Revelations

Man I need to update this more. I finally got this blog on my domain, I guess that’s a start.

Last month (and still recovering) I got a bad skin breakout from corn. From 2 different sources, right after one another. Arrghh! Lessons learned:

1. Even though it’s only bad to ingest the offending food, ANYTHING you come in contact with. When you make out with someone especially. Hair products included. What sucks is that I knew this and still wasn’t careful. Source #1.

2. If a risque-sounding product is listed as corn-free, sadly it can’t be trusted without contacting manufacturer. I can tolerate corn on occassion depending, like Advil for cramps or headache, the reaction symptoms aren’t as bad as the pain asking for help; but if taken daily, no. Case in point: Ester-C powder with citrus bioflavonoids by American Health. Website listing safe, but contacted American Health and found out wasn’t safe. Source #2.

Result? A horrible breakout on my chest that is still present (if fading) a month later. I call it a breakout, but it’s not like a rash. Usually it occurs on my neck – just under my jawline and under my ears. It’s like pimples, where they have white heads, but are so much worse. They are painful and slightly itchy, and if you pop them (which cannot be resisted), it’s not the end of the story (like normal zits). Even if you don’t pop them, they just turn into deep sores, and scab and scab and scab and last for weeks. Typically (I guess from Advil/unknown sources) I’ll get 2 sores right next to each other like vampire bites on my neck. Oh yes, it’s as lovely as you imagine. (And yes, minor digestive issues as well.)

I used to think I reacted to corn the least, but these incidents put me on super guard all over.

Gluten-free cure?

As of yet, there is no cure for celiac disease/gluten intolerance beyond diet control. Now it looks like the pharmaceutical industry has developed the magic pill so many of us wish for?

About a week ago, Forbes reported clinical trials were beginning for a new treatment for celiac disease that would detoxify gluten. Now, it’s being reported that Alvine Pharmaceuticals has obtained 2 patents on their new treatments. 

Read the links to the articles above for more detailed info, I’m too tired to get technical. What’s interesting is the new possibility that we may begin to eat normally again – of course, with help from the pharmaceutical industry which personally, I’ll pass (not a pharma fan, I’ll leave it simply at that).

This makes me think though, if a pill were to become available, would everyone take it? Our diet is a pain in the ass, to put it bluntly, no matter how ingrained it is in our daily lives. I was recently discussing this with someone who does Theta healing. He said that it can get rid us of allergies and gluten issues, however we have to really want to be healed. It’s interesting because many of us, no matter how horrible our situations may be, accept our lives as is and don’t act to change because it’s all we know. So while we’ll complain about our diet, some of us who have been eating this way for so long (some for their whole lives), have accepted it as normal – it’s all we know. So to suddenly introduce this “magic pill” or any other form of cure that would allow us to eat like a “normal” person, can actually seem scary and foreign.

I know many people would jump at the chance of getting this pill as soon as it’s on the market, but I’m sure there will be many people who will resist it. I will, just because I hate pills. I prefer holistic treatments, and I’ll admit that when my friend said he could heal me I was initially freaked out. I am curious though to learn more and check it out – it would be pretty awesome :)  Has anyone out there had any experience with Theta healing?

Press Release references:

Alvine Pharmaceuticals Initiates Phase I Trial for ALV003

Alvine Pharmaceuticals Obtains Patents for Celiac Disease Therapies

Gluten-free Chocolate Cake Recipe

We’ll kick this off with chocolate cake! This cake is gluten-free (of course, that’s probably the last time I’ll say this), vegan, and corn-free. It’s also ridiculously quick and easy to make.

1.5 cups chickpea flour*
1 cup sugar (I always use raw sugar)
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoon oil
1 teaspoon vanilla 
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 cup cold water

Mix dry ingredients. Then add oil, vanilla and vinegar. Then pour cold water over all. Mix (with a spoon or fork, nothing extravagant). Pour into a 2″ deep 9″x9″ baking pan. I like to add a sprinkling of raw sugar on top for a little extra fun/flavor. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-30 minutes (check until done). Let cool – the longer it cools the more chance it has for less crumbling, hopefully. Depends on your patience. (Note: measurements may not be exact… but good enough!)

Optional! If I’m feeling decadent, I’ll simmer raspberries or strawberries in some pure maple syrup and then pour on top of servings (1/4 cup maple syrup and 1/4 cup raspberries per serving? I don’t know… use your judgment). This is also good if you’re serving to others, it helps mask the GF crumbly qualities ;)

*I’m not a flour connoisseur. I like chickpea flour for protein and because it’s way easier than making a tedious mix of flours to make a good “wheat substitute”, but it is a tad heavy. Rice flour is really crumbly. If you can buy a pre-mixed GF all purpose flour, this is good. I’ve only used this from Mr. Ritt’s (awesome GF bakery in Philadelphia). 

(Wow, my first recipe and I realize I’m a horrible recipe advisor. I’m a trial and error kind of gal – live and learn, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. It’s hard to lose with chocolate.)

Boring First Post

Thank god for the internet! I don’t know how I’d cope with this diet with just doctors and the library. I think I’d be crap out of luck. There are some great cookbooks and other books out there, but that’s a lot of reading.

I don’t know how helpful this will be. At least maybe I’ll get my recipes written down finally :)