Gluten Free Winners

It’s been four months since I went Wheat free. I continue steady at my weight loss of 7lbs. Not one issue with my digestive system.

I frequently run into people who are wheat or Gluten free. It’s great to share our successes, as well as the many products now on the market that make our commitment to be free of these products easier.

Thanks to a fellow Gluten free friend I can now have a decent chocolate chip cookie! Betty Crocker sells Gluten/Wheat free baking mixes for Chocolate Chip cookies, brownies, yellow and chocolate cake mix. I tasted a chocolate chip cookie, and it was delicious! I wouldn’t have known the difference! Thank you Betty!

I discovered a website called The Best of Gluten-Free Awards™ . It’s a website designed to select the best gluten-free (and some wheat free) products available and to give recognition and thanks to the companies that provide them. Go to the website to nominate your favorite products!

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Wheat-free vs. Gluten-free

Giving up wheat was a pretty drastic decision on my part, but being free of digestive pain for the past 3 weeks has been wonderful. I have found a few alternatives to some products that taste good, and I was able to add back into my diet. One of them is pasta. I haven’t been able to find pasta without “wheat” only, but I found pasta that is wheat free, gluten-free, and dairy free. It’s made of corn and rice. It was actually very good. It’s not as grainy and floury tasting as regular pasta. Normally pasta leaves me feeling full, but this pasta is very light. The rest of my family agreed that they couldn’t tell the difference, and my son is the pickiest food critic I know.

I found Heartland pasta at Wal-Mart! Surprisingly Wal-Mart has quite a few wheat free and gluten-free products on the shelf. In fact, Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market has a whole Gluten Free section.

I also added Pumpernickel Bread to my diet. It must be made with 100% rye (not enriched flour). I’ve always loved Pumpernickel bread, so I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that I could enjoy it again. Whole Foods Market carries Mestemacher brand, both Pumpernickel and Rye bread made with 100% Rye.

All of this “free” ingredient stuff can get pretty complicated, so here are some simple explanations regarding wheat and gluten that might help.

I’m going Wheat-Free!

Why Your Diet Should Be Wheat-Free

I have been dealing with irritable digestion for about 4 years now. Terrible stomach pain after eating many foods. A friend of mine also had the same symptoms after eating bread, pizza, pasta, and even some beef for her. She gave up wheat after too many uncomfortable and painful situations. I started paying more attention to what I ate, and began avoiding those items that I really had a hard time digesting. Some improvement was made, but all too often I would eat something and unexpectedly have a problem. I got sick of it, especially when I was on vacation.

My sister-in-law (who is a doctor) sent me a book called “Wheat Belly” by Dr. William Davis M.D. Fantastic book on educating about wheat and it’s evolution, and how wheat interacts with the body. Not so sure I believe that all of the studies were presented correctly regarding weight loss. I’ve read some of the reviews for this book from others who prove that Dr. Davis’ conclusions based on the research studies he sights were not accurate (see No Gluten Non Problem )

In any case, the book was written well enough to educate me about wheat and it’s non-benefit to our bodies. I’ve decided to give up wheat!