Holiday Help!

I would like to send you my heartfelt Holiday wishes and tell you how grateful I am for all of you who read my blog. My intention is to pass along what I learn and to help you improve your health. going from surviving to thriving so you can enjoy this life and have the energy and excitement to follow your dreams. I wish you a very happy, healthy holiday season and 2018! One of my favorite affirmations is, “What is for you, cannot pass you by”! Its so true. So, relax, learn to stop worrying and have more faith that you are well taken care of and loved. It will all work out. Breathe and ground yourself and meditate for just 10 minutes a day and change your life for the better. Check out tapping with Nick & Jessica Ortner or Brad Yates. Please read this post even though its a little long it has life saving info! Love ya!

Secondly, I want to share my tips for the holidays, and anytime really,  on what to do if you get “glutened” or “dairied” or food poisoning, or drink a little too much Egg Nog/Cocktails! Here is my bag of tricks that have never failed me in many bouts of being glutened or food poisoned or just a severe gas attack! These two items below are the first 2 things that go into my carry on cosmetic bag along with medications, tons of safe snacks/food, change of clothes and toiletries(all in case my luggage gets lost-God forbid)!

I could tell you many horror stories of being glutened and severe cases of food poisoning I have had, but I will spare you the gory details and you can believe me when I tell you its happened to me and it was awful the times I did not have charcoal. Typically, if I ate even a molecule of gluten from a pizza oven I would react severely for 2 weeks and was bedridden. Last time I was served a regular hamburger bun instead of Gluten-free, I took 3 Gluten enzymes immediately with tons of water, went home and took 5 charcoal caps opened up in a glass of water. I was so relieved that for the first time ever, I had NO SYMPTOMS! This was a miracle I’m telling you!

First, you can take digestive enzymes that target Gluten & Dairy, DPP-IV. I always take one before a meal at a restaurant or someone else’s house for a little insurance. I am not under any circumstances giving you permission to down an enzyme and order gluten or dairy!!! If you choose to mistreat, not “treat”, yourself and eat gluten or dairy when you are sensitive/intolerant/allergic to it, then at least take a few enzyme first and charcoal after! But, you are only harming yourself not me or anyone else. These enzymes don’t eliminate 100% of the gluten/dairy, but do significantly reduce your exposure lowering your severity and duration in symptoms. You can buy them at Pharmaca, or even on Amazon, heres the link for my preferred brand Gluten/Dairy Enzymes

Second, Activated Charcoal is made from either wood or coconut(preferred) and absorbs poisons in the body and gently escorts them out…note: your stool will be black and thats okay/good. It acts as a sponge and will mitigate any nasty symptoms you may have/had encounter(ed). It comes in capsules or powder. Powder works faster, but is a little messy and chalky, but who cares when you could avoid suffering! You can open the capsules if you need it to work faster than 20 minutes which I recommend.

If you think you have food poisoning(nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), there is no such thing as 24 hour flu-its food poisoning take 5 capsules or 1 tsp. charcoal powder in 1/3 or so cup of water and chase it with a glass of water(filtered of course), You may take the same amount 2-3 times a day until symptoms are gone, but it usually works in a dose or two.

NOTE/WARNING: Charcoal absorbs other supplements and medications if taken together, so just take your supplements and medications 2 hours away from charcoal. Yes, your poop will be black, don’t panic. Drink plenty of water to help move things through.

Charcoal Uses:

• Gluten or dairy exposure(not a license to eat gluten!)
• Food poisioning
• Gas & Bloating(if acute, take charcoal and a hot bath to ease and pass the gas)
• Avoid hangover or cure hangover
• heavy metal or mold/mycotoxin detox or adverse reaction to detoxing/juice fast(GI issues/headache)
• you can even use it as a tooth powder and it whitens
• after a dental procedure to help clear any harmful materials or anesthetic

You can purchase this in a health food store, many drugstores and online, heres a link Coconut Charcoal Powder

If you are traveling abroad, I highly recommend Grapefruit Seed Extract which is like a natural antibiotic…kills everything…you can take it daily and clean your toothbrush with it too.

