Studies indicate that 1 in 167 children and 1 in 111 adults have a gluten allergy, yet most take years to figure it out. Knowing the symptoms of a gluten allergy can speed up your diagnosis process so you can start feeling better fast. Any of the following concerns render good cause to test for gluten  sensitivity/intolerance:

 Chronic Fatique Syndrome

Mouth Ulcers

Unexplained Weight Loss

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms

Anemia

Chron’s Disease

Diverticulitus

 ADD

Depression

Skin problems

Autism

Irritability 

The fastest way to diagnose a gluten allergy (or any other food allergy) is to get a Food Sensitivity Test done to see exactly which foods you are allergic to and how allergic you are. These are blood serum tests costing between $125-250. Not to worry, there are increasingly more gluten free options available in health food stores and these products will soon make their way onto the shelves of conventional grocery stores. In an economy where grocery store sales are reported down in all categories, Gluten Free foods are the one category that is up, and steadily climbing. 

Gluten free eating requires education and a bit of vigilance at first. It is important to know that oats, rye and barley contain gluten. The food manufacturers can have many names for gluten, including but not limited to hydrolyzed plant or vegetable protein, MSG, malt, malt flavoring, durum, and semolina. However, there are many delicious whole foods alternatives to choose from. With a little knowledge of what you can eat and where to find gluten free products and recipes, you will soon adapt to this new lifestyle and will be feeling better than you thought possible. 

Two great websites that offer free gluten-free recipes are: www.livingwithout.com and glutenfreegirl.blogspot.com.  For those who love to bake, baking gluten free is a bit of an art form but can be done. Gluten is that magic element that adds structure and stability to desserts and breads making them chewy. Rest assured, you don’t need to sacrifice that delightful consistency. Here is a great gluten free flour recipe: 

Alison’s Gluten-Free Baking Mix:

4 cups brown rice flour, 4 cups tapioca flour, 2 cups potato starch, 2 cups arrowroot powder 

Combine all ingredients. When converting your own recipes, use a blend of half GF Baking Mix and half whole-grain GF flour—except for pastry recipes, such as pie crust, when the mix should be used as is.