Someone asked me so...

Someone asked me "what does gluten do to you?"

From Sunday around 9 p.m. until Monday around 10 p.m. I had a headache above my right eye socket.

I also slept 22 hours during that same time period.  Thankfully Celia jumped on my bed meowing every 2 hours or so.  This woke me up and in my brain fogged stupor I knew enough to go out and sip some water before crawling back to bed.

Around 6 p.m. I thought I should eat something.  I put two slices of toast into my toaster oven.  It takes 3 minutes to toast.  Before it chimed done, I was on the verge of tears and just wanted my bed.

I ate 1.5 bites before giving up and going to bed.

Thankfully I was able to drink a kombucha (which puts healthy flora into my gut) and I believe this helped tremendously.

Every time it's slightly different.  Sometimes it's brain fog and digestive tract issues only.  Other times it's the mini-coma and sometimes it's a headache.  Last summer it was craaaaaaankiness and bloated feeling.

It's a real treat.  NOT.

Melatonin

There's a bird that loves singing at 3:26 a.m.  It has sung every single morning for the past 4 mornings.  (Those mornings have been WORK mornings for yours truly.)

What kind of bird is awake and singing before the sun is up?  I tell you what kind of bird - the kind of bird that wants to go to the rainbow bridge.

Tonight I am taking a double-dose of melatonin = 10 mg.  It is natural...infact our bodies make melatonin.  As we age, our bodies don't make as much.  I also read that in a study they found that people who were healthy & ate healthy but died of a heart attack had a decreased amount of melatonin in their body.

My bottle of 180 capsules is right around $8 on Amazon. 

Melatonin also is a radical scavenger naturally produced in the pineal gland and present in high amounts in the gastrointestinal tract.  It is involved in many of the body, brain and glandular biological functions including regulating sleep/wake cycles, regulation of the immune system, and maintenance of my gastrointestinal lining. 

And let's be honest - for 30ish years, the gluten I consumed ripped up my poor gastrointestinal tract.

I love that melatonin helps heal and will regulate my mini-coma-ish sleep cycle tonight.

And with you and God as my witness:  If the 3:26-singing-fowl wakes me up, I will be purchasing a small pellet gun and I will find the perp.

I wish...

I wish I could figure out what I am doing wrong when it comes to making my own kombucha. 

Until I solve that mystery, I will enjoy Brew Dr's superberry kombucha.

Broccoli Salad

Ingredients:
1 lb Bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 lb Fresh broccoli
1/2 c. Dried cranberries*
1 Red onion, chopped
1 c. Mayo
2 tsp. White vinegar
3/4 c. sunflower seeds, totally optional**
1/2 c. sugar

Directions:
1. Combine white vinegar, sugar, and mayo.  Mix well.  Set aside for about 15 minutes.
2. Combine all other ingredients.
3. Add dressing to the veggies. Stir well.  

* - I used a dried mixed berry combination containing dried cranberries, dried blueberries, and dried cherries.

** - I could not find gluten-free sunflower seeds so I omitted them.

People ask me, "How do you cook / bake gluten-free?"  
My answer always is, "I use regular recipes and use gluten-free ingredients."  This salad is a perfect example of that...every thing listed above was labeled gluten-free (except the doggone sunflower seeds; their package said "processed on machinery that processes gluten, etc.  I don't take any chances as I have no desire to have a headache - no matter how slight, bloated, cranky, sluggish, etc.).

 

Black Bean Salad

Recipe from the fabulous Roxanne

1 - 15 oz. can of black beans, rinsed & drained
1 c. Diced radishes
1 med. Tomato, chopped
1/2 c. Celery, chopped
1/2 c. Sweet onion, chopped
1/2 c. Italian dressing (not zesty) - Hendrickson's is wonderful!

1. Combine all ingredients.
2. Chill for an hour.
3. Consume.

Being gluten-free...

Being around other gluten-free-ers today made me realize that we are like a secret society.

My friend came up to me and said, "...they left because she witnessed the food being cross-contaminated."

Me:  "THANK YOU!!!!!!"

After my acquaintance returned, I thanked her for sharing with my friend because my friend shared with me.  We, then, compared gluten reaction stories.  Goodtimes.

Another acquaintance came through the line casually mentioning "I heard there was gluten-free."  I pulled her aside and whispered, "This is awkward.  I don't know you or how allergic you are but this whole line has been cross-contaminated.  I woud not even trust the fruit."

3 Now Essential Oils

First let me go on the record as to having said I love the Now Essential Oil website.  You can search every single essential oil and read a detailed description.

Second I am sad because I discovered my Now frankincense, lavender and peppermint are "made without gluten" but not gluten-free. 

Wouldn't you assume that if the bottle reads "100% PURE ESSENTIAL OIL" that it would be sans-gluten?????  :(

It's a happy-sad because it's one more (and I am praying THE FINAL) piece to my puzzle.