Now for the emotional support we all need over the holidays! Do yourself a favor, get as much sleep as possible and your tolerance will go up and you’ll feel better. Eat healthy, drink plenty of filtered water, use stainless bottles not chemical filled plastic. Try to choose alcohol wisely if at all…organic natural red wine, gluten free(not removed) beer, cider or one gluten-free spirit like some vodkas…see my full list and article on this blog on Alcohol. Not all alcohol is GF even Vodka and Rum!

Remember to take Uber or Lyft if you have even 1 drink or have someone else who commits to no drinks be the designated driver. Seriously, one drink of any kind puts me at my weight at risk of a DUI! Only one drink can ruin your life and end other peoples lives….please please take this seriously. Be safe. Your friends/family would rather have you crash on their couch than crash your car and loose you forever!

I had to take someones keys away from them once and they said they were fine…I said oh really, is that why your eyes are crossed? Seriously. Then, you won’t believe I got pulled over and put through all the drunk driving tests as the drunks in my car rolled around and laughed! What a night. Nobody thinks they are not safe to drive. If you have had any alcohol, it is a risk.

In the mornings, before you get out of bed, say a prayer by setting your intention for the day, put your feet on the floor and ground yourself before you get out of bed and run your energy and envision being the loving shining light in the world you are…then go forth and have a wonderful day.

When you get stressed or upset:

• Take 5 deep belly breaths, signals your body the tiger is not going to eat you…gets you out of Fight of Flight, it works
• Excuse yourself from others and go to the bathroom and do this and pray and ground yourself until you are calm, cool and collected and then return to your party/work etc…This has kept me out of trouble numerous times! ;P
• Try to put yourself in others shoes and imagine how they may be feeling and why. Most of us have tremendous pain and suffering and it can come out in comments and behavior…be compassionate and let some things slide
• Use Apps: Hay House Radio, Relax & Sleep Well w/Glenn Harrold(Library is free), Pandora, Tap with Brad(Brad Yates)-these have all saved me and really helped

Before or during a trip, go onto TripAdvisor.com or App and choose the city your are visiting and then restaurants then the meal then hit filter to choose dietary restrictions:

• gluten-free
• vegan
• vegetarian
• halal or kosher

You can find great restaurants that will accommodate gluten-free and dairy-free and any other dietary desires and needs you have when eating out. I have never been disappointed with anywhere I’ve been directed to by Trip Advisor and have usually written rave reviews and told everyone all about what amazing food I had! It even finds restaurants in airports and its international as well as domestic! You can find hotels and spas and fun things to do as well. Its my go to App!

Finally, just be grateful especially when you don’t feel like it. Did you know your brain is not capable of being depressed and happy simultaneously? So you can trick yourself by just thinking about a few things you are grateful for at the moment. It can be tiny things like the snow, a bird, a flower, food, pet, person or huge things…it doesn’t matter. This is a great way to end your day as you get into bed(organic I hope), your last thoughts of the day can be what you are grateful for and then you will set your mind to a positive place to hopefully have sweet dreams. If you cannot sleep, or if you can, listen to Glenn Harrold’s Relax and Sleep and you will sleep deeper and wake more rested and happier!

Again, sending you so much love, best wishes for your health and happiness. I wish you a very peaceful and happy holiday season and hope my tips will help ensure that you do have a good one. If you are hurting this time of year, please try my tips and know you are loved and you matter and make a difference in this world. We need you to be here and share your gifts and talents.

Take good care of yourself, you only have one you that needs to last a long time. Maybe make a vision board for 2018 or at lease make a list of your dreams and goals! There is so much power in vision boards and writing things down…everything I’ve wanted and done this with has come to me! Even my wonderful Husband! Remember, “What is for you cannot pass you by”! So, create a happy ending of 2017 and great 2018!

Love, Hugs and Blessings! I have some big surprises in 2018 for all of you…So Follow me if you aren’t already. 🙂 Jump over to see my recipes for you holiday…and eat safely! 🙂

Gluten-free Summit-FREE Webinar!

