Gluten Free Body Wash

Nivea-  According to the Nivea rep. “No gluten is added to any of the body washes, however, there are products with gluten that may  be made in the same facility. So trace amounts of gluten are possible.”

Dove: With this brand, you have lots of gluten free options. Just quickly scan they label and if any wheat, rye, barley or oat-derived raw materials are in their products, they will be clearly listed on the labels. ” I LOVE clear labeling. No guess work.

Caress: This company is also the same company that owns Dove, so the same statement applies that if any gluten is present, it will be clearly labeled on the ingredient list as wheat, rye, barely or oats that may contain gluten. Again, clear labeling. Holla.

Suave:  According the website: “If any wheat, rye, barley or oat-derived raw materials are in our products, they would be listed on the labels. This includes any hydrolyzed protein from wheat, rye, barley or oats which may contain gluten.” Once again, no guessing. Bam.

Green Beaver: This is a gluten free body wash geared towards children. It’s Certified organic, nut free, gluten free, vegan and biodegradable.

Green Beaver Body Wash: This line is for the big kids. It’s Gluten Free, certified organic, biodegradable, vegan, paraben free and free of artificial fragrances or dyes.

Dessert Essence: This gluten free body wash is also fragrance free, paraben free, SLS free and biodegradable. To snag this body wash, check your local health food store.

100% Pure: This gluten free body wash is also organic and paraben free. They have a cool line of products to browse through and they have very clear labeling, I dig that.

Thanks tons for stopping by!! If you have a gluten free body wash that you love, please don’t hesitate to share it with us.

Hugs,

Lauren-Lucille Vasser

AKA- The Celiac Diva

I’m coming to realize that at the core of the issue is that I truly care if someone respects me or not. I want people to believe that living gluten free is as important as it really is. That when I’m talking about cross-contamination, I’m not being paranoid, I’m being smart. I want people to think my choice to do singing/songwriting in my life is awesome, not that it’s some wishful thinking of an artist. I value the calling on my life and I respect this crazy disease. And if others think living gluten free isn’t vital to my health or that my life as an artist isn’t respectable, it can throw me off. Correction: I let it throw me off.

Somewhere in there we have to take responsibility for how we let others make us feel about ourselves. We have to ask “why does it matter so much?” Deep down, do we desire respect? Approval? A need for acceptance? What, in our hearts, allows anyone to make us feel anything anything other than the cool chicks (and the occasional cool dude who reads my blog) that we are? I think once we nail down what that is, we can truly let toxic people go in our lives. We can look at the person who gossips about us at work, is rude to us at the grocery store, doesn’t approve of us or makes comments about how we eat like a picky 2 year old…and just let them go. Once we nail down what we are seeking in our lives, for me it’s respect (somewhere deep down I know it’s tied to being super short & having a kid like voice, LOL), we can work towards giving that to ourselves. Because that certain person in your life is NOT going to give it to you. And once we accept that, letting go can be even easier. Do I have it down perfectly? Nope, not even close. But I just want to encourage all of you struggling with this aspect of your gluten free life, or life in general, to look in the mirror and find out what you are seeking and give that gift to yourself. Then strut your cute self back into the world with your heart full. It’s true that we can’t control people, but we can control how we see ourselves. After all, if your great Aunt Ida or second cousin removed doesn’t totally get you, that’s fine. What’s most important is that you do.

Lauren-Lucille Vasser
AKA- The Celiac Diva

True Athlete: The true athlete natural whey protein powder is not only gluten free, but free of artificial flavors, colors and sweeteners.

Body Tech: This line is gluten free and comes in strawberry, vanilla and chocolate.

Muscle Milk: Muscle Milk is gluten free. Just an FYI- it’s made in a facility with gluten, thus subject to cross-contamination.

Met-RX: Met-RX is gluten free.

Nectar: Nectar is a low carb gluten free protein powder that’s lactose free as well as gluten free.

Nutribiotic: This is a vegan, gluten free, soy free, rice based line of protein powder.

Rainbow Light: This gluten free protein powder is also free of soy, dairy and sugar.  It offeres 15 grams of rice protein and 5grams of fiber.

Navitas Naturals Organic Hemp Protein Powder: This powder is made with pure hemp seed, raw kosher, organic, vegan, and free of additives or fillers.

Life’s Basics Plant Protein: This powder is made us of pea, hemp, rice and chia seeds. Chocolate flavor looks yum.

Peaceful Planet- This protein powder is free of gluten, soy and dairy. Plus it’s organic and only 90 calories a scoop. Nice.

If you have a favorite powder that you’d recommend, please dish it! Thanks everyone for stopping by!

Lauren-Lucille Vasser

AKA- The Celiac Diva

Thrilled to share an interview with Miss Teen New Jersey 2011!! Kayla Lafi has been living with Celiac Disease since she was a child. I’m inspired by her honesty, courage and determination. Love that she’s on a mission to let other kids know they aren’t alone.

