Gluten - What is it?

So Last Friday I made a very bad food choice...in my defense we were at a local "favorite" pizza joint with some business associates and pizza is the only thing on the menu! I was hungry so I ate some. That same night I had so much pain. We are talking full blown flare. Saturday wasn't any better and as of today I am still having pain off and on. So I thought I would share the following about the evil gluten.

Being on a gluten free diet people often ask, “What is gluten?” Gluten is the "glue/sticky" protein found in grains such as wheat, barley and rye. Gluten is also found in relatives of wheat, including spelt, farro, kamut, triticale and einkorn.

This is why I and others on a gluten free diet avoid foods like bread, pasta, and more. Gluten can also be found in foods like soy sauce and lunchmeat, soups and sauces.

Why Go Gluten Free?

I have gone gluten free because I have Crohns disease and have an intolerance to gluten. Symptoms of a gluten intolerance include:

Pain or discomfort in the digestive tract
Chronic constipation or diarrhea,
Failure to absorb nutrients
Fatigue
Headaches and migraines
Dermatitis herpetiformis

I have experienced all of the above.

It’s estimated that 1 in 7 people has a gluten sensitivity.

Which Grains are Gluten Free?

There are many grains and starches that you can still eat on a gluten free diet, including amaranth, arrowroot, buckwheat, gluten free oats, millet, montina, lupin, quinoa, sorghum, taro, teff, chia seed, rice, corn, potatoes and tapioca (derived from cassava).

Rice and corn contain a form of gluten, it’s not the same gluten so most people on a gluten free diet should be able to tolerate these grains

Low Gluten Grains (Einkorn)

Some people with a gluten sensitivity can tolerate some of the more heritage breeds of wheat such as einkorn. Einkorn is considered the “original” wheat, and carries only 14 chromosomes whereas modern wheat can carry up to 42 chromosomes.

Einkorn is also high in minerals and nutrients including B vitamins and beta carotene. In addition, einkorn doesn’t carry the D genome, which causes gut inflammation.
Eeinkorn is much more digestible than modern wheat.

The Jovial brand of einkorn is most often recommended. Einkorn is more expensive than modern wheat, but is worth it if you can digest it!

Love, Laugh, and Always know where the nearest bathroom is

Summer Fun!!!

We interrupt this blog for some SUMMER FUN....

Salted Caramel Ice Cream (so good and so worth cheating and having dairy :)

It is the law and believe me you have to yield because they just walk right out into the intersection without looking

Lovely rainbow!

Math Tutors go to the beach too

Baby palm trees

Cutie Patooti's

Say What Wednesday!!!

I love this...

...and for those of you who are family or know my family you know that we are the Kings and Queens of Sarcasm!

Love, Laugh, and Always know where the nearest bathroom is

Still Winning!!!

It's time for a winnings update!
Here are my latest winnings:

I won the Haley M. jewelry giveaway from ALISONDEYETTE.COM. A beautiful bracelet and earrings

I won the Aquaphor Twitter Giveaway from @AquaphorUS

Shutterfly Stainless Steel Travel Photo Mug Giveaway from Finger Click Saver
Of course I put a baseball picture of the boys on it

A $10.00 Rite Aid Gift Card from @riteaid Twitter Contest

I won the Mia Mariu Anti-Aging Pack Giveaway from www.MomsVacationSpots.net Blog
I'm using the face serum and eye cream now and I love it

MIDNIGHT IN PEKING from @PenguinPbks (Penguin Books) Twitter Contest

A $25.00 Gift Card from @SherwinWilliams (Sherwin-Williams) Twitter Contest for me and my sister

A couple months ago when I was getting my hair cut I talked to my girl about how dry my hair was feeling and she put a leave in Argon Oil on my hair. It made my hair soft and shiny again. I planed on buying some but no need because I won hee hee
A bottle of Argon Oil leave in treatment from The DermOrganic RT Twitter Contest (@DermOrganic)

The Bertolli Olive Oil giveaway at Ahh~Mazing Reviews Blog www.ahhmazingreviews.com

Another bottle of Sue Bee Clover Honey from @SueBeeUSA Twitter contest

A $15 Capthat GC from Close to Home http://stayingclosetohome.com
I got a skin for my hubbies iPhone. The skin is a baseball picture of my boys (of course)

The #oursummertime giveaway from Eves Addiction (@evesaddiction) a beautiful toe ring

A $150 shopping spree at Euro Style Lighting (@EuroStyleLight) Twitter Contest EuroStyleLighting.Com
I picked an outdoor solar motion sensor spot light that we are using out back by the pool.

and a decorative lamp

A Sephora giveaway on twitter

All I can say is wow...I wish I started doing this years ago. You should all give it a try :) just start off by following me on twitter (@ctough24) and enter the contests that I enter. Before you know it you will be finding your own contests and winning lots of great stuff too!!!

Love, Laugh, and Always know where the nearest bathroom is

The Wordless Book Song

The B-I-B-L-E: The Wordless Book Song

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psalm 51:7

Frances M. Johnston put words to the Wordless Book when she wrote a song about it: "My heart was dark with sin, until the Savior came in. His precious blood I know, has washed it white as snow. And in His Word I'm told, I'll walk the streets of gold. To grow in Christ each day, I read the Bible and pray.”

BLACK – Sin Romans 3:23 | All have sinned
RED – Blood I John 1:7 | Jesus’ blood covers all sin
WHITE – Pure Psalm 51:7 | Jesus washes away sin
YELLOW – Heaven John 14:2 | Believe on Jesus and receive Eternal Life
GREEN – Grow 2 Peter 3:18 | Grow in the knowledge of the Lord

A Little Humor To Brighten Your Day!!!

A man is walking down the street one day when he notices a very small boy trying to press a doorbell on a house across the street. However, the boy is very small and the doorbell is too high for him to reach.

After watching the boys efforts for some time, the man moves closer to the boy's position. He steps smartly across the street, walks up behind the little fellow and, placing his hand kindly on the child's shoulder leans over and gives the doorbell a solid ring.

Crouching down to the child's level, the man smiles benevolently and asks, "And now what, my little man?" To which the boy replies, "Now we run!"

Love, Laugh, and Always know where the nearest bathroom is