Many of my teachers are world reknowned gluten experts are speaking for the next week on gluten! You will learn so much. I’ve already learned some interesting things today.

Did you know that some Japanese restaurants are starting to add wheat/white flour to sushi rice? Yep!!

Did you know that some gluten-free Beer that begins with gluten(barley, wheat, rye, spelt, oats) and they add enzymes to eat the gluten in the middle of the process to “remove” the gluten, may still contain gluten and not be safe!

Here are just two examples of really valuable nuggets of knowledge you will gain by listening.

If you have family or friends or co-workers that just don’t understand….here is your opportunity to let them hear it from someone else…The Experts!

Be Well & Thrive, Lauren

P.S. I’m going to post Thanksgiving Menu/Party Planning with Recipes this week for you to have a healthy, gluten-free, safe holiday.

LINK FOR FREE GLUTEN-FREE SUMMIT:http://theglutensummit.com

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Food Sensitivities and Food Allergies?

Could your child have a food sensitivity/celiac disease or food allergy and you don’t even know it? Finding out could save your child’s life and can mean the difference between them thriving and surviving.

By Lauren Hoover-West

 

Food Sensitivity/Celiac Disease  Symptoms can manifest in several different ways including, but not limited to the following:

• 25-30% digestive symptoms
• skin rashes (eczema or dermatitis)
• headaches
• psychological(ADD, ADHD, learning disabilities)
• neurological disorders(poor balance, poor coordination, brain fog)
• up to 75% of children with celiac disease are overweight!
• delayed puberty
• short stature
• 25% of children have NO symptoms(asymptomatic) at all!

 

Typical signs and symptoms for infants with celiac disease include:

• chronic diarrhea
• swollen belly
• pain
• failure to thrive or weight loss

 

Interesting facts: 8% American Pediatric food allergies with 1/3 having severe reactions

Peanut allergy 25%, Milk 21%, Shellfish 17%, Gluten sensitivity up to 50%

 

Chef Lauren’s shares her story:

 

As a child I had cereal for breakfast Monday-Friday, and by 10am I’d be in the nurses office with a tummy-ache. I also felt that I had a fever, but he thermometer indicated “normal”. Thirty something years later I found out that I had a subnormal temperature due to hypothyroid! So, I really did have a fever in the nurses office! My body knew something was wrong. Due to school policy, they would not call my Mom unless I had a fever. I also had a lot of congestion that was not visible to others.

 

On the weekend, we would have eggs or other items for breakfast, and I did not have the reactions. My parents thought I just did not want to go to school, that I was “allergic to school”. Things are not always as they appear.

 

I was the shortest child in my class, and always looked 1-2 years younger(hope that continues when I’m old!) than my peers. I had the symptoms of short stature and failure to thrive. I also was the last to “bloom”, delayed puberty. I was constantly “catching” any “bug” going around, so I had a weak immune system. Did you know that 70% of our immune system is in our gut?

 

Yep. My gut was so beat up from eating foods that damaged it by releasing antibodies and weakening the tight junctions. When tight junctions are weakened, macronutrients can drop through where only micronutrients are meant, and that is called “leaky gut”. The problem with this is that several food sensitivities may/probably will develop. In a recent study by Dr. Arbuckle, she found that autoimmune antibodies can be in the blood and body up to 9 years prior to the onset of any symptoms when she studied adults with Lupus(can be correlated with gluten)!

 

The list of my symptoms goes on. My Mother was a professional athlete and my other family members were all blessed with athletic ability, but I was uncoordinated and always the last to be picked for a team in physical education class. I did play sports, but was never one of the most talented, I was just a warm body that did okay.

