It may not be the only website geared toward helping people with gluten sensitivity, but according to its home page, it was the first of its kind. The Gluten Free Society is dedicated to “educating patients and doctors about gluten,” containing a variety of resources to accomplish just that, as well as encouragement and support for those who are on the gluten-free diet with testimonials and an active forum.

One of the Gluten Free Society’s primary goals is educating people about the effects of gluten on those who are sensitive or intolerant to this common food allergen. The website is at the cutting edge of educational technology, using a variety of audiovisual and written aids to instruct people about gluten and the “true” grain-free gluten-free diet and lifestyle. From the home page, you can click on the Video Tutorials tab and pull up fifteen videos, including “Gluten Sensitivity –  What is it?”, “Gluten-Sensitive? What now?” and “Taking Your Pantry Gluten-Free?” Some of these videos are rather lengthy, packed with information, such as “Gluten Sensitivity-What is it?” which is about 37 minutes long.

Further educating people about gluten sensitivity as well as boosting their morale, the Encouragement section includes Gluten Free Testimonials, a collection of videos featuring real people sharing their experiences of going gluten-free. Not only is the gluten-free community in need of information regarding their condition and the diet, but it needs support, which is what these videos provide.

The Gluten-Free Society also provides information about genetic testing for celiac disease and gluten sensitivity with a home test kit, saving people from the inconvenience of having scheduling a doctor visit and allowing them privacy from their insurance company.  The test results are mailed back quickly with your results.  In such a way, the Gluten-Free Society is directly contributing toward a higher diagnosis rate, as a correct diagnosis is the first step on the road to recovery of one’s health after the damaging effects of gluten.

The Forum is another feature the Gluten-Free Society offers to help the gluten-free community find valuable information, support, and the opportunity to connect with others. This is particularly useful for gluten-free individuals living in smaller communities without celiac support groups or other gluten-free groups established locally. It also gives gluten-free individuals the opportunity to share their own experiences and wisdom in order to help others. Gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, that has the potential to severely harm the health of millions of people. It’s estimated that one percent or three million Americans have celiac disease, and according to The Food Intolerance Consumer, fifteen percent of the population are gluten-sensitive. It is fortunate that we have the Gluten-Free Society to provide much needed information and support for the growing community of gluten-free individuals.

Tina Turbin

http://www.glutenfreehelp.info

Resources:

The Gluten-Free Society http://glutenfreesociety.org

The Food Intolerance Consumer: Gluten Intolerance and Celiac Disease http://www.foodintol.com/celiac.asp

Watch this very helpful video:

http://www.tuesdayminute.net/gluten09-bioticsresearch.html

I really welcome your feedback and let me know if you learned from this video.

Tina Turbin

Livin Spoonful, what a great name. I was wondering what these 3-in-by-3-in. crackers were going to taste like. They are fairly thick and loaded with healthy, sprouted and dehydrated ingredients, sprouted sunflower seeds, sprouted flax, organic carrots, organic kale, etc.

I tested 4 different flavors, just the right variety to satisfy one’s particular mood first. I grabbed the Pesto Pumpkin Seed—wowwee. The flavors were bursting, but each bite tasted ever so slightly different. Next, I tested the Coconut Curry. I felt as if the delicate dining of a fine Indian restaurant had passed my palate, then the second bite was as if I had tasted the sweetness of a coconut cookie. Again, each bite offered its own flavors. The other two, Sunny Garden Herb and Caraway Crispy Crackers were just as good. If you want a good rye bread without the bread, head to Livin Spoonfuls!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Owners Jim Brosseau and Sue Mackoney have been making GF products since 2002. They share a similar passion to help others. They informed me their crackers are made in small batches and are all handmade, hence the variations of size and shape.

As a special feature, Livin Spoonfuls offers the option to custom-blend your crackers. Yes, you want carrot cake dehydrated crackers? They will work out the perfect recipe with a phone consultation and do their best to make your wish come true.

Fine people, fine products!