I surmise you are wondering how glutenous essential oils could bother me, right?  Well...I spray my pillow and sheets with my homemade Pinteresty-delightful linen spray.  Who doesn't love a relaxing whiff of lavender?  Surely not this girl.

I am a tummy sleeper.  If my pillow is covered with bits o'gluten, surely you realize our skin absorbs what we put on it and there's a chance the gluten could get into my system.

The good news is I learned that my Now grapefruit essential oil is made without gluten AND is gluten-free.  Hip hip hooray!!!!!!!

GooGone

As I stated last week, I discovered gluten in my laundry soap and work handsoap.  Who would've thunk, right?

Yesterday I needed to remove a label from a 1" binder.

Before spraying GooGone on the persnickety adhesive, I Googled, "Is GooGone gluten-free?" 

Guess what I discovered?

IT'S NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It has wheat in it.

What is the matter with this picture?  Why are we (America) adding wheat to everything from hair products to adhesive remover to laundry detergent???

Too be continued...

Progress

Inbetween taking it easy and not rushing through my day, I am on laundry load #9 with only the hallway left...  Talk about progress!!!!!

I also have the Kombucha brewing. 

I changed my countdown to feeling fabulous to December 17th.  It's 120-ish days.  My prayer is that now that I changed my laundry soap and hand soap that maybe I will feel better before mid-December.

My Ah-ha Moment

Yesterday marked day #4 of a gluten-ish headache and quite frankly, I was done.

I have narrowed down the culprits to three suspects.

My workplace changed dispenser soap.  Last week I noticed large clear containers marked "Soup."  :)  The container held the same pale shade of soap that is now in our dispensers.  Unlabeled.  Suspect #1 "Soup."

Yesterday in my quest to Google every possible thing in my life, I learned my beloved Woolite laundry soap now contains crushed pieces of hydrolyzed wheat.  I, then, Googled when was the wheat added.  No date.  Suspect #2.

Last week I was given a bottle of Mrs. Bronners lavendar hand soap.  In times past this has not bothered me...however my gluten search lead me to find this particular fragrance may or may not contain gluten.  She has others that have it so her facility is not gf.  Suspect #3-ish.

After work I drove straight to Meijer to buy clearly marked gluten-free laundry detergent.  Yeaaaaaah 7th Generation brand.  I do not even care that it was $1 more.  I, also, purchased the same brand * clearly marked gluten-free* hand soap.  3 bottles.  One for work and 2 for home.

In my quest to figure this all out, I learned that some nail polish can have hydrolyzed wheat.  Not. Even. Kidding.  I have purged the gluten from nail polish.  I shall now be an Essie, Wet-n-Wild, and Piggy Polish gal.  I did send an email to OPI as I want to confirm one of the gluten-free blog posts about certain OPI being gluten-free.

Call me paranoid.

Call me crazy.

I hate having a 4 day migraine.  Plus I know exactly what this gluten is doing to my poor digestive tract.

So much for 2 weeks of gluten-free.  Now I must reset the...4 months 'til I feel fabulous clock!!!

It looks like it'll be December 17, 2016.  Just in time for Christmas!!!!!

A bummer

Sooooooo I was doing some gluten research. 

This stupid stuff - the side effects of my vitamin B and maybe hair product - could still bother me for 3 to 4 months.  Not even kidding.

It's going to be a long end of Summer and beginning of Fall-waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!

Fall is my favorite.

Fall is when I wake-up and throw open the curtains.

Fall is when I drink copious amounts of coffee

Fall is the best and sadly I may welcome it with the after-effects of stupid, stupid gluten.

Bummed out,
The girl with curly hair

And then I asked myself, "What would Nancy Drew do?"

Last week I discovered gluten in my vitamin B.  This was such a huge discovery and it made perfect sense.  I won't re-cap my symptoms but I will say I was relieved to know they were all caused by gluten.

Since the removal of that particular brand of B, I have felt better...not best.

Today I was soooo zonked at my desk and it made no sense.  

I ate breakfast.

I had a relaxing weekend.

What is this nonsense?

Too get to the bottom of this conundrum, I asked myself, "What would Nancy Drew do?"  

I tell you what she would do - she would look for clues.

When did the whole issue begin?  With the vitamin B - it began end of March.

What else have I changed? 

You see -- I am pretty predictable.  I buy the same groceries from week to week.  I like the same things week after week...and I eat quite healthily.

One thing I have changed during the vitamin B debacle is my hair product.  For my birthday, my co-worker bought me a hipster no-shampoo hair product which she confirmed is gluten-free.  (I doubly confirmed it after receiving it.  I'm that friend.  I question is it really gluten-free.  Sorry.  It's true.}

It was as if a light shown down from Heaven....  I never Googled the styling cream.  I just assumed............and this is WHERE it got me...wanting to nap at my desk.  Totally wanting to nap.  I'm not a napper.

Could it be my hipster hair product?  

I Google searched it.  Hmmmm...no clear "This product is gluten-free."  