 

This all seemed somewhat normal or not serious enough to look into further. Well, thirty-forty years ago doctors were not educated about gluten sensitivity and food allergies and sensitivities. Now, there is so much good information, education and many great doctors who understand it, usually a Naturopathic or integrative physician. You can find a licensed Naturopathic doctor at www.natropathic.org or in California www.calnd.org

I also have a list and more info on my blog, www.NoWheatNoDairyNoProblem.com

 

 

In my twenties and thirties I started to notice that other people did not have the same stomach aches, constipation or other symptoms I had occasionally(rashes, brain fog, fatigue). In college, I was diagnosed with a mild learning disability so I could get special exceptions made, like extra time and a note taker. In grade school and high school I did well, but struggled with math and science. I felt so much frustration. I was told I was smart and tested very high on SAT’s and other academic testing. So, why was I not getting more A’s? The good news, is that I did get accommodation in college and finally got straight A’s and was the honor society president! I only share this with you, not to brag, but to give you hope and insight that if you or your child are having the same experience you will have more information that will hopefully be helpful. I see children so often that are displaying symptoms and their parents are in so much denial, and I do not understand why. It make me feel really sad, so I choose to do what I can do, and give the rest to God.

 

 

Between excellent health professionals, health food stores nutrition departments, reading extensively and begging my integrative internist to run tests, we discovered I was allergic to dairy protein. I removed it and felt better, but not excellent. There was still something else bothering me. The celiac test that my doctor ran, only tests for 2 proteins out of 26, which is the standard test! Four years later, I found out through a Naturopathic doctor and lab test that tested all 26 proteins in gluten that in fact, I am sensitive to gluten! I had cut out wheat a few years before the tests due to my own intuitive suspicion and did feel improvement. Next, I cut out the gluten 100% and 3 months later….my brain fog lifted.

 

Many people are confused about the difference between a gluten sensitivity and celiac disease. It’s complicated, but in short the intestinal villi get warn away and the person with celiac disease cannot absorb nutrients and can literally starve to death. There are many other health issues that come with celiac disease including other autoimmune diseases. Gluten sensitivity doesn’t sound as serious, but it can be very serious. Without treatment it can lead to a number of autoimmune diseases, and is correlated to hundreds of serious diseases and conditions that cause death. You can go onto www.Pubmed.gov and do a search of gluten and disease. As of 2012 there is now an official diagnosis for gluten sensitivity, and celiac disease is now considered a disability.

 

I did not know what “normal” felt like until I cut out gluten and dairy from my diet. I could not believe that I could breathe totally clearly and the other symptoms all significantly improved or disappeared with the combination of removing the irritating foods and a gut-healing protocol with my Naturopathic doctor, who happens to be my husband. Yay, a new lease on life. I was just surviving and now I’m beginning to Thrive!

 

If any of this resonates with you or your children are displaying, or complaining, of any of these symptoms, I highly recommend you consider a Naturopathic doctor and my kid’s camp with lots of healthful, delicious recipes and education on this subject.

 

As a foodie and chef my passion and mission is to help everyone that wants to thrive to find recipes that fit their needs. Educating your kids early on is the best gift you can give them, especially if they can avoid health problems and suffering. The other gift is spending time in the kitchen and enjoying meals together. I feel very strongly that many of my good habits and security stemmed from a solid childhood of my Mother cooking every meal, of healthy food, and us eating together every night. I am deeply grateful.

 

I can really empathize on a deep level when people are diagnosed, or discover, they need to change their diet and may feel bewildered or frustrated or overwhelmed. Don’t worry, just come join us in the kitchen at New Leaf in Santa Cruz Westside.Even if your kids don’t have food sensitivities, but you want them to eat healthy, grow strong and cook well, send them my way.  We have so much fun in the kitchen(both big and small kid’s alike); and you’ll learn about lots of fabulous products in the store too.You can find my teaching schedule on www.NewLeaf.com for kids camps, teen camps and cooking classes for Adults.

 

Sincerely Be Well and Thrive, Chef Lauren Hoover-West

Hidden Sources of Gluten and Dairy!

Do you think you are 100% gluten or dairy free because you are not eating any? Let’s see if you could be accidentally contaminated without knowing it.

Question: What is the largest organ in the body? Answer: the Skin

Everything that goes through our skin and scalp goes directly into our bloodstream! So, shampoo, conditioner and soap, and hair products often contain gluten! It is usually labeled as Triticum(latin name for wheat) or Wheat Germ Oil(Triticum Vulgare). Read the labels of all your skin care products.

