Gluten Free 2020

The market for gluten foods continues to increase. 

The Gluten Intolerance Group predicts the Gluten Free Trends for 2020. 

Here are 5 of their predictions:

1. The number of gluten free products will continue to increase

One percent of the U. S. population has been diagnosed with Celiac Disease and nearly 13% of the U.S. population has gluten sensitivity. With over 40 million Americans affected, there are eager consumers that are looking for gluten free options.

2. Gluten free products will be available outside the natural food space

Skin care companies and vitamin/supplement companies are recognizing that people who avoid eating gluten need to avoid gluten in all aspects of their life. Not only does consuming gluten cause GI distress, but also dermatitis.

3. Label transparency will continue to rise in importance

Consumers are reading labels and voicing their opinions with their wallets. Companies with certifications are gaining prominent shelf space and reaching more consumers.

4. The variety of gluten-free and grain-free flours on the market will continue to rise

Companies continue to develop gluten free flour blends. The grain-based flour blends that those with Celiac consume are also important in the growing Paleo market. Look for new flours to hit the market such as apple, banana, coffee, and beet. 

5. There will be a greater demand for gluten free in convenience foods

Grab-and-go, heat-and-eat, and prepared foods are popular among consumers. Companies will be entering the marketplace to fill the needs of the gluten free consumer.

Disclaimer:
“This post (or portions of this post) was provided by New Hope Network. I am a member of the New Hope Influencer Co-Op, a network of health and wellness bloggers committed to spreading more health to more people.”

Invite Aronia Berries Into Your Life

Aronia Berries ... Where Have You Been My Whole Life?

Recently I have become aware of Aronia Berries also known as chokeberries. For some reason, they have passed me by for many years!

Research concluded they have medicinal benefits

These small, dark berries are packed with plant antioxidants and provide many health-promoting properties.According to Medical News Today, studies have shown that aronia berries may prevent the growth of colon cancer and have protective qualities for those experiencing breast cancer. Further research has shown that aronia berries boost the immune system and reduce inflammation associated with diabetes. Studies has also shown that the berries have insulin resistant properties and may be helpful in preventing diabetes.

The berries are packed with nutrition

Aronia berries contain 10% of the RDA for vitamin C so they are a great addition to your diet during cold and flu season. (The Native Americans used the berries as a cold remedy.) These low calorie, high fiber berries also contain folate, iron, and vitamins A and E.

There are many uses for the berries

Many people do not eat the berries as they have a mouth drying effect. Aronia berries are generally found used in juices, jams, syrups, teas, and wines. Tohi has a great product containing aronia berries. The beverages come in a variety of flavors like the blackberry raspberry pictured here.

Plant Based Dairy Alternatives

Plant Based Dairy Alternatives

Plant based dairy alternatives are very popular. For years nut and soy based products have filled the space in the marketplace. They are facing more competition each day. The new products fill the space for the people who are seeking dairy free and are unable to consume nuts and soy.

Sesame Milk 

Sesame milk is a great product for the consumer who wishes a product that tastes like a nut milk but is more sustainable. For the consumer who is concerned that it takes 1 gallon of water to produce 1 almond, sesame milk is a great alternative. Sesame milk contains sesame and pea protein. Each serving is 8 grams of protein and includes calcium and vitamin D.  I enjoy drinking Hope & Sesame sesame milk and using it in recipes like Sesame Milk Chia Pudding.
 

Oat Milk

Oat milk production is simple. Gluten-free oats are soaked in water, pulverized in a blender, strained, and packaged. For the consumer who does not wish to make it at home, many companies have entered the marketplace so there is a chance there are a few options in your local store! Typically, oat milk has more fiber and protein than almond milk, but its calorie count and fat content is higher. Oat milk's advantage is that it contains more B2, B12, Vitamin D, and phosphorus than almond milk helping boost metabolism, energize the body, and prevent disease. I have found that oat milk is thicker than almond milk. Some brands have a bit of oat crumbles as residue in the bottom of the carton, so I suggest you shake the carton each time before using it! I enjoy drinking oat milk and have been working on recipes using it.

When looking for oat milk in your local store, look for Malk Sprouted Organic Oat Malk Original. Malk is dedicated to conscious sourcing and has pursued The Detox Project's Glyphosate Residue Free Certification, guaranteeing the oats used in the product are not contaminated. 

Disclaimer: “This post (or portions of this post) was provided by New Hope Network. I am a member of the New Hope Influencer Co-op, a network of health and wellness bloggers committed to spreading more health to more people.”

