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Celiac Disease Awareness Month Wrap Up

Lettuce Wrap Copyright 2014 by R.A. Robbins — Lettuce Wrap
Copyright 2014 by R.A. Robbins

Celiac Disease Awareness Month is almost over. I have enjoyed sharing the way of living and eating that keeps me healthy with you. If you have been diagnosed with celiac disease your life is not over. There are still many wonderful foods you can enjoy. Give yourself time to experiment and you may even find foods you like better.

If you believe you have celiac disease or gluten intolerance you will want to consult your healthcare provider. Remember you must be eating gluten for diagnostic tests to be successful.

For more information on celiac disease, check out the celiac disease resources on the My Gluten Free Life page here at Espirational.

If you are looking for positive tips and suggestions for living the gluten free life check out my newest e-book The Gluten Free Good Life available in the Amazon.com Kindle Store. In the book you will find practical solutions of living gluten free, including the importance of attitude and of course a few of my favorite recipes to get you started.

Thought for Today

“So the ‘unique features’ in your house probably started out as mistakes. In the same way, what you might take to be mistakes in yourself, in your partner, or in general, can become ‘unique features,’ enriching your time here — once you stop focusing on them exclusively.” An Excerpt from Who Ordered This Truckload of Dung? Inspiring Stories for Welcoming Life’s Difficulties by Ajahn Brahm [Source: http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/books/excerpts.php?id=14838%5D

Thought for Today

“For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come and the voice of the turtle dove is heard in our land.” Song of Solomon 2:11-12, The Bible (KJV)

Try a Little Kindness

Thought for Today

“Let us examine our attitude toward peace itself. Too many of us think it is impossible. Too many think it unreal. But that is a dangerous, defeatist belief. It leads to the conclusion that war is inevitable—that mankind is doomed—that we are gripped by forces we cannot control. We need not accept that view. Our problems are manmade—therefore, they can be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings.” — John F. Kennedy in his 1963 A Strategy of Peace speech.

The Celiac Disease Awareness Campaign

The Celiac Disease Awareness Campaign helped me when I was first adopting a gluten free lifestyle. and I want to share this valuable resource with you. http://www.celiac.nih.gov. The Celiac Disease Awareness Campaign of the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases which is part of the National Institutes of Health.

The awareness campaign began in 2006 and according to the campaign website “seeks to heighten awareness of celiac disease among health care professionals and the public.” As a part of this mission it provides educational materials about celiac disease including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and management to both medical professionals and the general public. The Celiac Disease Awareness Campaign website is a good place to find research articles as well as practical, general information for living with the disease.

If you have just been diagnosed, the Awareness Campaign website is a good place to start. Of course there are lots of online support groups and people with opinions, but the information is not always accurate. Start with the Awareness Campaign first to get a good foundation of reliable information before venturing out into gluten free cyberspace.

Thought for Today

Over the Mountains Across the Plains to Grandma’s House we Go
Copyright 2013 by R.A. Robbins

“ Inspiration more often comes during the work than before it, because the largest part of the job of an artist is to listen to the work.” — – Madeleine L’Engle, Author [Source:http://www.guideposts.org/inspirational-quotes/creativity]

Thought for Today

“We must not be passive but active agents in this strenuous, challenging world. At the same time, we must not make a fetish out of our self-sufficiency. It is normal and wise for us to rely at moments upon the insights, the courage, and the consolation which our human brothers can give us , knowing full well that they in turn sill rely upon our gifts and strength on other critical occasions. Let us not be too proud to admit weakness at moments and to absorb strength from others in our day of need. The ruthless repression of our common human problems and fears can only make us hard or ill; the sharing of these problems with our human comrades alone can save us from the sin of pride, the idolatry of self-sufficiency.”
― Joshua Loth Liebman

Healthy Living A to Z: K is for Kale

If you do not know what kale is you are not alone. I still have to tell the grocery clerk what it is. That’s okay. It gives me the chance to talk about kale. What’s not to love about a dark green leafy vegetable that is chock full of vitamins A, C and K, minerals copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus. sulphur-containing phytonutrients, carotenoids, flavonoids. lutein and zeaxanthin compounds, fiber and holds up to heat without wilting away to a mass of nothing? These important nutrients provide anti-cancer health benefits, promote eye health, lowers cholesterol levels and reduce risk of heart disease. However if you take anticoagulants such as warfarin talk to your doctor before adding kale to your diet. http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/the-truth-about-kale

Kale can be eaten raw, but some people think it tastes bitter. The health benefits of cooked kale are also higher than raw.

I like to wilt kale in a skillet on top of the stove with a little olive oil, garlic and balsamic vinegar. Kale is also a wonderful addition to soup and can also be added to rice dishes or one pot meals.