I, then, went to the product maker's website and sent them an email.  No response as of 5:32 p.m.

I have a sneaking suspicion that this is my conundrum which makes my little detective-ish heart go pitter-patter.  

The questionable product has been placed in a sealed bag and has been quarantined.

My hair brushes, combs and flat iron have been scrubbed clean.

My stretchy headbands and all towels have been re-washed.

My bed sheets were already in the dryer so yeah - they are clean.  (Pillowcases touch my head.)

People think I am gluten-paranoid.

I am.  It's a cross I will gladly bear...because my system has been off for over 4 months. 

Go about your life feeling bad for 4 days and see if you are super excited to feel better.  Four days is tough.  Try 4 months.  

And now my observing period begins...will I be sluggish tomorrow?  Did I find and eliminate the trouble-maker?  Here's hoping...  :)  

For the last 4 months...

...I have been sluggish and I have gained circa 10 pounds making my clothes fit crappily.  Is that a word?  It should be a word.  Today it's a word.

Today I was opening my new bottle of B complex and something compelled me to read the bottle.

Guess who has been putting gluten into her pretty-self?  THIS GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!  3 B complex everyday for the last 90 days.

This explains sooooooo much.

Much to my demise - or atleast my current wardrobe's demise - I trusted my Amazon "Gluten-free b complex" search.

Never ever, ever, ever, ever again.

It's like kryptonite

Bringing in bagels and muffins and wishing me a "Happy Administrative Assistant's Day" is like telling Superman, "Thanks for saving the planet.  Here's a giant box of kryptonite."

Only I have to spend the day being over paranoid everytime I enter and exit the lunchroom because the door handles have been compromised.

#itislikekryptonite

Lucha's Cantina

On Saturday evening, I experienced another first.  A first trip to Lucha's Cantina in Edgebrook Shopping Center.

DeDe "made" me try an appetizer - nachos!  And an entree - chicken enchiladas with verde sauce - FIESTA IN MY MOUTH!  And lastly...where the real arm-twisting took place...dessert - fried ice cream.  This was a cinnamon and ice cream dynamic duo which happened to be covered in my favorite - chocolate syrup.

We ordered ice cream because we could see our final destination through the window...Anytime Fitness.  It should be noted Anytime Fitness is not out ULTIMATE FINAL destination.  That would be Heaven.  Our Saturday evening final destination was the gym...where we attempted to burn-off some of the calories we enjoyed consuming.

Russian Tea Recipe

From Kari’s aunt

2 ½ c. Tang

1 ¾ c. Instant tea

1 ¼ c. Sugar or presweetened lemonade

1 Tbsp. Cinnamon

½ tsp. Cloves

2-3 teaspoons of mixture per 1 cup of boiling water

Guacamole

Here's my fabulous guacamole recipe...

Ingredients:
3 large avocados
1 small container of Greek yogurt
1 smallish onion, chopped
2ish Tbsp. salsa
1 lime

Directions:
1. With a knife, slice avocados in half length-wise.  Using a spoon, remove the pit and discard. Scoop out the yummy goodness of the avocados and place in a bowl.

2.  Add Greek yogurt and chopped onion.

3.  With a fork, mash / stir the mixture.

4.  Add salsa.  Mix again.

5.  Slice lime in half and squeeze lime juice on mixture.  Stir until mixed well.

6.  Serve with chips or crackers or scoop out with a spoon.  

Enjoy!     

Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies

1 chocolate cake mix
1/2 light olive oil
3 eggs
8 ounces Reese's Miniature Peanut Butter Cups

Combine all ingredients.  Mix on low to break up the peanut butter cups.

On parchment paper, place tablespoon-sized balls of dough.

Bake at 350° for 8 minutes.

Cumin...

Today when I was making homemade  (yes, from scratch) pizza crust, I noticed that I have a ridiculous amount of cumin.  Six bottles...one of which was totally outdated. 

Six bottles....how does even happen?  All I can figure is that this winter when I felt like making chili, I got all panicky at Woodman's while grocery shopping and picked up extra cumin.

Typically I am not this spice paranoid.  This is something new...and I hope not a new trend for yours truly.

Garbanzo Bean Flour Pizza Crust

This makes a 10" x 16" pizza.

2.5 cups garbanzo bean flour

2 cups hot water (I do not boil the water...just heat it up in the tea kettle.)
¼ cup olive oil
¼ teaspoon salt
½ tsp. Crushed red pepper
½ tsp. Oregano
½ tsp. Garlic powder
½ tsp. Parsley (I omit this spice -- YUCK!)
½ tsp. Basil
Generous amounts of pepper

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix ingredients with wooden spoon and let sit in bowl UNTOUCHED for 30 minutes.

Bake 15-20 minutes until crust is cracking and a bit firm.

Remove from oven.

Add pizza sauce, toppings, and cheese.

Bake for another 15-20 minutes → until cheese is melted

Remove from oven and enjoy!!!!