For more about Kayla, you can follow her facebook page: Teens living with celiac Disease

Who else wishes they had a Celiac dietitian in their back pockets for this crazy gluten free journey?! Well, I can’t give you that, but something else pretty close. Schar now has a “Schar club” where you can join to ask their dietitian, Anne (who has Celiac Disease) anything you need! The Schar club is a community where you can find: gluten free recipes, FAQ about living gluten free, an “Ask Anne” section and more. If you’d like to join the Schar club, you are automatically entered in their “FREE bread for a YEAR” Sweepstakes- holla! *No purchase is necessary, the Schar sweepstakes end 1/20/2012 and you can find the official rules and entry information on THIS LINK.*

                                 Q & A from the “Ask Anne” Section of the Schar Club

“I find a lot of products that contain “modified food starch. What exactly is this and is it safe to eat?” – Melanie

Modified food starches can come from a variety of grain sources. In the United States, modified food starches are predominately corn based. According to the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) of the FDA, wheat must be declared on the ingredient label if it is present in the starch. Starches are used to thicken products such as soups, gravies, and puddings. The starches are modified because many starches in their natural state do not perform well when exposed to high heat or very cool temperatures.

 “Is there a certain amount of gluten that can be tolerated by celiacs?” -Amanda

The exact amount of gluten that is tolerated on a gluten-free diet is still a topic of much discussion. The usual recommendation is to follow a gluten-free diet that is based on naturally gluten-free foods and manufactured gluten-free products. The regulations for manufactured gluten-free products is also not universally uniform. The Internal CODEX recommends that products labeled gluten-free be under 20 ppm gluten per serving. There is an allowance for low gluten products that may contain between 20 to 100 ppm gluten. Historically, many gluten-free products contained 200 ppm. In the US, the FDA is in the process of formulating a gluten-free labeling law. The issue is that while we may not have a exact answer to how much gluten can be tolerated – we do know that for individuals with celiac even a minute amount of gluten will cause damage to the small intestine. So for that gluten based piece of cake – even once a month is too much gluten. Instead enjoy a slice of gluten-free cake in complete peace of mind.

“I was diagnosed with Celiac 10 years ago. That being said I still have problems after I eat gluten-free products. Any ideas why?” -John

There could be several reasons for reactions. The first is the potential for cross contamination. It is very important that the gluten-free products indeed be gluten-free. Look for a statement describing if the factory is a dedicated gluten-free factory, whether they test the products, or a certification seal. A dedicated facility that tests all ingredients prior to use and batch testing of the finished product is the safest method to ensure no cross contamination.

Another possibility is the ingredients themselves. Some individuals do not tolerate some of the gums used to create a soft texture in gluten-free products. Gums such as guar or xantham gum give breads a nice chewy texture, but they may be difficult to digest and may cause some indigestion. Some gluten-free baked products also contain a high amount of fat per serving. The extra fat may also be difficult to digest.

Thanks so much to Anne Roland Lee and Schar for sharing this Q&A with us! To join the Schar club, be automatically entered in Schar’s “Free Bread for a Year” Sweepstakes and ask Anne your own questions, you can Click HERE. Hope you all have a great rest of the week. Thank you oodles for sharing your gluten free journey with me.

Hugs,

Lauren-Lucille Vasser

AKA- The Celiac Diva

I’m really pumped about Christmas this weekend. I live in Queens, NY. But this week, I’m in south Texas with my family and I love it!! And my sister-n-law suggested we have an “all gluten free” meal for Christmas. This kindness honestly made me tear up. On a daily basis, I don’t expect others to eat gluten free with me, just respect the fact that I do. Anyway, it’s really sweet and I’m thankful for it. I know how anxious a holiday can be. I know what it’s like to not want to be the “weird one” that eats gluten free or start to sweat as “normal” people stare at you, wondering “what in the world do you eat, honey?” lol. I know that many of you have incredibly supportive families, and many of you don’t. So, for those who don’t- please let me give you a cyber hug! You are not alone, hang in there and stay strong in your need to take care of your body, okay?

So, in light of this Sunday, mom and I made a gluten free artichoke dip to have with my favorite Crunchmaster crackers. This is dip SUPER easy, gluten free, dairy free, soy free, egg free and made with some zest! The pepper jack cheese gives it a great kick. I’m rocking it with Crunchmaster crackers because these crackers are not only really yummy, but they are PERFECT for dips. My precious gluten eating family won’t notice they are gluten free. Plus, my hubby, who is a tough critic, really digs these crackers too. So…it fabu-licious all the way around.

Ingredients:

1) Crunchmaster Original Crackers
2) 14 ounces of extra small Artichoke hearts
3) One packet, Good Seasons Italian mix
4) Earth Balance Mindful Mayo
5) Daiya Pepper Jack Cheese

Directions:

1) Drain the artichoke hearts, slice and put in bowl
2) Add 3/4 packet of Good Seasons Mix
3) Add 2 large spoon fulls of Earth Balance Mayo
4) Mix in 1 Cup of Daiya Pepper Jack Cheese
5) Chill in the fridge for 30-40 minutes and enjoy!

This dip is easy with a great flavor to it! Hope you all have an incredible weekend and one that isn’t filled with apprehension, but instead, pure joy. Merry Christmas to you and yours from your gluten free cheerleader.

Hugs,

Lauren-Lucille Vasser

AKA- The Celiac Diva