Tree Below Zero Carbonated Juice Beverage with CBD Oil

Tree Below Zero 

My husband tried Tree Below Zero Blueberry Raspberry Pomegranate carbonated juice drink infused with CBD oil yesterday after he played two hours of competitive tennis. He found the drink to have a slightly sweet berry flavor and a quite a it of carbonation, perhaps because we do not drink carbonated beverages often!

The drink is made with clean, natural, and organic ingredients. Yesterday it was great as a post workout recovery drink for my husband.

I am eager to try one ... the Cranberry Ginger is calling my name. I will have it with my oyster mushroom pizza later today!

Try their innovative, award winning beverages today!

Can You Eat Half An Organic Pineapple?

Of course you can! Rely on Solely for convenient, fast ... fruit!

Solely Fruit Jerky

Solely creates fruit jerky made with ONLY FRUIT...one or two ingredients per fruit jerky bar. Their products are NON-GMO and organic. They do not add sugars or preservatives to their products.

Solely works hand-in-hand with farmers and has created a network of Solely Certified Farms that produce clean, non-GMO, organic fruits and vegetables.

Pineapple with Coconut has a pineapple taste with a hint of coconut. It is a chewy fruit bar that is naturally sweet.

Making Sense of Egg Carton Labels

Confused about the selection of eggs in the store? Wondering what is better to purchase, cage free, organic, free range, or pasture fed? I have been wondering myself so I did a little research to help all of us.

It's All About the Space

Cartons labeled cage free mean the hens are not in cages but are enclosed in a barn.

Free range hens are allowed 2 square feet to roam and may get some outdoor access. 

Pasture raised hens have 108 square feet to roam and love mostly outside. Pasture raised hens have the opportunity to flap their wings, peck the ground for insects, and spend up to six hours outside each day and "bunk" indoors each night. These eggs are available at farmer's markets and some supermarkets. A 2007 Mother Earth News Study found pasture raised hens to have 1/3 less cholesterol, 1/4 less saturated fat, 2/3 more vitamin A, 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids, 3 times more vitamin E, and 7 times more beta carotene.

It's All About the Food

Omega-3 labels indicate the hen's feed included foods high in Omega-3s such as flaxseed, marine algae, or canola.
Vegetarian fed labels indicate the hen was not fed any animal byproducts.
USDA Organic labels indicate the hen's feed is grown without synthetic fertilizers, fungicides, or pesticides.

Empty Words

Eggs labeled Hormone-Free are unnecessary. Hens that are laying eggs are not given hormones. This is a marketing tool.
Eggs marked Natural are unnecessary. Eggs are natural. This is another marketing tool.

How Are the Birds Treated?

American Humane Certified label includes producers of cage free birds. It prohibits forced molting but allows beak cutting.
Animal Welfare Approved label limits flock size to 500 birds to allow generous space for foraging and and ranging outdoors. It prohibits forced molting and beak cutting.
Certified Organic label prohibits cages and the use of antibiotics and requires organic food and access to the outdoors. It does allow forced molting and beak cutting.


For more information read Delicious Living's article Understanding lingo on egg cartons by Jessie Shafer and TakePart.

The Buzz About Bees ... Bee Better Certification Coming Soon

Bees are important for the environment. I read an article once that said that bees are responsible for about every third bite of food we take! Unfortunately, the bee population is in decline. People need to be aware of the importance of bees in our food chain. WE NEED BEES!

Bees Provide People With MORE Than Honey
Bees are hard workers. For many of our favorite crops to develop, they need bees to help in the germination process. If we did not have bees, we would not have apples, melons, squash, almonds, or broccoli.

Protect The Bees, Plant Pollinator Friendly Plants
Over the past several years, large numbers of hives have diminished. Honey bees provide a key service to our agricultural production. You can help the honey bees through careful planting in your garden.

• Spring flowers that bees are drawn to include: crocus, hyacinth, borage, calendula, and wild lilac. 
• Summer flowers that bees feast on include: cosmos, echinacea, snapdragons foxglove, and hosta. 
• Late summer and early fall flowers that bees like include: zinnias, sedum, asters, witch hazel, and goldenrod.

Purchase Products Labeled Bee Better Certified
Be an informed consumer and look for the new labeling "BEE BETTER CERTIFIED" that will be available soon. The new label will help guide you in choosing ethical, environmentally-sound products: a certification for foods produced on bee-friendly farms. "The pillars of the program are: dedicating a minimum 5 percent of land to providing habitat—meaning abundant sources of pollen and nectar, such as hedgerows or flowering cover crops; providing nesting sites for pollinators in the form of (depending on the pollinator species) plants with pity-stems, undisturbed ground and plants butterflies can lay eggs in; and eliminating or minimizing the use of chemical pesticides" (Cernansky, Delicious Living).

