Top 10 Gluten Free Picks from 2016 to Try at Your Holiday Dinners

Here are some of our favorite finds this year at the 2016 Gluten and Allergen Free Wellness Events that may help you with your holiday meals.

Aleia's Gluten-Free Stuffing has been one of the greatest finds in a long time! I can actually mix it in to my cornbread stuffing recipe and no one will know I didn't make it myself. Their bread crumbs are our easiest and most convenient way to make sausage balls, meatballs, and a variety of other recipes for entertaining.

Tracy's Gourmet Aloha Kick pineapple, coconut oil, and black pepper dressing made it's way onto our table for a marinade on salmon that would melt in your mouth with goodness and take you back to the islands for a warmer Holiday treat.

Purely Elizabeth granola is super yummy and makes a delicious topping addition to Sweet Potato Casserole or Apple Cranberry Crisp which are both Thanksgiving dishes we adore.

Need to eat egg free too? We tried Neat Egg Replacer this year and can't say enough about this chia seed and garbanzo bean derived alternative.

Our favorite allergen friendly baking and pancake mix came from Mina's Purely Divine. This year they have added pre-made gluten-free tartlets to their products which we can't wait to try while making desert cups for guests.

Need a snack for guests that you can pull out of the pantry and place in a pretty dish? Try Ginny O's Gluten-Free Gourmet Cheese Straws or for a quick appetizer, try some Peggy Rose's Hot Pepper Jelly over some cream cheese served with some crackers, pretzels or crudite..

Our fave hummus this year comes from Roots Hummus from local Asheville producers. Pair that with some Milton's Craft Bakers Chips and you can't go wrong.

Local Kalo Foods pumpkin pies are amazing and don't skrimp on taste one bit. They have an apple pie that didn't last long in our fridge either.

Luckily pasture raised turkey is naturally gluten-free and we love eating it! We order ours from a local butcher shop that deals only in small family farm raised meats. Check for one in your area.

Have a very Happy Holiday season!

Top 5 Allergy Friendly Halloween Tips

Halloween is one of our favorite holidays, but the very nature of giving treats to children and adults presents the ever present danger of cross contamination. Here are our top 10 tips for getting through this holiday if you have little ones in your household.

1. There are many safe lists put out each year for treats. Hitting all top 8 allergens narrows the risk of a child being able to eat safely but does not account for a myriad of all allergens. In order to steer clear of all allergens, try non-food items for treat giving. The Teal Pumpkin Project advocates this very thing and participate by having a Teal Pumpkin on your doorstep

2. Plan an allergy free Halloween party for your kids and their friends who must eat allergen free also. Parties like this allow kids to feel as normal as the next kid on holidays that surround foods. Make it a pot luck and share spooktacular recipes with one another. Here are some Recipe Ideas
Sometimes there are local support groups that plan parties, check online.

3. If you plan on trick-or-treating anyway, have a plan to supervise snacking on treats only when you arrive back home where you can safely go through the candy trove before tearing into it. Parents can bring safe treats with them to delay the temptation of sneaking in an unsafe treat.

4. If you have to go to a non-allergy friendly party, say with a family member, bring a little treat bag with treats that mimic the treats provided. (example: a mini allergen free pizza, allergen free cupcakes, a treat bag made with safe treats for them to take home)

5. If makeup is also an issue, opt for a mask or a costume that uses hypoallergenic makeup like Fruiggi 

Fruiggi painted faces at Hartford GFAF Event

Most importantly, have fun and be safe!

Hartford GFAFEvent FREE Webcast ~ Food Labeling, Living Happy with Food Restrictions, Gluten-Free Ghouls, & More!

We are gearing up for the Hartford Gluten & Allergen Free Wellness Event already. It is the last show of the 2016 season, which makes me sad but ready for a great ending, kind of like anticipating a huge firework grand finale. To have that ending in a beautiful Fall New England town is perfect. We love going to the Hartford event because it gives us Southerners so many exciting cultures to experience.

