This page offers an introduction to the gluten-free lifestyle and Good For You Gluten Free blog and contains affiliate links.
If you’re new to the gluten-free diet either due to a celiac disease diagnosis, the discovery of a gluten sensitivity, or you’re just looking to get healthy, this page is a GREAT place to start. It’s here you’ll learn more about the gluten-free lifestyle, as well as how to best navigate the Good For You Gluten Free blog.
About the Good For You Gluten Free Blog
This blog is a record of my journey, struggles and triumphs as someone living with celiac disease and who now lives a healthy AND gluten-free lifestyle.
I have written extensively about how the gluten-free diet changed my life for the better, as well as about how I put my celiac disease into remission. (Read: How I Healed Myself from Celiac Disease – I detail the 10 things I did to accelerate healing in my gut and change my health, and life, forever!)
This journey hasn’t been easy.
I used to eat a lot of junk food and indulged on too much pasta, pizza and bread. I suffered from painful bloating and embarressing gas, among a slew of other issues like occasional migraines, red bumps on my skin, geographic tongue and low energy.
My life changed in April 2012 when my doctor called me to tell me that I had celiac disease.
At the time, this news really bummed me out. I didn’t know how to be gluten-free and I truly mourned the loss of gluten in my life. I document how I overcame my gluten addiction in this article. The truth is, over time, I figured out how to be gluten-free and I came out the other end healthier, happier and more fulfilled!
My Beliefs
I realize my blog isn’t for everyone. In fact, I fully understand that my POV may attract some and repel others.
If you’re looking to get healthy (even beyond a gluten-free diet) and find support on your journey, I think you’re in the right place. Here are some of my guiding beliefs that might help you understand if you’re in the right place too:
(1) I believe that my celiac disease diagnosis saved my life.
I see my celiac disease diagnosis as a blessing. I was absolutely headed on the road towards more serious conditions – like additional autoimmune diseases, cancer and even early mortality.
(2) I believe that healing is possible.
If you’re willing to put in the hard work to change your eating habits and lifestyle, I believe you have quite a bit of control over the fate of your long-term health. While genes play a part in your health, they do NOT control your destiny. In other words, I believe we are NOT victims of our genes, rather we have control over how our genes express themselves and that healing from chronic disease is possible.
(3) I believe there is no one-size-fits-all approach to healthy living.
While being gluten-free is non-negotiable for anyone on the gluten spectrum, I also believe that everyone is different. What works for you may not work for me and vice versa.
On the pages of this blog, I implore you to experiment on yourself to figure out how to heal your body and feel your best self. You may find additional food intolerances or allergies, or find that certain supplements work for you while others don’t.
I healed my gut, in part, by green juicing and sipping on bone broths, but that may not work for you. No judgement. Just encouragement to try all things and see what helps.
(4) I believe that healing requires a whole body approach.
I don’t see disease as an isolated condition at the site of inflammation in your body; rather I see disease as a connected process in your whole body. When you try to treat IBS with antacids, or migraines with ibuprofen, you are simply treating the symptoms and not treating the underlying cause of why you have indigestion or migraines in the first place.
In fact, I believe that covering up your symptoms is like putting tape over your “check engine light” and saying your car is fine, or it’s like painting dead grass green and saying it’s cured.
You’re in Good Company
If you’ve been diagnosed with celiac disease, a gluten sensitivity, Hashimoto’s, any autoimmune disease and/or you are going gluten-free for health reasons, you will find good company here.
I will help you understand the gluten-free lifestyle, teach you how to heal your body while still enjoying plenty of delicious gluten-free foods. I’ll give you hope that you, too, can turn your health around for good.
The unique part is that I not only live and breath the gluten-free lifestyle (as someone with diagnosed celiac disease), but also I have a certification in Integrative Nutrition Health Coaching (certified by the Institute for Integrative Nutrition). I also have taken the time to read so many books that have shaped my thinking and expertise, including the following books, which I consider required reading:
- The Autoimmune Fix by Dr. Tom O’Bryan
- Grain Brain by Dr. David Perlmutter
- Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis
- Undoctored by Dr. William Davis
- Gluten Freedom by Dr. Alessio Fasano
I often question conventional dietary wisdom and have learned to think for myself. I am hopeful that this way of thinking will be the norm, not the exception. I hope that Americans will become less reliant on pills and surgery and more reliant on clean and healthy food practices and sound nutrition.
Unfortunately nutrition advice is fledging. There’s not a lot of money spent researching the benefits of kale because there is no money to be had selling kale. So much of our nutritional wisdom is unknown because so much money is spent on developing the latest and greatest pill or procedure (where true money can be made).
It’s hard to believe that at one time in our history (say two years ago) the avocado and egg were villainized for having too much fat, yet we know that these two foods offer healthy, essential fats that promote good health!
I hope to help you think for yourself, understand different POVs, and improve your diet and life once and for all!
Resources
If you’re new to the gluten-free diet, you probably have a lot of questions. Below are some resources to help you ease into the gluten-free lifestyle.
A Beginner’s Guide to Being Gluten-Free: This is a long blog post I wrote that offers a great “getting started” resource for people learning how to be gluten-free. Read it. Bookmark it. Print it. It will help you with everything gluten-free. You can also find tons of recipes to help you find your gluten-free groove in my Gluten-Free Recipe Gallery.
What You Need to Know Before You Go Gluten-Free: If you’re not gluten-free already, you MUST read this article. So many people go gluten-free without getting a proper diagnosis. If I’ve caught you before you’ve eliminated gluten, then I encourage you to get tested for celiac disease and/or a gluten sensitivity. Read the article to better understand why this is an important step to take.