Tina Turbin

This food company is given a thumbs up and is HIGHLY recommended by Tina Turbin, award-winning author and founder of www.GlutenFreeHelp.info.

I’ve found most products that offer greens or greens and reds are combined with the all-too-common grass fillers such as wheat and barley grass. The topic of ingesting these grasses is controversial among celiacs, and I personally do not do well with them as well as many other celiacs I’ve spoken with.

In speaking with the founder of Michael’s Naturopathic Programs, Michael revealed his purpose in developing this product was to support a cleansing program many of his clients and customers were on. He wanted to offer an easy and successful way for the body to assimilate the nutrients needed on a cleanse in order to help support the body’s organs during a cleanse. The product took off and has been a success, popular among many not on a cleanse.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Kids love the taste as well as adults. Michael mentioned many parents add the product to rice, soy, or almond milk, and the kids think it’s chocolate milk. I had to try this with my rice milk and found it tasted exactly like a delicious carob drink. I shared this with others and they all agreed—delicious and nutritious, slightly sweet. Tremendously nutrient-dense, just a small amount goes a long way. I felt fortified all day with my little scoop each morning. I also felt this “life,” so to speak, even with the first swallow.

Ingredients are easy to read on the website. This one product has over 40 ingredients such as greens, veggies, fruits, digestive enzymes, berries, herbs, mushrooms, probiotics, and antioxidants, with no added sugar, all in one single product.

Michael is a story in himself, having raised healthy children who never went to a doctor. Now he hopes the tradition will continue with his grandchildren.

Anyone can find out more about Michael’s, his supplements, and nutritional programs at www.michaelshealth.com.

The facility is kosher, vegan, non GMO, and nut-, soy-, and of course gluten-free.

Thank you, Michael, for making my book tour a success with your Super Defense Food in my daily combat against an occasional accidental gluten intake and in keeping my energy high during my 3 solid weeks of traveling from city to city. Traveling can be difficult for many celiacs.

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

Dr. Alessio Fassano at the Center for Celiac Research ( I quote him on my home page) speaks well and simply to help you.

http://www.glutenfreediet.ca/todayshow.php

Tina Turbin www.glutenfreehelp.info

Delicious boxed mixes that are easy to make, even for kids, yet they are delicious for every table as well as for many courses in a meal: main course, side dishes, and desserts. Each box is versatile and can be used in a variety of recipes offered on the 1-2-3 Gluten Free site or in ones you make up on your own. When I am able to get 7 or more recipes out of one single box of mix from a gluten-free company, and it tastes good, I’m really pleased.

I know of 14 current mixes, but out of these, there at least 142 versions of recipes thus far that I know of. My testers and I played a game of trying to come up with ten recipes using the site’s recipes as well as our own. Each recipe was delicious, many unique, and all very well-liked. (The site offered 80 additional ones.)

Founder Kim Ullner comes from a celiac family. Her sister was celiac, and as a child, Kim created recipes to help her face the challenges of her gluten-free diet. Later on, her niece and nephew were diagnosed, and soon Kim’s gluten-free pigs-in-a-blanket was a family hit. Kim has named many of her mixes after family members, and now that Kim is a mother of two, we can guarantee two new names will soon be on her newer mixes.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The mixes are very easy to make and require very few ingredients, all common to your home’s pantry. Each box offers double the size of most other brands. 1-2-3 Gluten Free products are all made in a facility free of wheat, gluten, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, and soy.

Their biscuits were light and fluffy and just how I wanted a biscuit to taste.  I also made mine without any dairy and they were perfect.

With this same box I made cinnamon buns, pigs-in-a-blanket, chicken and dumplings and roasted vegetable pizza.  I could have made more but I accepted the versatility of these products.

1-2-3 Gluten Free’s Aaron’s Favorite Rolls have the texture of a true roll, where one can “rip” out the insides (like kids love to do) instead of the all-too-common crumbled gluten-free alternative.

