gluten-free menu. I was only in New Haven for four days, and I ate there four times! The first day I had a guacamole salad and a fresh fruit smoothies with strawberries, raspberries, and orange juice for lunch and tofu curry and fresh-squeezed lemonade for dinner. The third and fourth days I had chili with a side of organic corn chips and lemonade. The chili at Claire’s is less like soup and more like black bean salad, and it was delicious! The portions are large, and the food is amazing. More importantly, I never got sick after eating there, and I was able to maintain a healthy, organic diet while traveling. In addition, Claire’s has gluten-free baked goods on most days. So, I tried a strawberry cupcake with chocolate frosting, which was actually quite good.
Claire’s was very busy every time that I was there, and I was very impressed with their friendly staff. I was served by the infamous (and very spunky) Claire on two occasions, and she was able to help me figure out exactly what I was hungry for and how she could accommodate my diet. She also said that she is in the process of expanding the gluten-free menu, and she is interested in getting feedback from gluten-free customers about their experience and their likes and dislikes. So, if you’re in the New Haven area, I would definitely recommend that you check out Claire’s Corner Copia on Chapel Street!
Claire’s also has cookbooks, which you can find on their website.
Silly Yak Bakery in Madison, WI has the best gluten free baked goods that I have tried. Following a recent trip to Madison, a generous friend of mine surprised me with a loaf of garlic cheddar bread, a loaf of spinach feta bread, and a sour cream coffee cake. This is what heaven must be like, my friends! The garlic cheddar bread combines two of my favorite flavors and was terrific toasted with butter, with eggs, and with gf spaghetti and marinara. The spinach feta was also delicious on its own and with gf spaghetti. The coffee cake was divine when warmed for a few seconds in the microwave and served with cappuccino or milk. Amazing! I had no idea that gluten-free baked goods could be so wonderful and delicious.
You can find Silly Yak Bakery at 7866 Mineral Point Road, Madison, WI 53717, but you can also order their products by phone or email and they will ship your order anywhere in the US!
Silly Yak’s garlic cheddar bread is baked fresh every Tuesday and Saturday along with classic rice bread, cinnamon swirl bread, cinnamon rolls, and hamburger buns, all of which are reasonably priced (ranging from $2.50 to $7.00). In addition, they have weekly selections, and this week’s featured items include cinnamon apple swirl bread, raison walnut bread, blueberry rice muffins, apple walnut scones, and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. You can find their full schedule of weekly selections here. I highly, highly recommend that you check it out!