The event will take place at West Hartford Meeting Center, 50 S Main St, West Hartford CT on October 1 from 10 am - 3 pm. The speakers on this edition of the web cast will all be present at the event and giving their knowledge and tools to help attendees navigate their journey to health and wellness. But as always, we are going to offer a web cast right here as a preview. This web cast we will be discussing Food Labeling, Living Happy with Food Restrictions, Gluten-Free Ghouls, & More!

FREE WEB CAST 
SEPTEMBER 22

730 pm EST

Heather Jacobsen is an author, researcher and founder of the online magazine, Stuffed Pepper. She has an MSc in Ethnobotany, and worked at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, as well as the National Academy of Sciences. Always fascinated by the endless ways that plants are incorporated into every day life, she dreamt of roaming jungle forests with indigenous tribal leaders, in search of native flora with untold healing properties. Instead, she found herself taming the wilds of nutritional science as she dealt with health issues that no conventional doctor seemed to be able to solve. As she worked to unravel the true science behind diet, lifestyle and chronic disease, it turns out that maybe Heather is the modern ethnobotanist… not exploring plants in the wilderness, but exploring how removed we have become from the wild, and how that has adversely affected our health in so many ways.

Bruce Homstead MS, RDN, LDN, AFMCP
President, Board of Directors, Celiac Support Association
Graduate of Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, minor in Food Facility Engineering. Chef, baker, manager of several large and small restaurants, Director of Food and Nutrition Services for hospitals and nursing homes.
Areas of interest include gluten sensitivity/celiac disease, thyroid disease, weight management, sports nutrition, nutrition for seniors, gender issues, autism spectrum disorders, wellness issues.
Clients include: Restaurants, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, pre-school facilities, groups and teams, professional and world class athletes, individual clients.
Contact information: homsteadhealth@live.com

Dr Kendra Becker
Tara Hood
The Practical Practitioners are the Co-Hosts of the Holistic Health Hour TV program. Kendra Becker- Musante ND, APRN is an author, and blogger with a thriving practice. She has been gluten free for 10 years. Tara Hood APRN is a dynamic Functional medicine practitioner focusing on autism recovery. Together the "practitioners" educate and heal with diet, as well as discuss these and other pertinent issues on their TV program weekly. Both ladies lecture locally and nationally on healing diets, autism recovery and MTHFR (and gluten sensitivity).
www.drkendrabecker.com
www.tarahoodnp.com
Calvin Eaton is an educator, chef, and writer who launched his blog, the Gluten Free Chef Blog, in 2012 after years of living with the effects of fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and celiac disease – conditions that are exacerbated by the presence of wheat, gluten, and dairy products in foods.
His goal has always been to make gluten free living accessible to everyone. His blog www.theglutenfreechefblog.com features fool proof recipes and meal plans, ensuring that everyone could and would eat wonderful gluten free meals - and never tell the difference. Mr. Eaton intends to continue to raise awareness for gluten intolerance by offering a variety of workshops, classes, networking events, and private lessons all tailored to those who are living gluten free at the new event and education center 540WMain (www.540westmain.org)

Stefanie Freeman is a Certified Holistic Health Coach who received her training from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She focuses on helping people achieve optimal wellness through a whole body approach that emphasizes the importance of not only diet, but an entire lifestyle. Physical activity, personal relationships, career, emotional wellness, lifestyle and the use of natural remedies are important for a health lifestyle.

Rustie MacDonald - a single mother, Author, Celiac, Life Coach, Motivational Speaker & International Radio Talk Show Host. Rustie is a lover of life who continues to challenge herself by sharing her abilities with the International Community in efforts to help others “Live and Thrive” in the ever changing world we live in. Humor, Grace, and Compassion fills each show with a welcomed lightness.

