did you know?

there could be wheat (among other things) in your xanthan gum!?!

Xanthan gum may be derived from a variety of source products that are themselves common allergens, such as corn, wheat, dairy, or soy. As such, persons with known sensitivities or allergies to food products are advised to avoid foods including generic xanthan gum or first determine the source for the xanthan gum before consuming the food.

Specifically, an allergic response may be triggered in people sensitive to the growth medium, usually corn, soy, or wheat. For example, residual wheat gluten has been detected on xanthan gum made using wheat. This may trigger a response in people highly sensitive to gluten. Some consider this to be a separate allergy to xanthan gum with similar symptoms to gluten allergy. Xanthan gum is a "highly efficient laxative", according to a study that fed 15g/day for 10 days to 18 normal volunteers. Some people react to much smaller amounts of xanthan gum, with symptoms of intestinal bloating and diarrhea.^[12]

^{when buying/using xanthan gum, do some research. find out where it comes from and what medium it was grown on.} 

^{if you are a celiac that is also super sensitive to corn or soy, i recommend using guar gum instead.}

^{more info here} 

here we go!!

hello there!

my name is andrea, and i am attempting to make a food blog, in hopes to share my dietary restrictions with those who also have special needs, and those who care about someone that does.

i have an autoimmune disorder called celiac disease. it prevents me from absorbing any nutrients when any wheat, barley, or rye gluten is consumed. it greatly affects my digestion and intestines, and also leaves me open to other illnesses when my immune system is down. this is not a simple "allergy" like most people believe. it is a severe illness that needs to be treated as such. there is no cure, and the only treatment of the disease is living 100% gluten free.

that being said, i have to be very careful eating every single day. celiac's can get sick with even the slightest trace of gluten present. for example, using a knife after someone buttered their bread can cause an awful reaction. we must always be aware of the food in front of us, cross-contamination possibilities, and hidden ingredients. fortunately, what usually begins as a struggle can turn into an amazing cooking adventure!

i live in new york city, the place where you can pretty much eat or find anything you want to eat, at usually any hour of the day. even with all these possibilities in front of me, there is only ONE restaurant in all of new york city that does not make me sick. that is because it does not contain any wheat or gluten in ANYTHING. there are "gluten-free" restaurants, bakeries, etc., but they all make the simple mistake of carrying or making other wheat or spelt products. the chances of you becoming very ill are very high and the risk is never worth it.

i am also vegan. i am vegan by choice, and having celiac disease really helped me figure out what else my body isn't into. i do have to be very aware of protein and other essential vitamins in my daily intake of goodies.

so basically, i cook everything myself. i have to! luckily, i really enjoy it. i love learning and discovering and sharing new ideas and techniques. i love the trial and error. when something goes wrong, i feel that much more determined to get it right. i love feeding a vegan gluten free treat to a wheat/butter eater and hearing them say "this is better than the real thing!!" although i don't do it for them, it's great to have that positive feedback.

throughout the years and internet searches, i have had a hard time finding others like me. i know they're out there, and hopefully this brings me a step closer to finding them.

i will now share my recipes, pictures, and knowledge with anyone willing to listen.

this blog is dedicated to those feeling left out on all the goodies they watch their friends consume, with hopes to making a better one, from scratch!!

word up!!