The Gluten Intolerance Group is gearing up for the May 2013 “Chef to Plate” Gluten-Free Restaurant Awareness Program. The program is in its fourth year, surveying restaurants that offer gluten-free menu options around the world, including the United States, Canada, Turkey, and Italy.

The campaign serves the dual purpose of celebrating restaurants that are successfully working towards gluten-free awareness and options, while also working to spread awareness and education about what constitutes a gluten-free menu.

This grass-roots campaign seeks to spread gluten-free awareness in the promotion of restaurants that allow the gluten intolerant and Celiacs to safely dine outside their homes. As part of the campaign, the Gluten Intolerance Group asks restaurants to post education materials that highlight to statistics and facts about gluten-free eating as a sign of support for their gluten-free diners throughout the month of May, Celiac Awareness month.  Click to continue reading »

When you’re gluten-free, it becomes second nature to double check the gluten content of everything you eat, and drink. But how about those cleaning or beauty supplies. Are you just as cautious when it comes to your toothpaste, mouthwash or lipstick?

Whilst we don’t eat these things on purpose, it’s more than likely that some of the product is being consumed and if gluten-containing, it could be the reason for any lingering symptoms you’re having.

I’m not a big make-up girl myself, but I do like to wear a little lip gloss or eye shadow to sparkle myself up when I’m headed out. I was pretty excited when I found out about Red Apple Lipstick. Click to continue reading »

After a busy day at work, sometimes you want something simple for dinner. Passage Foods make a great variety of gluten-free cooking sauces which could help you have just that.

Passage Foods specialize in simmer and stir-fry sauces made from flavors and aromas from different parts of the world such as India, Thailand, Morocco and China. Add meat, seafood or vegetables to any of their ready-to-use sauces and you will have yourself a meal in just 20 minutes.

If you fancy a curry, Passage to India flavors include Butter Chicken, Rogan Josh, Korma and Tikka Masala. Thai flavors include Pad Thai, red Thai Curry, Thai Basil & Sweet Chili and Tom Yum. The later can be used as a soup base as well as a stir-fry sauce.  Moroccan spiced sauces include Harissa Tomato & Bell Pepper, Honey Tagine and Lemon Chicken.  Honey, Soy & Garlic and Black Bean are the Chinese inspired choices. Click to continue reading »

With more and more children being diagnosed with celiac disease and gluten intolerance, the need for gluten-free alternatives to gluten containing arts & crafts is a must!

But which toys contain gluten? Well, Play-Doh for one. Play-Doh is made using wheat flour and since kids are known for putting everything in their mouths, it’s something you probably don’t want your gluten-free kids playing with.

Last year we reviewed a gluten-free clay from Mama K and there are a growing number of companies like this, realizing the fast increasing market for gluten-free versions of modeling clay. Soy-Yer Dough sold 50,000 containers of their product last year, more than 25 times the amount sold when the company began five years ago. Click to continue reading »

One of my biggest challenges leading a gluten-free life is packing food on the go. Finding a good, reliable “granola” bar is a huge obstacle in this gluten-filled food world. There have been a number of times I’ve enjoyed what I thought was a gluten-free bar, only to find out later that there were trace elements of wheat or processed oats that contaminated my delicious snack.

As many of you are aware of SOYJOY bars and their continually gluten-free bars, Celiacs can now sleep even easier in light of recent news. SOYJOY has just received a literal stamp of gluten-free approval – the official gluten-free certification from the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO). Though the brand has always maintained its natural product made with real fruit and ground soybeans, this recognition via third-party examination assures that there is no risk of cross contamination and the manufacturing of these delicious snack bars. Click to continue reading »

By Laura (The Gluten-Free Traveller)

The prevalence of celiac disease is not evenly spread throughout the world. It is more prevalent in some populations than others. We know from previous research that North Indian, Pakistan and Bangladesh populations are some of those with higher numbers of celiac disease than average. This region consumes a lot of wheat (gluten) and much of the population carries the genes necessary for developing celiac disease. But exactly how high are these numbers?

There are many adults from North India, Pakistan and Bangladesh in the UK who are affected by celiac disease so an audit was conducted in an area of southern Derbyshire to find out just how common celiac disease is within this population.

Click to continue reading »

If you’re a fan of chewing gum after a meal or simply for the flavor, but you worry about the aspartame and who knows what else, Glee Gum could be something new for you to try.

Most gums on the market are filled with all sorts of artificial ingredients but Glee Gum is different. Glee Gum is made using all-natural coloring, flavoring and sweeteners. There is no aspartame, preservatives or GMOs. Aspartame gets a lot of bad press and it’s rare to find a gum free from aspartame so this is pretty great news. Click to continue reading »

This month by Dr. Susan Blum released her new book, The Immune System Recovery Plan. Dr. Blum is certainly a credible advocate for the gluten-free community. She is both being a medical doctor, as well as holds a master’s degree in public health. Her research focuses on autoimmune disease that plagues people all over the world, from thyroid disease to Crohn’s disease to Celiac disease.

While I’m sure most of you are aware when it comes to doctors and illness, they often retroactively treat symptoms (take X to relieve GI distress), rather than treat the root of the problem. Dr. Blum focuses her practice on preventative treatment, seeking to explore what is causing disease or gastrointestinal distress.

Her book systematically explores how the immune system is affected by what we eat. She delves into the issues on a deeper level, offering practical solutions to healing damaged guts and rebuilding our systems’ natural protective abilities. As most Celiacs have discovered through their own trial and error, it is oftentimes the processed foods that cause us the most problems. Moreover, if Click to continue reading »

When I first heard about I Heart Keenwah, I loved their company name! On first hearing about the mysterious quinoa, the gluten-free grain which isn’t actually a grain at all, did you try searching for it by typing in “keenwah” or was that just me?

Now that I’ve had the pleasure of trying I Heart Keenwah’s quinoa bites, I can now say that I’m also a fan of their delicious gluten-free treats as well as their fun name.

Quinoa is the only grain which is a complete source of protein, meaning that it contains all 9 essential amino acids. As well as being a great source of protein, it’s also gluten-free, low-glycemic, high in fiber and packed with a whole bunch of vitamins and minerals. Sounds pretty great to me! Click to continue reading »