Health & Wellness Thursdays || All About Gluten-Free Baking ||11.20.14

For those of you inviting guests over for the holidays that may have Celiac's Disease or be gluten intolerant or just not into eating gluten, here is a run-down of really really really helpful gluten-free baking basics.

|| The Low-Down on Ingredients ||

there's no need to be intimidated, just take it one step at a time -- contact me if you have any questions or need tips (I've been gluten-free for three years now and am on my way to being a Certified Holistic Health Coach)

• Xantham Gum

  • Acts as a replacement for the gluten in gluten-free flour
  • Provides structure by interacting with the gluten-free flour, giving it that 'lift & puff'

• Gluten Free Flour

  • Tends to be a combination of a bunch of different flours (and also some starches)
    • Typically there is combination of rice flours, maybe bean flours, possibly some whole grains such as millet or amaranth, and starches such as potato or tapioca starch
  • In this video, her favorite is Bob's Red Mill
    • Bob's Red Mill has a great mix that was recently recreated to have less of a 'bean' flavor in the raw dough stage -- because we all know we eat cookie dough by the spoonful before baking : - )

• Flax Seed Meal

  • Ground up flax seed
  • Replaces that 'viscous, gooey, binding' texture that eggs provide
  • Also has a delicious flavor -- slightly nutty, a little sweet

• Kuzu Powder

  • Great replacement for gelatin
    • Put the powder in a little water until it breaks down
    • Add to whatever you want to stiffen or thicken -- so easy

• Soy Flour

  • Ground up soybeans
  • Helps achieve a creamy texture for creations like vegan butter-cream (!)

• Coconut Oil

  • No butter in vegan dishes, but looking for a delicious flavor? Best bet.
  • Doesn't taste 'coconutey' just very rich and comforting (plus so good for you!)
  • High burn temperature -- holds up well no matter how you use it
  • Solid in room temperature -- just takes a little heat to melt

• Nutritional Yeast

  • Adds a cheesy flavor to dishes
  • Delicious and Savory
  • Texture: flaky and light

[Video by The Kitchy Kitchen -- watch more on her YouTube Channel]

|| Health & Wellness Thursdays || Dates, Remedies, & Hormones

|| Some Healthy Links to Keep Us Going ||

Don't Worry. Be Happy & Healthy & Healing. It's Possible for All.

Three Cheers for Date Recipes

"Dates are filled with tons of healthy vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. Not only that, they’re loaded with fiber, allowing your body to make full use of their goodness as they are easily digested." -- recipes through link above

Flu and cold season is upon us, but don't worry, here's a handy dandy guide/remedy!

"The bottom line is, if you eat right, and have been eating right for some time, cold and flus shouldn’t even affect you. No single herb or natural remedy compares to a diet with a low toxic load and daily salads with 14 different vegetables, turmeric, garlic, etc."

A quick background on how hormones truly affect us. 

"Hormones are liquid chemical messengers that regulate many activities of the body. They signal biological processes from metabolism, growth, and maturation to sexuality and reproduction (and everything in between)."

Was any of this information surprising or new? Do you love dates as much as I do? Have you gotten sick thus far this season? After reading the article, are you ready to work on your hormonal balance?

Stay Happy & Healthy

xx

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|| Health & Wellness Thursdays || Vaccinations, Gluten Free Reasons, & Apples Oh My!

|| Some Healthy Links to Keep Us Going ||

all from my new favorite site Organic Lifestyle Magazine

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Vaccinations … what’s your take?

"We have more vaccinations on our schedule than any other country. We also have one of the highest infant mortality rates and one of the highest newborn death rates among industrialized nations. We also have the highest rate of autism."

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So everyone you know has become Gluten Free … here’s why.

"What is gluten? Gluten is the protein found in wheat (including spelt, kamut, triticale , which are varieties of wheat), rye, and barley."

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An apple a day keeps the doctor away!

"The apple belongs to the Rosaceae family like it’s cousins the plum, nectarine, and peach. The apple is a sweet, crunchy fruit with an edible skin and a cream or white flesh that has been touted the world over for its health promoting and disease prevention benefits. The reality is that the medicinal properties of apples are well documented."

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Was any of this information surprising or new? How do you feel about vaccinations? Are you or anyone you know gluten free? I've loved apples forever -- what's your take on them?

Stay Happy & Healthy

xx

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