I have the link to the new FDA's ruling concerning gluten in  certain fermented products. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-finalizes-rule-related-gluten-free-labeling-foods-containing-fermented-hydrolyzed-ingredients.  The HHS secretary has celiac himself.  This is nice to have someone there that really understands what we need to remain safe and healthy.  

Have you all gotten your Vit. D. blood level checked yet?  You wouldn't take blood pressure medicine without knowing your number and, I think, this is just as important.  I have read more than once that Covid 19 outcomes are much better for those that have a 60-80 level.  The more you weigh the less Vit.D is available to your body.  This is because it is fat soluble and hides out there in our fat.  Be safe, be aware!

 I was just reading one of my professional blogs that I am signed up for.  Isabella Wentz is a pharmacist and does not eat gluten, dairy and other certain foods. https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/pancreatic-elastase-deficiency-and-hashimotos/  I was very sick for a few years and no one could diagnose me.  I had pain, vomiting, diarrhea periodically.  ER doctors didn't diagnose me, family doctor, GI specialists couldn't figure it out despite CT Scans, etc.  After praying about this, two days later, the Holy Spirit said in my spirit:  look up pancreas.   I am a retired nurse and thought, what??  I don't have pancreas problems!  Well, it is associated with celiac disease and Cipro that I was given 2 times also causes it.  The above article gives a good overview of this problem.  Please let us know if any local (Wichita) doctors seem to have a good grip on the many problems celiacs can have even the less common ones.  Long story short, since I started the pancreatic enzymes I mostly feel great, have energy, etc.

May 11, 2020, long time celiac support group member and supporter, Susan Martin died.  Her memorial service has not been scheduled due to Covid -19.  Susan was always a willing worker and  volunteer and had a sunny disposition.  We all miss her.

I found the best Ritz-like cracker at Walmart.  It is Lance Gluten Free Baked Original Crackers.  These are crispy and taste great, a big improvement over earlier GF crackers!  They would be good to use as appetizers with toppings or to make little peanut butter sandwiches! 

A dear older friend reminded me how important it is to get your Vit. D level tested with a blood test!!  She thought her doctor told her to take 3 - 2000 IU. tablets a day.  She did this for years.  Recently, her calcium level became sky high.  Vit. D helps us absorb calcium.  She was also eating high dairy products all day.  High calcium levels can cause anxiety, depression, and confusion.  She got all of these.   I was at the point that I did not have any more ideas to help her until I asked about her Vit. D. intake.  After stopping the Vit. D. completely and  stopping the high dairy/calcium intake  all of her brain symptoms were gone in about 4 days.  I suggested she have the doctor test her Vit. D and calcium levels.  Please don't guess if you need Vit. D.  You would not take blood pressure medicine without knowing your number!  Celiacs don't absorb D, and overweight people store the D in fat.  I get the blood test at least one time a year.

I was just reading a site about "meat glue" being added to our foods.  It causes leaky gut and is bad for everyone, especially celiacs.  This site also has a great article about magnesium deficiency.  We take magnesium glycinate at bedtime to help good sleep.  Even non-celiacs can be deficient due to depleted soils where our food is grown.  Here is the site: https://theceliacmd.com/doctors-dont-understand-celiac-disease-and-gluten-sensitivity/

I don't hardly ever get glutenned any more because I am so careful where I eat.  After eating only my own cooking for about 7 weeks, we bought food at Jimmie Johns.  I have eaten there a few times with no problems.  This time, as usual, I told them please change your gloves.  Both myself and 5 yr. old grand daughter got symptoms a few hours later.  I am going to call the manager and tell them this should not have happened!

Since I have healed my gut over 20 yrs. now, I didn't get ANY belly symptoms!!  I only got sacral ileitus.  I would have never connected this to gluten if I had not read it in a book:  Dangerous Grains, by James Braley MD, and Ron Hoggan MA.  You could try to have a local library order it for you.  I don't know if it is in print anymore.

If you find you have extra time since we are staying closer to home, you might look up Walmart.com.  There is an unbelievable amount of gluten free food items! We have come a long way in the last 20 yrs.!

Here is the link.  These people are sounding the alarm!  You must get a blood test to see how low you are.  Some people say, Oh I am taking 1000IU per day.  Well, I needed 50,000 2x a week for months to get up to normal.  Years ago an internist told me to take 400 IU.  What a joke!  I would not be as healthy as I am if I had not acted years ago.  https://www.grassrootshealth.net/  Please tell others about this, celiac or not.

I have been nagging friends and family to get Vit. D testing for years.  I really feel American doctors are missing a critical part of staying healthy.  The media call it the "sunshine vitamin" so people think if they are in the sun they will absorb it.  Not everyone does absorb it.  A study of California surfers showed most of them were low or sub optiminal.  Regular doctors think a bottom number is normal.  Yet, is it optimal?  The levels are to prevent scurvy.    Remember, your history class told you the sailors ate limes and were called "limeys" to prevent scurvy.  Yet, is preventing scurvy our only goal?  What about preventing colds, flu, Covid 19, etc?  Here is a link to a great group that really believes in optimal Vit. D for the best health.  Of course, Vit. D is one of the fat soluble vitamins that celiacs (and others) malabsorb. The link is not copying.  It is GrassRoots Health.  I will try again.