I burned my arm and needed to keep it covered, so I put an adhesive bandage over it. It started itching and I thought, Oh, good it’s healing and tried to ignore it! I removed the bandage to medicate it and change it, and found a huge  raised red rash where the glue of the bandage was!!!

—  HIDDEN SOURCES OF GLUTEN & DAIRY

—  By Chef/Author Lauren Hoover-West

Gluten: Protein in wheat, barley, rye, spelt

 

—  HIDDEN SOURCES OF GLUTEN

—  SKIN CARE: TRITICUM VULGARE(WHEAT GERM OIL)

—  RX/SUPPLEMENTS-ask Pharmacist to check ingredients in prescriptions and order Gluten-free for you. Read labels on over-the-counter supplements and medications.

—  Envelopes & Stamps-don’t lick

Bandages with glue/adhesive!

Tape, glue

Playdough

—  FOOD:

— FARM-RAISED FISH(Fed Gluten)!

— SPICES, PACKAGED FOOD

— Chips, snack mixes

— LUNCH MEAT & IMITATION CRAB, SEITAN(VEGAN MEAT SUBSTITUTE)

— SALAD DRESSINGS/MARINADES

— Anything with soy sauce/TAMARI that is not wheat free

— Anything with bread/crumbs

— SOUPS, BROTHS, SAUCES

— SPROUTED BREAD CONTAINS GLUTEN; WHEAT FREE ITEMS, too

—  HIDDEN GLUTEN AT RESTAURANTS

—  ANYTHING WITH FLOUR/THICKENED

—  ANYTHING WITH BREAD OR BREAD CRUMBS i.e.…MEATLOAF, MEATBALLS, CRUST/COATING

—  GRAINS:BULGAR, COUSCOUS, TABBOULEH, BARLEY…

—  FRENCH FRIES – COATED IN FLOUR! FRIED IN OIL

—  COCONUT SHRIMP/MACADAMIA NUT CRUSTED FISH, ETC…USE PANKO & NUTS!

—  PIZZA: CROSS CONTAMINATION IN OVEN/TOOLS

—  FARM-RAISED FISH

—  BEVERAGES:

— VODKA*(buy potato vodka), BEER, WINE/COOLERS, MALT LIQUOR-see my article on this on

http://nowheatnodairynoproblem.com/2012/02/03/what-alcohol-contains-gluten-vodka-rum-gin-whiskey-tequila-beer-wine/

—  HIDDEN SOURCES OF DAIRY

—  DAIRY IS NOT FROM A CHICKEN=EGGS ARE NOT DAIRY!

-YOU WILL NEED TO TEACH PEOPLE THIS.

—  NOT EGGS/NOT MAYONNAISE*-OK UNLESS MADE WITH CREAM

—  SKIN CARE

—  DARK CHOCOLATE(MILK FAT, CREAM) COCOBUTTER IS OKAY

—  IMITATION WHIPPED TOPPINGS like COOL WHIP, ETC…

—  CHIPS, ESPECIALLY FLAVORED

—  SOUPS

—  SAUCES

—  MARINADES :  TANDOORI CHICKEN/YOGURT

—  SALAD/ DRESSINGS

—  DIPS

—  HIDDEN DANGERS IN YOUR HOME

—  CROSS CONTAMINATION ON:

— PLASTIC CONTAINERS

— POTS & PANS-GET TAGS

— UTENSILS/KNIVES/WOODEN SPOONS/PLASTIC

— CUTTING BOARDS/COUNTER TOPS/SINK/FAUCET

— HANDLES OF CUPBOARDS/DRAWERS

— BROILER PAN

— OVEN/TOASTER OVEN

— TOASTER-Use a separate Toaster for Gluten-free items

— BLENDER/FOOD PROCESSOR

— SPONGES

— DISHSOAP AND HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS-read labels.