CJ Williams is a content marketer and author, who fell into wheatlnessness one May six years ago when she was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. She is now a nutrition consultant as well, and is the founder and author of Tumbling Gluten Free, both a nutrition business and blog. She has worked with schools and community co-ops, as well as restaurants and bed and breakfast establishments to teach and instate safe food preparation practices as a consultant.
CJ is constantly curious about the opportunities gained by the tumble with a disease that affects nutrition and digestion. Through her blog Tumbling Gluten Free, and freelance writing, she explores the psychological impact of food on community, loves supporting sustainable living and local farms, and offers her readers and clients inspiration, quirky and multi-cultural recipes, and a flexible approach to living that leads to whole foods fueling a whole life.
CJ Williams Tumbling Gluten Free ( http://tumblingglutenfree.blogspot.com ) @TumblingGF

Greensboro GFAFEvent FREE Webcast Aug 29 - Food Sensitivities, Gluten Allergies, Elderberry Health, Essential Oil Blends, & More!

Wow! You guys blew our socks off in Raleigh with a fantastic show on Aug 13 at N.C. State Fairgrounds! When we finish the year, we will make a post about specific vendors in each of the cities we visited. But right now there is no time for that as we slide on into another great emerging event coming to you on Sept 10 in Greensboro N.C.!

Have I told you how much we love our home state of NC? We have a plethora of allergy-friendly vendors right here near home and lots of national vendors that are offering more options in our stores. But in holding true to our vision, we love local food and resources and we focus on what's available to keep your life as balanced and sustainable as possible while also living to your fullest with safe options.

The Greensboro GFAFEvent Speakers are going to impart lots of wisdom and tools to help you in your journey to better health. This pre-event webcast will feature Food Sensitivities, Gluten Allergies, Elderberry Health, Essential Oil Blends, & more! We will have some names you may remember from our webcasts and some who are new - Either way, join us while you relax after a hard day for a chat with each Speaker.

Dr. Nicole DiNezza, DC, NTP - Functional medicine, owner and physician at Infinity Holistic Healthcare in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. In addition to her DC degree, she has gone on to pursue many hours of study in functional and integrative medicine, as well as earn her Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) certification. At her office in Chapel Hill, Dr. DiNezza frequently helps those with autoimmune diseases and digestive complaints, among other complex cases. 

Jennifer Cuevas The Gluten & Grain Free Gourmet supports delicious eating that is gluten, grain, soy, and poultry free. Jen Cuevas experienced her own journey to wellness by eating this way, and desires to share the message that life can still be delicious! 

Tarah Jakubiak - After working for 20 years in the corporate world, Tarah Jakubiak founded Allergic Traveler. Jakubiak, president of Allergic Traveler has traveled the world since the age of two. She has been to 22 countries and 25 states. Jakubiak has been to all inclusives, gone on cruises, gone camping; backpacking through Europe, gone to the big cities, and little hidden gems. She has multiple food allergies but it does not stop her from seeing the world. Jakubiak is allergic to eggs, nuts, mushroom, soy, garlic, corn, sesame, potatoes, celery, shellfish, chicken, pork, peanuts, and many fruits. 

Meg Huebner - Independent food scientist and researcher with a background in organic chemistry, nutrition, and food history, and has been living gluten-free since 2007. She started the blog Gluten-Free Boulangerie in 2010 to create and share GF breads delicious enough for everyone to enjoy. 

Rodger Lenhardt- Owner and founder of Norm’s Farms, the American source of anti-oxidant rich elderberry super fruit products. He comes from an organic and sustainable perma-culture farming background.  Together with his wife Ann they started growing elderberries as a way to restore health a vigor to the family Farm. Norm's Farms family believes in the sustainable production of healing foods made with natural, simple ingredients. 

Beth Mincher- Certified Holistic Health Coach, board certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, and received her training through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She focuses on helping people achieve optimal wellness through a whole body approach; emphasizing the importance of not only diet, but other factors such as: physical activity, personal relationships, career, emotional wellness, positive lifestyle and mindset and the use of natural therapies. 

Dr. Roosevelt Smith Clinic Director Health 1st of Greensboro is originally from New York City area where he was born and raised. His current office location was opened September 4, 2004 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

We will meet you right here AUGUST 29th, 730 PM EST

Raleigh GFAF Event FREE Web Cast: Time for Elimination Diets and Laboratory Testing, Feeding Your Gluten Free Family, Itchy Pig and Traveling

We are headed back to the Capitol city of North Carolina in just a month's time! This is the 5th year for our Raleigh Gluten and Allergen Free Wellness Event and we can't believe how fast it comes around after a long hot summer is in full swing. I graduated from Jesse O Sanderson High School many moons ago and love visiting Raleigh any chance we get. You just can't beat a city with such a hip vibe and great eats among its many virtues.