I just saw on the internet that there is a Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Gluten Free Biscuit Mix.  I found it on Amazon for around $40. for 8 boxes that make about 10 biscuits.  I don't need to make that many.  Maybe some gluten free friends could split the order sometime.  I looked it up at Walmart.  It was about $4 for a single box.  Most of the reviews were good, but a few said they weren't that good.  Has anyone out there tried these?   The Walmart site said there were only 3 left at only the Amidon location.  Too far for me to go.

I signed up for emails from a site that promotes good health through optimal vitamin and mineral status.  We were both deficient in Vitamin D a few years ago and we are outside all summer!  So, I feel anyone can be low.  https://www.grassrootshealth.net/blog/vitamin-d-incidence-flu-information-know/

Hope you are all doing well and staying home.  I am thankful our President is learning so much how to handle pandemics.  It is bound to happen again.  Please pray for our doctors, nurses and front line people stocking the stores, etc.  God Bless you all!

We record Dr. Richard Becker's program:  Your Health.  We recently watched show #1616 about celiac disease.  He suggested using digestive enzymes, correcting intestinal dysbiosis and replacing nutrients that are not absorbed.  All of this has helped my health.  I know it is expensive but we need to choose carefully where to spend our money!  I know someone that spends a lot on electronics but doesn't want to spend for his health.  Dr. Becker had cancer himself years ago and moved away from traditional medicine.  His program highlights natural treatments using vitamins and minerals.  It certainly makes sense to me to enhance those nutrients that we can't absorb, such as, Vit. A, D, E.  These all help our immune system work better.  I am living proof!  You can ask your doctor to do blood tests for these. 

I am sure we are all concerned about the coronovirus coming here!  I have really improved my health and didn't get sick last year even though I was around people coughing and sneezing.  Celiac is an immune system problem as well as digestive, etc.  I started taking NAC- N-Acetyl Cysteine last year.  I take it twice a day.  It helps the body produce glutathione that some or most of us may be short on.  I originally took glutathione but read several places that the stomach acid renders it unavailable.  At the first sign of a cold, etc. I take zinc lozenges, 1000 mg Vit. C, maybe silver spray, maybe olive leaf extract if I think it is going to be bad.

A few years ago a study was done at a prison, giving half Vit. D and the rest got none.  The optimal Vit. D people got no colds or flu.  Years ago they used IV Vit.  C to treat Polio!  The pharmaceutical companies have done great marketing to change treatment!!!  I just read that China is using IV Vit. C to kill the corono virus.  We will see if media reports this!

I also changed my diet 4-5 yrs. ago to drastically lower my sugar consumption.  A study said after we consume sugar our immune system lowers it's response.  So, if we eat sugar every meal, every snack, our immune system is de-activated.

What do you do to stay healthy?  Let's share our ideas to help each other.  Disclaimer:  we are all different,  so study,  and find what works for you!

For all you girl scout cookie lovers I have two sources for them and also the gluten free ones!  The gluten free one is Caramel Chocolate Chip.  The cookies are in town now!  Susan 316-779-5687 would prefer to sell to northeast Wichita and Aleena prefers Haysville and Derby areas.  Her number is 316-393-7495.  If you buy a lot they may deliver to other areas.  Please leave a message!

I received 8 Canyon Bakehouse bread items from winning their contest!  There are several items that we have not bought before, such as the English Muffins, Bagels, Cinnamon Bread and Chocolate muffins.  We froze them but are excited to try them!

I have a friend near Kansas City that had a terrible childhood.  I told her if she gets her biochemistry balanced she would live a more serene life.  She went gluten free and dairy free and started taking B Vitamins, fish oil, probiotics, magnesium.  Her back pain went away, her depression lifted, and her EYE SIGHT  is now 20/20!!!  She is 76 yrs. old!!!  When she told her doctor, she became a believer because her patient no longer needs  an antidepressant and a pain pill.  The back doctor wanted to put a rod in her back.  The surgery is cancelled!  He had told her her back was crumbling.  I love to see restoration.  I know very well people that would rather take a pill with horrible side effects than change their diet.

Also, today I received an email saying I have won Canyon Bakehouse gluten free products!!  I did enter this contest a few weeks ago!  Have a great day!

My favorite celiac web site is:  glutenfreeworks.com.  I have their book:  Recognizing Celiac Disease written by Cleo Libonati and David Capuzzi.  I have used this book many times to figure out my symptoms.  Now, They have a treatment page on their web site.  I do not know how much it costs to join.  They have a listing of many symptoms that most doctors don't seem to know about.  One local doctor says he doesn't test for celiac unless the  person has a tummy ache.  Well, that's pretty simplistic for a complicated disease!  Some people do not have any digestive symptoms!

I guess we can never be gluten free too long to learn something new!  I never go to buffets because of cross contamination which I thought was due to the customers.  The restaurants use a thermometer to test the temperature of all the foods.  Sooo, they are sticking it in the gluten containing foods and then into ours!  I am not shy about asking restaurants to change their gloves and then watching them to see if they do!

Let me know which restaurants you want to meet at this year!