Yes, You Can Make A Difference
Plant flowers that attract bees, purchase products labeled BEE BETTER CERTIFIED, and avoid using neonicotinoids in your gardening.

For more information, read the Delicious Living's Article "Be Better Certified" Could Help With Pollinator-Friendly Choices and the BBC Article Would We Starve Without Bees.

Papa Steve's No Junk Raw Protein Bars

My husband and I loved the Papa Steve's No Junk Raw Protein Bars that arrived in my New Hope Blogger Box! They were amazing...when you opened the package you saw something that looked like it was actually made in your kitchen. It was not uniformly cut. It was HONEST, ALL NATURAL, GLUTEN FREE GOODNESS! A bar does not have to look perfect to be perfect for you!

I love food that is good for you and made from the heart. Papa Steve's creates food made from the heart and it is evident. Their 100% handmade bars are made with locally sourced ingredients and are Non-GMO, Gluten Free, and Soy Free. They are organic and have NO added sugars or preservatives.

When you do not have time to make your own protein bars, let Papa Steve's make some for you!

Eat Seasonally ... Spring Vegetables Are Here!

It is important to eat seasonally ... and as close to the source as possible. I am currently visiting family in Michigan and find snow on the ground and temperatures in the high 20s and low 30s the first full week of April. This does not feel like spring...but we all know it is around the corner ... and currently in full bloom in other parts of the country.

Spring is the time to add asparagus, leeks, endive, and spring onions to your recipes. I have been enjoying asparagus and leeks in San Diego for a month or two. I added leeks to my Spring Risotto recipe earlier in the week.

I'll add more spring vegetable recipes to the blog in the coming weeks!

Welcome #spring by picking up these nutritious #springveggies that are in stores now!

Read more from Delicious Living

Keep Your Mind Sharp ... Naturally!

You ARE what you eat! Studies suggest that people who eat 400 grams of fruits and vegetables each day perform better on cognitive tests than those who eat 100 grams or less. Exercise, nutrition, and mental stimuli help keep our brains young and supple as we age. Eat mindfully ... to help your MIND and body!

Natrol Cognium is a supplement you may wish to take if you are currently not getting the necessary nutrients. Thanks for sharing Delicious Living!

Making Something Sweet for Easter? Try Paleo Friendly Sweeteners in your Recipes.

Since I have had to adhere to a gluten free lifestyle I have focused on clean eating. A Paleo diet is focused primarily on the consumption of real, unprocessed, non-packaged food (think lean meats, eggs, vegetable and limited quantities of fruits and nuts), the Paleo diet involves foods that are basic but nutritious. Grains, dairy, and processed foods are off the list, as are sugars – an oft-hidden staple of our modern diets.

While other ingredients are more avoidable, sugar or sweeteners – in some variation – are used to enhance the taste in many packaged products. They can be obvious elements, part of candies and desserts, or ambiguous components of so-called healthy foods, such as turkey bacon and fat-free salad dressing. Many packaged gluten free products are packed with sugar ... read the labels to make good choices!

Jenny Ivy shares low-glycemic and paleo-friendly sweeteners include: Raw Honey, Erythritol, Jerusalem Artichoke Syrup, Lucuma Powder, Monk Fruit, Raw Maple Sap, Stevia (dried leaf), and Yacon Syrup. 

Source: New Hope Network / Delicious Living

Adjusting to a Gluten Free Diet as a Senior Citizen

Change is more difficult as we age. Changing one's diet is incredibly challenging for a senior citizen. Many seniors are tired of decades of preparing meals and rely on prepared or semi-homemade foods. Many seniors approach meal time as an opportunity to socialize with their peers. When obstacles are placed in the way of a senior and his or her opportunity to socialize, their world may narrow. While learning to live a gluten-free lifestyle can be daunting to anyone, it provides unique challenges to seniors over age 65.

Once considered a disease that affects mainly children, doctors now know that gluten issues can affect anyone at any age. But for older people who may be grappling with other health issues, getting a proper diagnosis can be tricky because the symptoms mimic those of a number of other ailments

After a diagnosis, lifestyle changes can be made. The good news is most gluten issues can be managed with diet alone, and the growing awareness of the gluten-free lifestyle means living gluten-free has never been easier. Julyne Derrick addresses how to adapt to a gluten free lifestyle as a senior citizen. She advises people contact favorite restaurants to ask about gluten free menus, read labels in the grocery store, and talk to your pharmacist about prescriptions you regularly take as the first steps to take. 