Raleigh was placed on the top 10 of places to eat gluten-free on Huffpost if you didn't know. You can get gluten free dumplings, raviolis, pizza, local and sustainable, pitas.....the list just goes on and on of diverse options available. Not to mention how intellectually hipster the place can be with the most PhD holders of any city in America thanks to Duke, Chapel Hill, Meredith, NC State and other colleges that claim their home here.

This month's free web cast will feature some of the speakers that will be at the event on August 13 at Kerr Scott Bldg NC State Fairgrounds from 10 am - 3 pm. We have a plethora of vendors and even a kid's story time planned as well as the incredible giveaway for pre-registered attendees.

To hear the speakers in an incredibly informative web cast before the event:

May 4

7:30 pm - 9 pm EST

Just click below for how you want to connect for the web cast on May 4th

SPEAKERS ON MAY 4 FOR WEB CAST

Pam Jordan
Pam has written 5 cookbooks and lifestyle guides about living Gluten Free. Her last two books made Amazon Best Sellers list. Pam travels the US to speak to groups about living Gluten Free, menu planning, and how to cook simple Gluten Free recipes.

Dr. Nicole DiNezza, DC, NTP

Dr. DiNezza is now the owner and physician at Infinity Holistic Healthcare in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. In addition to her DC degree, she has gone on to pursue many hours of study in functional and integrative medicine, as well as earn her Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) certification. At her office in Chapel Hill, Dr. DiNezza frequently helps those with autoimmune diseases and digestive complaints, among other complex cases.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrNicoleDiNezza

Beth Mincher
Beth is a Certified Holistic Health Coach, board certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, and received her training through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She focuses on helping people achieve optimal wellness through a whole body approach; emphasizing the importance of not only diet, but other factors such as: physical activity, personal relationships, career, emotional wellness, positive lifestyle and mindset and the use of natural therapies.

Jennifer Cuevas
The Gluten & Grain Free Gourmet supports delicious eating that is gluten, grain, soy, and poultry free. Jen Cuevas experienced her own journey to wellness by eating this way, and desires to share the message that life can still be delicious!
Just a few short years ago, Jen was ill with a multitude of issues (although not typical “Celiac” symptoms), including high cholesterol, pre-diabetes, sudden weight gain [over 60 pounds], Hashimoto’s, and arthritis (read more of her story here). After more than seven frustrating visits with various doctors, she finally learned about her gluten sensitivity and Celiac disease. In becoming well, she found that life without gluten was really great from a health perspective, but affected everything else that had a social factor.

Tarah Jakubiak
After working for 20 years in the corporate world, Tarah Jakubiak founded Allergic Traveler. Jakubiak, president of Allergic Traveler has traveled the world since the age of two. She has been to 22 countries and 25 states. Jakubiak has been to all inclusives, gone on cruises, gone camping; backpacking through Europe, gone to the big cities, and little hidden gems. She has multiple food allergies but it does not stop her from seeing the world. Jakubiak is allergic to eggs, nuts, mushroom, soy, garlic, corn, sesame, potatoes, celery, shellfish, chicken, pork, peanuts, and many fruits. She is originally from Montreal, Quebec and now lives in Greensboro, NC with her husband.
To get in touch with Tarah: tarah@allergictraveler.net

Nicole Cox & Itchy Pig
About the Book:
Itchy Pig is a unique tale of a mischievous piglet who overcomes seasonal allergies. Itchy Pig learns the nature of his sensitivities through outdoor play in ragweed, pollen, and poison ivy. He learns to respect Mother Nature and the importance of preparedness--but his curiosity leaves him with some very itchy consequences.
About the Author:
I am a native Californian. I am married and live in Raleigh, North Carolina. I value the art of writing and poetry. I am an avid animal lover and advocate for animal welfare. I adopted an abused and neglected pit bull puppy named Gunner. This sick little pup was always itchy and scratchy, and we came to find out that Gunner was a very allergenic dog and suffered from many allergies. With his short tattered ears and large snout, Gunner received the nickname Itchy Pig. As I became more confident in writing, I decided to combine my passion for writing and animals; from this, Itchy Pig was born, teaching young children the importance of seasonal allergies. I strive to inspire and entertain those of all ages by making education fun.
***Inspired by my rescue pit bull, Gunner, who suffers from seasonal and food allergies.