—  ANSWERS/SOLUTIONS/PRECAUTIONS

—  LABEL

—  GET RID OF ALL PLASTIC/WOOD/POROUS ITEMS

—  GET NEW COLOR FOR POTS, PANS OR TAG THEM(GET METAL PET TAGS AND HANG ON HANDLE OF POTS DESIGNATED FOR GLUTEN-FREE OR DAIRY-FREE ONLY) OR FIND G-FREE TAGS ONLINE

—  GET NEW COLOR CONTAINERS/MIXING BOWLS

—  GET NEW COLOR SPATULAS/UTENSILS

—  USE DISHWASHER ON HEAT DRY

—  EDUCATE EVERYONE IN THE HOUSE/KITCHEN

—  DOUBLE CHECK WITH CHEF AT RESTAURANT

—  ASK WAIT STAFF TO PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK WITH CHEF

—  ASK FOR A GLUTEN-FREE MENU

—  EAT AT GLUTEN-FREE RESTAURANTS WHEN POSSIBLE

—  COOK AT HOME MORE

—  COME TO COOKING CLASSES WITH CHEF LAUREN!

—  CONSULTING/PRIVATE CLASS WITH LAUREN IN YOUR HOME

—  GET RID OF YOUR ALLERGIES WITH A PROPERLY-TRAINED DOCTOR!

—  WHAT  DO I DO IF I GET CONTAMINATED OR EXPOSED? Things that have helped me:

—  DPP-IV/GLUTEN DIGESTING ENZYME; CAN BE PREVENTATIVE. DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN EAT GLUTEN

—  VOMIT

—  HELPFUL SUPPLEMENTS:

— ACTIVATED CHARCOAL(4-8 Capsules),  Tablets can contain lactose!

— HOMEOPATHICS such as BRYONIA diluted in water if lactose intolerant

— HEAL/SOOTHE GUT FOR A FEW DAYS AFTER EXPOSURE

— SEE YOUR NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR RIGHT AWAY because treatment can vary depending on level of intolerance. Find one on www.Naturopathic.org or in CA http://www.CALND.org

—  THANK YOU & BE WELL

Fish-Did you ever imagine that you would need to ask if there is wheat or gluten in your fish?

I recently learned from my local fish monger that farm raised fish are often being fed a diet of wheat protein! I only buy wild fish, so hopefully they are not finding any wheat or gluten in the Oceans yet! 😉 Seriously, those of us who need to be vigilant in making sure we do not get contaminated with wheat/gluten need to be aware that fish can contain wheat/gluten.Be sure to ask the fish monger when you are buying fish if you choose to eat farmed fish. Please read the article about other very harmful contaminants, including melamine,  in fish.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18556690/ns/health-pet_health/t/farmed-fish-given-meal-tainted-melamine

For those of us who have childhood memories of eating Fish and Chips; and really miss it, can either make it from my cookbook, No Wheat No Dairy No Problem, or buy it! Yes, you read that correctly-Gorton’s just announced their Gluten-free Fish Sticks! There is another company that makes frozen fish/seafood that is Gluten-free that I have found in health food stores too.

You can get an updated guide to buying sustainable fish and a list of endangered fish from The Monterey Bay Aquarium. Be sure to go and get an updated one at least once a year because it is always changing. I am getting married next week; and chose to have Macadamia Nut Crusted Sea Bass for our reception, at the menu tasting last year, and it turns out that since we made that selection it has been listed as endangered!

The question everybody is asking me is are you making your own Wedding Cake? Answer: Yes and No. I consulted with a very good bakery and converted their Coconut Cake recipe to be Gluten-free & Dairy-free & Refined Sugar-free!  It was stressful enough just trying to organize all the details and be the Bride that I needed someone else to make my cake, especially since my nerves and hands would be shaking too much to decorate! I’ll post about the whole thing with pictures next month when we return. Stay tuned.

I’m teaching a lot of cooking classes in October and through the next year so, see my schedule and bring your friends for a fun evening. I will be making Olive Oil Poached Fish at New Leaf on September 26th for True Olive Connection sign up at 831.458.6457.  See you and I look forward to cooking together soon.