This past Sunday, February 12, 2017, I had the pleasure of attending the Gluten Free Festival at the Wyland Center in San Diego, California. I was looking forward to this event since I lead a gluten free lifestyle and it will give me the opportunity to learn and share this information with my clients and those who read my blog.

Let’s start with some basic information:
What is gluten? Gluten is a protein made up of the peptides gliadin and glutenin and it is found in many grains such as wheat, semolina, spelt, kamut, rye and barley. It gives bread its airy and fluffy texture. It is also a stabilizing agent for many processed foods such as salad dressings and mayonnaise. It’s in almost everything from beauty products to packaged foods and supplements. The prevalence of celiac and gluten sensitivity has increased significantly over the last 50 years. Some studies suggest that up to 30% of the population now suffers from gluten sensitivity. Ninety nine percent of those with gluten sensitivity are never diagnosed. Symptoms of gluten intolerance include constipation, skin rashes, heartburn and muscle/joint pain. We no longer are eating the wheat that our parents ate. In order to have the drought resistant, bug resistant and faster growing wheat that we have today, we have hybridized the grain. This hybridization creates new proteins which lead to inflammation, widespread gluten intelligence and higher rates of celiac. In order to treat gluten intolerance one has to eliminate 100% of gluten from one’s diet. Trace amounts of gluten from cross-contamination or medications can be enough to cause an immune reaction in our body. When in doubt, go without.

The Wyland Center was filled with tables of companies like Glutino, Enjoy Life and Milton’s who offered taste testing of gluten free products such as energy bars, pizza, breads, crackers and cookies. Most companies use potato flour, rice flour and tapioca flour to substitute for enriched wheat flour. Their products can be found in supermarkets and health food stores.

I was glad to see other health related products represented at the fair such as water filters (sink and shower), pain relieving stimulators, detoxification baths and skin care products. I was very pleased with the abundance and variety of products . I plan on adding many of them to my diet and lifestyle and will certainly recommend many of them to my clients.