Donald Snowden
Donald Snowden is a Maryland native but has called North Carolina home since 2004. He was an professional athlete who had a serious of family and personal health challenges that would end his career and change his life for the better. He became enamored in holistic and naturopathic health many years ago, when he realized he had been lied to by the system and there was a better way. He formed and alliance with Youngevity Life Science International where he has studied under the world re-known Dr. Joel Wallach DVM, ND as well as many other physicians in the world of Natural Healing. Donald's wealth of knowledge in this field is impeccable as he studies all the time and stays on top of current events in the health industry. His passion has become connecting with people and sharing this message of natural and holistic health through his vast research, most complete product line on the market and life saving testimonials.

FREE St Louis GFAF Event Webcast - Teenager's Perspective of Gluten-Free, FDA Food Labeling, The Emotional Side of Dietary Restrictions & More

The newest webcast in the series of Gluten and Allergen Free Wellness Events for 2016 will again visit the heartland of America in St. Louis, Missouri. The event is taking place on May 21 at the Holiday Inn SW Route 66, 1709 Watson Rd from 10 am - 3 pm and will be the third one held in the city of the Gateway Arch (The land of Gooey Butter Cake and Fried Ravioli, and yes, you can make them gluten-free)

We have a wonderfully informative panel of speakers lined up for the event and as always, we want to share them here with the global internet allergen-free community on Thursday, May 12 at 7:30 pm CST. We offer them free of charge to remain as a resource.

This webcast, we will hear from:

Bruce Homstead MS, RDN, LDN, AFMCP - President, Board of Directors, Celiac Support Association - Graduate of Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, minor in Food Facility Engineering. Chef, baker, manager of several large and small restaurants, Director of Food and Nutrition Services for hospitals and nursing homes.

Beth Mincher - Certified Holistic Health Coach, board certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, and received her training through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She focuses on helping people achieve optimal wellness through a whole body approach; emphasizing the importance of not only diet, but other factors such as: physical activity, personal relationships, career, emotional wellness, positive lifestyle and mindset and the use of natural therapies.

Julia Dotson has been helping families in the St. Louis region with meal planning for the past four years. Due to her own children's health issues she has a passion for working with families that have food allergies and dietary restrictions. Julia's partnership with Wildtree, a Certified Organic and Certified Gluten-Free company, is aimed at reducing stress at dinnertime and getting people out of the "What's for dinner?" rut. Wildtree is debunking the myth that good for you food has to taste bad or be expensive. Wildtree's Grapeseed Oil is our signature product. It is heart healthy and helps lower cholesterol. It also has a flashpoint of 445 degrees making it ideal for grilling! www.mywildtree.com/tn www.facebook.com/wildtreetn

Sema Dibooglu - Only 17, articulate, artistic, and passionate about raising awareness. She lives in St. Louis and is a National Foundation of Celiac Awareness featured Gluten Free blogger. ‘Eat Without Gluten’ is featured on the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness’ webpage, and her gluten free cartoon movie ‘Draw my life’ on YouTube has been featured in many countries, from Ireland to Australia. The blog is written to provide positive, practical, educational and insightful information on the gluten-free diet. Sema is one of the first gluten-free teen bloggers both in the United States and worldwide.

Dr Seth Gerlach - The Institute of Natural Health is an integrative health and wellness clinic in St Louis, MO. They practice functional medicine and see a wide array of conditions, from diabetes, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune and thyroid conditions, food sensitivities, and many more.
They utilize cutting-edge testing to find the root of the problem and science-based therapies to regain and maintain health.

