GFree and Happy

I made a big batch of garlic hummus the other day for my daughter and myself. It’s a perfect healthy snack with crackers and veges. We prefer it with cucumbers and jicama. It’s the easiest recipes and very satisfying for a fun afternoon snack.

Chef Kirsten from Mesadevida.com supplied the recipe below:

Homemade Healthy Hummus

Ingredients

• 15 oz can chickpeas (Garbanzo beans), – (Use a BPA Free organic brand, or make your own) rinsed and drained
• 2 lemons, juiced
• 1 Tb tahini
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 pinches Kosher/sea salt
• 2 Tb olive oil

Instructions

1. Blend all of the ingredients in a food processor, pausing and scraping down the sides at least once. Puree until very smooth. Let rest at least one hour (I like to make a batch and keep it on hand often!) Enjoy! Refrigerate, of course. Make sure you check out the other ways to fancy up your hummus and ways to use leftover hummus!

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May 1st marks the start of Celiac Awareness Month! I am spreading the word along with many others on social media this month. Reaching out to my community and beyond!

Here are a few facts:

• Celiac Disease affects 3 million Americans
• Celiac disease is an autoimmune digestive disease that damages the villi of the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food.
• Celiac disease can lead to a number of other disorders including infertility, reduced bone density, neurological disorders, some cancers, and other autoimmune diseases.
• Avoid Gluten to live a healthy happy lifestyle.
• Gluten is: protein composite found in foods processed with wheat, barley and rye.
•  Gluten is hidden in many foods that you buy at the grocery store and at restaurants.
• Gluten sensitivity will break down your immune system if not taken care of.
• Sensitivity to other foods such as dairy start if you do not take out gluten out of your lifestyle.
• Many candies, sauces and energy bars have hidden gluten.
• Cross contamination is everywhere! Fryers, toasters, counters are a few culprits.
• Careful not to be “glutened”! Restaurants are the worst culprit!

Everyone has different reactions to gluten. My symptoms went on for years since I had no idea what I had. Over the years each doctor I visited said I needed to be put on a “fat free” diet. That didn’t help… My symptoms got worse so I thought maybe I should eat healthier and I bought whole wheat bread, whole and wheat cereal.. Within a day I had horrible heart burn where I thought I was having a heart attack and my stomach kept getting bigger and bigger and my system shut down. I couldn’t eat or drink.

I went back to the doctors and said help! I laid on a table with a nurse going over every organ in my body with an ultra sound and the results were I had beautiful organs and nothing was wrong.They dropped me and said try somewhere else you are fine.

I made a choice right then I would be my own advocate! My husband worked with someone who was sensitive to gluten and I sat with him learning how to take gluten out of my diet. 3 days later my body was much better! I do not miss gluten!

My name is Kathy and I have been living a gfree and happy lifestyle for 4 years!

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