Let’s not forget the devilishly decadent brownies, silky, rich, and loaded with chocolate chunks. The pound cake, with a hint of lemon. Sugar and Spice Pan Bars, which are delicious with banana, sweet potato, or even zucchini added.

The prices are good. The servings per box are definitely greater than most companies offer and it all just tastes fresh as far as baked goods are concerned.

All their products are made in a gluten-free facility, are gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free and egg and dairy (casein) free.  All but two are corn-free and all but one is soy-free.  Their labels are clear and easy to read.  Their packaging is smart.

1-2-3 Gluten Free is worthy of a well-written book describing their finest mixes and options. And don’t forget to look inside the box to find even more recipe options. They have a website offering many more recipes and welcome ideas.

Great mixes – terrific company.

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

Do you like children, delicious food, and supporting a terrific cause? Well, I’ve got quite a food company to share with you!  The name is Can Do Kid.

Can Do Kid founder and owner Deb Luster supplies tasty, gluten-free nutrition bars all in the hopes of satisfying hunger before it strikes in those little tummies, jam-packed with nutrients, and sure to maintain smiling faces!

Can Do Kid nutrition bars are gluten-free, made from all-natural ingredients, and contain sixteen essential vitamins and minerals. They are free of trans fats and high-fructose corn syrup.

I have personally tasted each and every one of these bars, and to be absolutely sincere, these bars are scrumptious. I then went further and ran a taste test with many children and their parents, and these tasty bars received a 100% satisfaction rate.

I had the opportunity to speak with my new friend, Deb Luster about her company to discover that there is true passion and dedication behind this company, directly from her heart. Deb is passionate about raising positive kids and being around positive people. She has full intention to spread the word about positive thinking and to improve this attitude in households everywhere. She wants to inspire kids to be smart and special and to know—in fact, to walk through life knowing—“I can do anything.”

Deb has quite an active and impressive history as a woman and executive. In 1990, she helped Annie’s Homegrown grow from a concept to what it is today, a thriving company. With Deb living on the west coast and Annie on the east, she dealt with opposites in many aspects, yet the vision evolved into a perfect, positive force—a fun and thriving business.

Working hard as usual and pregnant, one day Deb’s water broke and she knew she had another calling—motherhood. She stayed on as part-owner on the Board of Annie’s, in 2002 stepping aside from Annie’s as she devoted more time to enjoy motherhood. She continued to work on many projects—mostly helping others with their companies. Expanding companies is truly her forte.

Click here to view the embedded video.

In November 2004, along with her family, she published her first book, I Can Do Anything (read the I Can Do Anything book review) and soon launched products such as t-shirts and stickers. In September 2007, her family’s second book, I’m Happy Just the Way I Am was published. In August 2005, after lots of tasting, packaging, and developing concepts, she and her sister (co-founder and Director of Sales) manufactured the first Can Do Kid nutrition bars. With a strong business sense, she knew that kids love food items with animals, as they are symbols kids remember. So, on every bar, there’s a cheetah. Why a cheetah? Because Deb loves cheetahs.

It wasn’t long until stores all over were stocking up on and displaying the bars and her book!  In February 2009 Deb was at a trade show and was introduced more in-depth to the concept of gluten-free. With only one ingredient change, the Can Do Kid bars were now labeled gluten-free and made available to all those in need of a GF diet, such as celiac and gluten-sensitive consumers. These bars currently come in 3 delicious flavors: CAN-illa Vanilla, Chocolate Crunch, and Cookies and Cream.

These bars are on my Highly Recommended list. Grab a bar and adopt Deb’s motto: “It’s not about age—it’s about attitude!” Grab a bar! You and your kids will be happy you did.

As of August 2010 you will find the Can Do Kid bars in over 50 Safeway stores!

