Millions of us deal with food allergies or intolerances every day. Problems can range from the simple to the severe, but no matter what the type of food intolerance, it affects every social aspect of your life. If you or someone you know struggles with food allergies or intolerances, you already know that ordinary things like dining out, parties, business luncheons and family events can become a nightmare when you have to avoid eating what is offered, and make excuses for being rude.
Another common problem we share is finding food that actually tastes good. There are plenty of food substitutes out there on the market, but unfortunately, they are either far too pricey or they don’t even resemble the real thing in flavor or texture. There is hope though! Don’t think you have to resign yourself to a life of bland “special” foods anymore, and forget about enjoying meals, both at home and out!
As someone afflicted with celiac disease, an autoimmune disease which causes a severe reaction to gluten (one of the most common ingredients found in Western foods), I’ve struggled with finding food that will keep the painful and embarrassing symptoms at bay, but still tastes good enough to serve to others. Fortunately, since awareness of food allergies and intolerances is on the rise, you can benefit from fabulous recipe experimentation done by others who share in your restrictions. There are great resources available now in book form and on the Internet for nearly every gustatory limitation.
Here are some of my easy tips for gluten-free eating:
Avoid mixes and recipes which use too much rice flour – it makes the food taste gritty and leaves an aftertaste.
Add dairy or soy yogurt to your recipes for moist, non-crumbly baked goods.
Applesauce is a great fat replacement that has the added benefit of holding your gluten-free goodies together.
Be sure to check ingredients for hidden gluten – as an example, Rumford baking powder is gluten and alum free, while Calumet is not.
Many cooking and baking sprays also contain flour, so check cans carefully while shopping.
You can also take steps to enjoy social eating again. Many restaurants and catering services are now making accommodations for food allergies and gluten intolerance – don’t hesitate to ask your neighborhood food businesses whether they would offer choices like this. If you take part in business luncheons, it’s a good idea to let the meeting planner know about your intolerance ahead of time. Chances are, they’ll be happy to make accommodations when they know in advance what to expect.
For parties and social gatherings, why not offer to bring a dish to share? You can introduce everyone to gluten-free or allergy-sensitive food, and you’ll know there will be something at the event you can eat, so you won’t feel awkward or left out. Dealing with food allergies and intolerances takes a little bit of extra preparation, but it does not have to restrict your life. Happy nearly normal eating!
By: Jules Shepard
About the Author:
Another common problem we share is finding food that actually tastes good. There are plenty of food substitutes out there on the market, but unfortunately, they are either far too pricey or they don’t even resemble the real thing in flavor or texture. There is hope though! Don’t think you have to resign yourself to a life of bland “special” foods anymore, and forget about enjoying meals, both at home and out!
As someone afflicted with celiac disease, an autoimmune disease which causes a severe reaction to gluten (one of the most common ingredients found in Western foods), I’ve struggled with finding food that will keep the painful and embarrassing symptoms at bay, but still tastes good enough to serve to others. Fortunately, since awareness of food allergies and intolerances is on the rise, you can benefit from fabulous recipe experimentation done by others who share in your restrictions. There are great resources available now in book form and on the Internet for nearly every gustatory limitation.
Here are some of my easy tips for gluten-free eating:
Avoid mixes and recipes which use too much rice flour – it makes the food taste gritty and leaves an aftertaste.
Add dairy or soy yogurt to your recipes for moist, non-crumbly baked goods.
Applesauce is a great fat replacement that has the added benefit of holding your gluten-free goodies together.
Be sure to check ingredients for hidden gluten – as an example, Rumford baking powder is gluten and alum free, while Calumet is not.
Many cooking and baking sprays also contain flour, so check cans carefully while shopping.
You can also take steps to enjoy social eating again. Many restaurants and catering services are now making accommodations for food allergies and gluten intolerance – don’t hesitate to ask your neighborhood food businesses whether they would offer choices like this. If you take part in business luncheons, it’s a good idea to let the meeting planner know about your intolerance ahead of time. Chances are, they’ll be happy to make accommodations when they know in advance what to expect.
For parties and social gatherings, why not offer to bring a dish to share? You can introduce everyone to gluten-free or allergy-sensitive food, and you’ll know there will be something at the event you can eat, so you won’t feel awkward or left out. Dealing with food allergies and intolerances takes a little bit of extra preparation, but it does not have to restrict your life. Happy nearly normal eating!
By: Jules Shepard
About the Author:
Jules Shepard is the author of Nearly Normal Cooking for Gluten-Free Eating, a combination cookbook and guidebook offering tips, tricks and recipes for those eating gluten-free of necessity and by choice. Visit her online at http://www.nearlynormalcooking.com.
Gluten Intolerance
An increasing number of people are discovering that they are adversely affected by various kinds foods. Recently, there has been a growing public awareness of food intolerances, and allergies in general which cause chronic pain from stomach upsets, muscle cramps or joint pains, nausea and vomiting, constipation, irritable bowel, etc. Among the many food intolerances and allergies, Gluten Intolerance has become one the most common problems faced by people. It is also known as Celiac disease. Gluten intolerance is a genetic disorder that makes you intolerant to gluten. Gluten is the elastic, rubbery protein that is found in wheat, rye, barley and to a lesser degree in oats. It helps in binding the dough in foods including bread and other baked goods. However, many people suffering form gluten intolerance remain largely undiagnosed and suffer unnecessarily as they do not have enough information on the symptoms and disorders that can be caused by food intolerances. Today there are a number of online sites that provide all the information and knowledge regarding gluten intolerance, which helps you to have a better idea whether you or someone you know might be affected.
These websites also provide you information on different types of food intolerances. They also give you information on the various symptoms of gluten intolerance and a number of treatments to get rid of this kind of a food intolerance and allergy. These sites focus mostly on intolerances and allergies applicable to other foods as well. They also provide you with high quality laboratory testing that help with accurate, timely and dependable test results for determining the various kinds of foods and chemicals that cause gluten intolerance win individuals. They provide test results over a number of foods, food additives, food colorings, environmental chemicals and molds. They also offer you with appropriate advice in choosing a test panel that is best suited for you and also assist you with all kinds of related questions before or after taking the test. Diagnosis of gluten intolerance usually involves blood tests and may include a biopsy of the small intestine.
The best treatment to overcome gluten intolerance successfully is by completely removing all forms of gluten from the diet. This includes avoiding breads, cereals, cookies and all other types of foods or other products with wheat, barley or rye as an ingredient. It is also important to avoid some beers, lipsticks, postage stamps, medications and vitamins. In order to overpower your gluten intolerance problem successfully, these websites offer gluten-free diets, products and ideas to help make it easier and tastier for individuals to thrive on a gluten-free diet. They also provide you with tips on following a gluten free diet, exercises, and also how to diagnose a gluten intolerance problem. They also offer a wide range of products that are supported by nutritional consulting and quality client service support. They also offer a number of gluten-free recipes. Some of these websites also have a 24X7 Customer Care Team who can give you all the information on gluten intolerance related problems and How to avoid its effects.
Gluten Intolerance – For over 20 years, the ALCAT Test has provided both patients as well as healthcare professionals with a tool to successfully overcome a wide variety of conditions which result from chemical intolerance and food sensitivity.
By: calistastacy
About the Author:
calista.stacy@gmail.com
Irritable Bowel Syndrome – What Causes It?