Nikki Everett is your host and Director of Event Coordination GF/AF Wellness Events & Chapter Leader of R.O.C.K. (Raising Our Celiac Kids). Nikki uses her vast knowledge as an advocate for the gluten/allergen free community on behalf of her daughter who was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2008.
Nikki's mother became a regional leader for Compassionate Friends, a national support group for bereaved families, when Nikki was only 11 years old. She went on to become a youth peer support group leader by 14 years of age. Her presentation to the NC State Board of Education helped open the door for peer support groups throughout Middle and High Schools across the state. Nikki carried on this legacy as an adult by chartering R.O.C.K. (Raising Our Celiac Kids) for Charlotte, NC in 2009 subsequently moved to the Highlands of NC, near the Blue Ridge Parkway in Appalachia.

FREE ST LOUIS GFAF EVENT WEBCAST

Thursday, May 12 at 7:30 pm CST.

FREE Charlotte GFAF Event Webcast - Traveling with Food Allergies, Use of Medicine in Chronic Health Issues, Feeding Your Family with Limitations, Meeting Nutritional Needs & MORE

We are nearing the 8th annual Charlotte NC Gluten and Allergen Free Wellness Event on April 2 from 10 am - 4 pm at the Oasis Shriner Auditorium, 604 Doug Mayes Pl, Charlotte NC! The nearing of this highly anticipated event will explain why our blog has been absent from posts. My apologies for not posting about the many issues that have presented themselves to our community for the past month and a half. Event planning can sometimes be all consuming and when you are lining up such a great roster of speakers and vendors, this will inevitably happen.

As always we are going to hold a free webcast, right HERE!
March 22 from 7:30 pm - 8:45 pm
This webcast gives you the chance to get an overview of each of the topics that will be presented the day of the event. (You can also view the complete Presentation Schedule) It also gives you a chance to hear some great education free of charge and the ability to look up anything that interests you to explore further. This webcast will be an interesting one for sure as was the last webcast for Charlotte, which has historically been the most visited one on our site.

Featured Speakers for Webcast
Carol Kicinski - SIMPLY GLUTEN FREE Magazine
Bruce Homstead MS, RDN, LDN, AFMCP, President on Board of Directors, Celiac Support Association
Raquel Durban MS, RD, LDN is the director of the Food Allergy Institute of Charlotte, committee for the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology (AAAAI), and a medical advisor for the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Connection Team.
Beth Mincher - Certified Holistic Health Coach, board certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, and received her training through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.
Dr. Akiba Green - Lake Norman Health and Wellness
Pam Jordan - I'm A Celiac blog author who has written 5 cookbooks and lifestyle guides about living Gluten Free.  Her last two books made Amazon Best Sellers list.
Jennifer Cuevas - The Gluten & Grain Free Gourmet
Tarah Jakubiak- Allergic Traveler
Meg Huebner- Gluten-Free Boulangerie

It's a lot of information which is why you don't want to miss it.
So, I look forward to sharing with you, right here in a couple weeks time.

Glenn Frey's Struggles Are a Wake-Up Call for Auto-Immune Disease

You know the reason I don't despise people trying gluten-free, or allergen free foods without a diagnosis?
Because getting a diagnosis, accepting it, and getting treatment can sometimes be more than a person can handle. I have met so many people across the United States and abroad who are trying to figure out what is wrong with them physically. They come to our shows seeking answers, needing to talk to someone who doesn't think they are crazy.

Sure, it would be better for them to get a diagnosis if at all possible. It would be fantastic if you can afford to get appointments with a health professional or not be sent running in the wrong direction by someone who doesn't clue in to what is wrong. Perhaps we forget that we still have many people who become bankrupted with just one health crisis. Just some food for thought...

So how does the death of Glenn Frey play into this conversation?
The death of the legendary Eagles front man was a sad day for so many people who appreciated him for the fantastic songwriter he was. As a music lover, I found myself moping about it all week. Then, the details of his untimely death started coming to light, and I was even more sad for so many other reasons than just losing one of the greatest rock and roll legends of my lifetime.

Glenn died of Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ulcerative Colitis, and Pneumonia. More to the point, the medications he was taking for RA had given him such a case of Ulcerative Colitis that he had to undergo surgery in November and succumbed to Pneumonia in the end.