Tina Turbin
www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

This is a helpful PDF which may be a bit advanced for some but if you have a good grasp of a few medical terms- this is for you.

http://www.tuesdayminute.net/Gluten%20Sesitivity%20Beyond%20The%20Gut.pdf

Watch this video

Tina Turbin www.glutenfreehelp.info

Gluten Whiplash typically occurs 3-6 months after starting a gluten free diet. Let me explain. When one initially goes gluten free, a state of dietary distress and confusion sets in. Many limit their diets to an extreme because they are not quite sure what to eat. The typical gluten free version diet learning curve takes 8-12 weeks. This is because one must spend enough time educating themselves about acceptable products, restaurants, etc. During this time, the body starts to heal and most people do very well noticing dramatic improvements in their health.

Once the learning curve is conquered, people tend to gravitate toward the processed, packaged “gluten free” food items. People tend to get lazy and make the choice of convenience over health. BIG MISTAKE! This is where Gluten Whiplash tends to set in.

Let’s take a look at why:

1. Processed and packaged food is not healthy. Eating unhealthy foods leads to poor health (I know, this should be a no-brainer).

2. Many over the counter packaged foods contain cross contamination of gluten.

3. Many of these products contain other types of grain based glutens that have not been adequately studied to be safe for those with gluten sensitivity.

4. Most of the processed substitute products contain genetically modified grains, high amounts of sugar, and are Gluten devoid of any significant nutrient density.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I know that many of you reading this can relate. I have personally seen this phenomenon clinically in more than a thousand patients. If you happen to fit the profile above, or if you are just not responding to a classic gluten free diet, you may just be a victim of the gluten whiplash effect.

Dr. Peter M. Osborne

Dr. Osborne is Diplomate with the American Clinical Board of Nutrition.  He specializes in the treatment of chronic disease and is the clinical director of Town Center Wellness in Sugar Land, TX.  He is the founder of GlutenFreeSociety.org, a website dedicated to teaching confused consumers about gluten and going gluten free. www.TownCenterWellness.com and www.GlutenFreeSociety.org.

Tina Turbin
www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

Enjoy Life Foods® is not a company unknown to most gluten-free consumers, but there were things about the company that I didn’t know.

Enjoy Life Foods® (ELF) was founded in early 2001 with a purpose to support a product line free of gluten as well as the 8 most common allergens: wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish, and shellfish.

With a purpose as star high as that, it took a bit of work to be able to deliver products palatable and delicious. I for one know what it’s like to try and bake without even half of the most common allergens—difficult!

I personally taste-tested their soft-baked cookies, granolas, snack bars, chocolate chips, trail mixes, chocolate bars, and bagels.

I’ve been using the chocolate chips for years and these are the most common chips I choose to use in my recipes and those listed on my website (http://glutenfreehelp.info). I never have physical troubles nor do my “allergic” friends with these chips.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The granolas were fantastic and bursting with flavor. We also tested them as the base for our homemade trail mix and in granola cookies.  The soft-baked cookies were moist, and we all agreed they were light in flavor, offered in a number of flavors.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Most people do not know about the man behind all this, Scott Mandell. As part of a class assignment at the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, he came up with the notion that those with dietary restrictions sacrifice flavor and nutrition in foods. Scott and his team came up with a business plan with good nutrition and great taste for people on a restricted diet. In 2001, he raised money to build a dedicated GF facility to start his company and develop products. Enjoy Life Foods® has been named to Inc. Magazine’s 500/5000 List of Fastest Growing Private Companies for three years in a row from 2007 through 2009.

Enjoy Life Foods® teamed up with Fair Winds Publishing to launch a GF allergy-friendly cookbook entitled, Cookies for Everyone! You can be assured of allergy-free cookies, brownies and bars that are safe and delicious. Each of the 150 recipes are gluten-free and allergy-friendly (NO: wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg or soy). All readers will also learn how to use naturally allergy-free ingredients and substitutes to add extra richness, texture and nutritional content to any cookies and bars without losing the taste. This is a company that cares and is doing something about the growing needs of celiac and allergic individuals. They already have another book planned to be released in January, Cupcakes and Sweet Treats.

Tina Turbin
www.GlutenFreeHelp.info