8 Reasons to Go Gluten-Free: Looking for a reason to go gluten-free? I document eight scientifically proven reasons to go gluten-free. Gluten affects much more than your digestive system!
Gluten Sensitivity vs. Celiac Disease: I encourage you to better understand the differences and similarities between these two gluten disorders. So many people with gluten sensitivities have NO IDEA that their condition comes with its own slew of challenges and that a gluten sensitivity may put you at a higher risk for early mortality than someone with celiac disease – it’s true!
10 Facts Your Doctor Doesn’t Know about Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivities: This is required reading if you’ve ever been told information from your doctor that didn’t feel quite right. Unfortunately doctors know so little about gluten disorders and nutrition, and as a result, they may give you shoddy, inaccurate and detrimental dietary advice.
Is There a Cure for Celiac Disease?: So many people ask me if there’s a cure for celiac disease. The answer is a bit complicated, so I encourage you to read the article.
What Causes Celiac Disease and Can It Be Prevented?: You may be wondering what caused you to get celiac disease in the first place. This article will help you understand the root cause of celiac disease and whether or not it can be prevented.
Symptoms of Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity: I have several articles that help you better understand the various symptoms linked to both celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. Read ’em and learn!
Diagnosis of Celiac Disease – What You Need to Know: This article details how celiac disease is diagnosed and what you need to know about the process to getting an accurate diagnosis.
10 Reasons Why You Still Crave Gluten: Gluten is highly addictive and many of us are emotionally attached to the protein. In this article, I discuss 10 reasons why gluten is hard to give up, and how you can get past this difficult withdrawal period.
13 Things You Need to Know about the Nima Sensor: I test A LOT of food for gluten using my Nima Sensor. The device is fantastic for those of you serious about eliminating gluten from your life, but it does have some limitations. Read this article to better understand the device and how it may or may not fit into your lifestyle. You can also read more about how 20 restaurants fared against the Nima Sensor in this article.
Deciphering Gluten Free Certifications and Seals: Shopping for gluten-free products can be oh-so-confusing. Read this post to learn how to decipher different gluten-free certifications and seals, as well as to understand the FDA requirements for gluten-free labeling. Also read my post, What Does “May Contain Wheat” Really Mean?
Eating Out Gluten-Free: I wrote an ebook, Eating Out Gluten-Free: The Ultimate Guide to Gluten-Free Safe Dining at Restaurants and On-the-Go to help you figure out how to navigate restaurants while not compromising your gluten-free diet. Also view my list of restaurants that offer gluten-free items (I live in Denver, so many of the restaurants are based in Denver, although many of them also have locations outside of Denver, too).
Gluten-Free Product Recommendations
Below I share some of the most essential products that will help you get started on your gluten-free diet:
Best Gluten-Free Flour: I really love Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour. You can use this flour as a cup for cup substitute in all your recipes. Let’s say your delicious cake recipe calls for two cups of flour; simply use two cups of Bob’s 1-to-1 gluten-free flour instead. (In the old days, you’d have to measure out our own gluten-free flour blend – not today – there are plenty of awesome options available that do the hard work for you).
Best Gluten-Free Bread: I personally love a local Colorado brand called Outside the Breadbox. It’s worth ordering online if you’re struggling to find a gluten-free bread you like. A lot of people really like Three Baker’s Breads (the white bread is the easiest to palate albeit not the healthiest) and Canyon Bakehouse bread. I rarely eat bread because I find it doesn’t always taste great and it’s typically nutritionally devoid (bread has a higher glycemic index than a spoonful of sugar!). A good way to make sandwich bread taste better is to heat it up a bit. Just make sure you use a dedicated GF toaster to avoid cross contact with gluten.
Best Gluten-Free Pasta: I learned how to make my own gluten-free pasta dough, from scratch, at home, with only two ingredients. If you want to buy a pasta with good texture, I recommend Tinkyada brown rice pasta. If you want to try some of the low carb, super fun pastas made with alternative flours and beans, check out my article about alternative gluten-free pastas.
Best Gluten-Free Breadcrumbs: I like both Ian’s gluten-free bread crumbs and Aleia’s gluten-free bread crumbs.
Best Gluten-Free Lip Balm and Lipstick: Yep, you need to worry about what you’re putting on your lips. I love Red Apple lipstick, lipbalm and cosmetics. Give them a try – all gluten-free makeup is cruelty-free and vegan.
Getting Help
Learning how to be gluten-free and changing your diet and life is incredibly emotional and difficult to do. I was in a brain fog when I was new to the gluten-free diet (later realizing I was addicted to gluten and experiencing withdrawals!). I learned how to heal my body from the ravages of celiac disease, which was incredibly hard to do but so worth it. (I encourage you to sign up for my free Heal Your Gut Challenge to learn how to heal your body too.)
I also made a lot of mistakes along the way (Read my post: 10 Gluten-Free Diet Mistakes You’re Probably Making), and there are people out there who don’t like my approach to healthy living with celiac disease (many who live in a world filled with sickness and negativity).
I have dedicated my life to helping others live a safe and healthy gluten-free lifestyle. I not only offer all my resources on this website, but also I offer a limited amount of one-on-one coaching to those struggling with the gluten-free diet and/or their health. You can apply for my two-hour power coaching session here.
Above all else, I’m so glad you found me. I hope that I can continue to be a resource to you no matter where you on your gluten-free journey. Welcome to the GF club!
Sincerely,
Jenny
PS: Join my private Gluten-Free Diet Support Group on Facebook. I hang out there a lot answering questions from my readers.