We have lost far too many humans to auto-immune diseases already. A celebrity dying from an illness doesn't change anything about the situation, but it does make people stop and think about the implications of ignoring it. It also makes it a prime time for education to be accepted by a more receptive audience. A death takes away the sting of those celebrities just trying the latest fad thing out there, if even ever so slightly. Who are we to know what health issues they are privately dealing with?

One of my friends posted the article on Glenn's death, and she pointed out the sad fact that most auto-immune drugs have remained more lethal than the diseases themselves. And Rheumatoid Arthritis is just one of the auto-immune diseases that have drugs that have lethal side effects.

For example:
Ulcerative Colitis
Treatment includes medications and surgery.
Prescription
Steroids: Hydrocortisone by mouth (Cortef), by injection (Solu-cortef), or in the rectum (Cortifoam), Prednisolone (Flo-Pred), Budesonide
Other treatments: Infliximab by injection, Azathioprine (Imuran), Prednisone (Deltasone), Mesalamine in the rectum (Canasa) or by mouth (Apriso), Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), Adalimumab by injection, Mercaptopurine (Purinethol), Aminosalicylic acid

Granted, sometimes it is necessary to take medications. But, with all of the side effects present with medications, it only stands to reason that millions of people are trying natural remedies and/or dietary changes. They are seeking answers to their health issues to relieve them without poisoning their body to treat symptoms. You were there at one time too, seeking out solutions for your health failing. You probably continue to try different methods to improve daily.

At least 50% or more of the people who are new at trying a gluten-free or allergen-free lifestyle at Gluten and Allergen Free Wellness Events, claim that they are indeed searching for answers to a multitude of auto-immune problems which physicians have not been able to successfully treat or they had a health professional suggest it to them. The rest who attend claim multiple benefits because of dietary change, and many agree it saved their lives.

The things we do all know are that we are not alone in seeking what is right for our bodies, and we should support medical professionals who are busily seeking more answers to help us. With all of that said, maybe we should all take it a little easier on people and their choices. Use the moments when you want to cringe to take the opportunity to educate. I'll be right there with you.

Crossing the Mountains of Allergies in 2016

It's a new allergen free year, and I hope you all are having a wonderful start to 2016.
The 2015 year provided our communities with considerable good and bad news which is laid out before you below.

The Good News:

1. The gluten and allergen free markets are seeing no sign of slowing down yet, meaning still more options are bounding their ways into our local stores and cities. 
2. The FDA is slowly amending the gluten free and allergen labeling law to try and cover a loophole or two.
3. Food Allergy safety in school and airlines is being spotlighted and a campaign is focused.
4. More studies on diagnosis, treatment, and public issues are being delved into with fervor.
5. Gluten sensitivity is being backed up and hopefully makes more strides sooner rather than later.

The Bad News:

1. The media is bent on making your gluten and allergen free diet to remain ridiculed and questioned on a daily basis with ever more candor. With every negative blog post and news article, the chances of our safe options are being diminished.
2. People are 10 times more likely to be vile in comments on blog posts and media articles.
3. Companies like General Mills and Quaker Oats are able to use their own internal testing methods which have been proven to have flaws.
4. Whether or not you agree with the P.F. Chang Asian Bistro lawsuit being waged, their legal team has chosen to use fairly offensive reasoning for fighting the lawsuit. These reasons are making fodder of the fact that celiac disease is a disability and that it is genetic.
5. Talk show hosts, advertisements, comedians and cartoonists are still taking potshots at gluten free or people with food allergies, and failing to be funny to the ever growing community.

Reading the lists above makes me only realize that we thought we had crossed the mountain of food allergies but still have so very far to go. Perhaps being a food allergy advocate should be more likened to hiking the Appalachian trail with hundreds of miles of mountains to traverse. We are likely only a quarter of the way there, or perhaps a third if you want to be a glass half full kind of person. Either way, we are getting there with every tedious step along the trail.

And the best news of all, I am right there with you!

Here's to a year full of successes - Happy 2016!