Nutrition Deficiencies in Modern Diets

People today do not always get all of the nutrients they need from each meal. Some people rely on packaged foods due to hectic lifestyles. A diet heavy in nutrient-poor, refined, and highly processed foods can lead to vitamin deficiencies. Others eat relatively clean foods from the exterior of a grocery store. The produce found in stores may lack all the vital nutrients due to modern farming techniques, particularly the practice of planting vegetable and fruit varieties that increase yields but result in less nutrition per bite.

Getting the nutrients you need not only helps you avoid deficiency-related conditions, but also may increase your energy levels, keep your immune system in top shape and ward off chronic diseases. So eat as healthfully as you can, and use supplements to make up for shortfalls. The common nutrients missing in modern diets include: Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, Magnesium,and Zinc.

How do you know you have a deficiency? There are a few signs to look out for, but you can contact your health care provider for a blood test to get an accurate read. 

A Vitamin D deficiency can weaken your bones, muscles and immune system. Vitamin D may protect against chronic conditions like heart disease and cancer, too.  

Signs of deficiency in Vitamin E are most common in people who have trouble absorbing fat. The deficiency may result in nerve damage, vision problems and weakened immunity.
 

Without enough Vitamin K, blood can’t clot properly if you’re injured. Preliminary research suggests the MK-7 type may help prevent atherosclerosis and osteoporosis.

Deficiencies in Vitamin A can decrease night vision and immune function. People can convert beta-carotene from fruits and vegetables to vitamin A, but this ability is reduced in as many as 27–45 percent of people, based on their genetics.

Obvious signs of vitamin C deficiency—swollen, bleeding gums and limb pain—typically don’t appear unless daily intake is very low (below 10 mg) for several weeks. But preliminary research suggests a low intake may contribute to low-back pain because your body needs vitamin C for healthy ligaments, tendons and bones.

Over time, calcium shortfalls can increase risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures. But supplement in moderation. Some evidence suggests excess calcium intake from supplements may harm heart health, possibly by depleting magnesium.

Shortfalls of magnesium may show up as muscle cramps and twitches, anxiety, fatigue, irritability, poor concentration and headaches, among other symptoms. Long-term use of acid-reflux drugs called proton pump inhibitors may lead to magnesium deficiency.

Zinc deficiency may show up as hair loss, white spots on fingernails, poor sense of taste, weakened immunity, wound-healing difficulty and more. In obese people, zinc supplements may improve sensitivity to insulin, a hormone that keeps blood sugar from spiking

Marsha McCulloch, RD researched the deficiencies in our diets and the supplements that will help people balance out their diet. Follow the hyperlink to read more from Delicious Living and New Hope Network. 

Gluten Free Lifestyle and Omega 3 Supplements

I have been taking an Omega 3 supplement for many years at the recommendation of my dermatologist. The Omega 3 DID help my skin and I have been a fan of it for years!

Omega 3 supplements have many health benefits including helping your eyes, heart, mind, and mood. In an effort to age gracefully, I take care of myself through regular exercise as well as through good nutrition. Cognitive problems like dementia run in my family so I hope the Omega 3 supplements will help me fight off my inheritance forever...or as long as possible!

Read the full article at Delicious Living.

Gluten Sensitivity is NOT New ... the Celebrity Fad Has Drawn Awareness

Gluten sensitivity did not begin in the last 20 years. The public has learned about gluten intolerance and sensitivity because many celebrities and many people in the public eye have chosen to follow a gluten free diet as a means to lose weight.

People have been aware of gluten sensitivity for centuries.  In 1 AD, the Greek physician Aretaeus coined the term koilikos ("suffering in the bowels"), the term would eventually become celiac. In the 1880s the English doctor Samuel Gee was the first to define celiac disease as a malabsorption triggered by food. His belief was that a cure would come from diet, not medication. Sixty years later, in the 1940s Dr. Willem Karel Dicke definitively identified gluten as celiac disease’s dietary trigger, establishing the first effective treatment: the gluten-free diet.

One hundred years after Samuel Gee declared that celiac disease could be cured by food, companies began to produce gluten free products in the 1980s. Thanks to the innovation of companies like Glutino, Bob's Red Mill, and Pamela's Products the food industry started to manufacture products for people who must avoid gluten. Their innovation has defined the gluten free products industry. 

In the last ten years I have had to adhere to a gluten free diet. The marketplace has expanded exponentially and gluten free products can be found in most stores and restaurants. The Gluten-Free Certification Organization began certifying gluten-free packaged foods in 2005. This simple addition to a package makes shopping much easier for those who need to avoid gluten. 

The companies that produce products for special diets have made cooking and enjoying meals with friends enjoyable again for many people! 

Some content derived from Delicious Living and New Hope Network.  Jenna Blumenfield's article Gluten's curiousjourney: A history of gluten.