Gluten Free January

Don’t have  a New Year’s Resolution?  How about going gluten free for the month of January?  There’s a viral movement started by random Paleo dude Matt Lentzner, and is gaining some momentum via the alternative nutrition world.  Check out his site at www.glutenfreejan.com.

Why?  There’s more to gluten issues besides celiac disease.  Gluten, the protein found in wheat, causes subtle reactions in more people than is possible to measure.  Have stomach symptoms like gas, bloating, heartburn, or constipation?  Have high cholesterol,  high blood sugar and/or high C-reactive protein levels (blood test for inflammation)?  Rosacea or other skin problems?  Inability to lose weight? Constant hunger and fatigue?  Then YOU might have a problem with gluten.  Don’t feel bad, most people do.  At the end of the month you might just feel amazing and never go back.

How to be cool:

Spend the month creatively thinking outside the bread box, trying new recipes, foods and ways of cooking.  Eggs for breakfast, protein and veggies for lunch and dinner, throw in some nuts and fruit.  Rice and potatoes aren’t off limits, just gluten/ bread based products.  This includes most cereals, bread, pasta, pastries, cookies, cakes, crackers, bagels, pizza, even soups and sauces thickened with flour.

How to not be cool:

Don’t be lazy and just replace all your regular foods with the commercial “gluten free!” alternative.  Those are usually made with terrible alternative flours that don’t do anything positive for your health or waistline.  And they tend to taste terrible and just make you want to eat more than you would of the original version because it’s unsatisfying.

I’m going to spend the month of January posting recipes, links, resources and answers to any questions.  Please feel free to put your own recipes and results in the comments section of the nutrition page, as well as the usual questions.

Who’s in?  Think about it, then sign up officially  with CFPH by posting a comment below.  Then send an email to glutenfreejan@gmail.com to be “official” on the ‘net.  And you can even “like” it on facebook!  Ooh la la!

-Alison