Mambo Sprouts

Chefs and “foodies” consider many factors when creating their culinary art. Making food look and taste fabulous does take some effort, after all. Well, individuals with celiac disease or gluten intolerance need to add another variable: keep all those delicacies gluten-free!

However, you’ll be rewarded for your diligent efforts, as a completely gluten-free diet usually results in a healed intestine and reversal of symptoms in a matter of months—an astounding relief that more than makes up for the inconvenience of changing your diet! Read the rest of this entry »

If you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, you probably go to great lengths to avoid gluten in your diet. Should you also avoid personal care products that contain this ingredient? Maybe so, when you consider that up to 60% of what you apply to your skin can be absorbed into the bloodstream.

If you don’t eat gluten, why let it seep into your body topically? The cosmetic industry assumes the position that gluten molecules are too large to be absorbed through the skin, therefore people with celiac disease can safely use their gluten-containing products. However, many doctors disagree.

Kenneth Fine, M.D. of EnteroLab.com states that: “Gluten sensitivity is a systemic immune reaction to gluten anywhere in the body, not just that entering the body via the gut. Therefore, topically applied lotions, creams, shampoos, etc. containing gluten would indeed provide a source of gluten to the body, and we therefore recommend all such products be discontinued for optimal health.”

Personal care products pose a challenge, however, as most labels don’t include the term gluten in the ingredient list, though many ingredients are derived from wheat, including:

• Tocopherols and mixed tocopherols
• Fermented grain extract
• Amp-isostearoyl hydrolyzed wheat protein
• Hydrolyzed wheat gluten
• PG-Propyl Silanetriol
• Amino Acids Hydroxypropyltrimonium
• Steardimonium Hydroxypropyl Protein/PVP Crosspolymer
• Triticum Vulgare
• Bran Extract
• PG-Propyl Silanetriol, Triticum Lipids
• Germamidopropyldimonium Hydroxypropyl
• Cyclodextrin
• Dextrin Palmitate
• Stearyldimoniumhydroxypropyl

The following brands─available in high-end natural food stores and/or on-line─offer many gluten-free soaps, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, and cosmetics. They’re also free of synthetic fragrances, dyes, parabens, phthalates, and other unhealthy chemical additives:

• Joelle Cosmetics─These luscious products are gluten-free and very affordable
• Ecco-Bella Cosmetics─These cosmetics, hair and body care products are beautifully effective, well priced, vegan, and gluten-free
• Afterglow Cosmetics─All items are gluten free and high-quality, if a tad pricey
• Tropical Traditions─Soaps, lotions, and lip balms are all gluten-free, with many fragrance-free as well
• Aubrey Organics─You’ll find a long list of safe, effective, natural products here

How about sunscreens that contain neither gluten nor unhealthy chemicals? Your best bets─also available in high-end natural food stores or on-line─include these brands:

• Nature’s Gate
• Badger
• California Baby
• Lavera
• Desert Essence

These tips should help you navigate through your beauty routine happily gluten-free!

If you’ve been diagnosed with celiac disease─or have a sensitivity to gluten─you’re probably making a concerted effort to avoid this ingredient. The problem is, gluten often lurks where you least expect it! If you want to root it out for good, you need to look beyond the obvious suspects. You might be surprised to learn that the following 5 items often harbor gluten: Read the rest of this entry »

Do you enjoy baking? Many people do until they learn that they need to eliminate gluten. But never fear. With a little practice─and a few minor adjustments─you’ll find that you can still create those beloved family favorites, deliciously gluten-free. These tips will boost your odds of success: Read the rest of this entry »

If you have celiac disease (CD), you probably know that effectively managing your diet can take some planning. Avoiding gluten is no small feat, as it’s no longer found in grains alone; it’s also a common ingredient in a host of prepared foods, sauces, and condiments. Read the rest of this entry »

May is National Celiac Awareness Month, inviting a better understanding of a condition that challenges 3 million Americans. One of the toughest aspects of this disease is how misunderstood it can be. In fact, celiac disease (CD) has been called a “clinical chameleon” because it can be so difficult to diagnose. Read the rest of this entry »

Earth-friendly living is increasingly popular and many people are doing what they can to “green” their lives. And certainly, daily actions like recycling everything we can, composting kitchen scraps, and bringing our own cloth bags when shopping make a huge difference, especially when each of us do our part. Read the rest of this entry »

National Arbor Day is April 27, inviting us to celebrate trees─true wonders of nature─and to “green” our future by planting more of them. When Julius Sterling Morton declared the first Arbor Day in 1872, he was ahead of his time in understanding the value of trees. But even Julius might have been surprised by all we’ve learned since about the many ways trees benefit our lives. For example: Read the rest of this entry »

Are you concerned about our rapidly diminishing rain forests? If so, you’ll be glad to know that you can help the Rainforest Alliance protect this incredibly precious resource simply through the purchases you would often make anyway.

As you may know, the Rainforest Alliance is a non-profit organization that has long worked to prevent deforestation, conserve natural areas, and protect vital ecosystem services. They also provide communities and businesses with economically sustainable alternatives to forest destruction, which is where Rainforest Alliance certified products come in. Read the rest of this entry »

Are you familiar with the World Wildlife Fund? For 50 years, WWF─the world’s leading conservation organization─has been protecting the future of nature. WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by 1.2 million members in the United States and close to 5 million globally. WWF’s unique approach combines global reach with sound science, taking action at every level from local to worldwide and creating solutions for both people and nature. Read the rest of this entry »