Can gluten free lower cholesterol and blood pressure?

QUESTION
Am not a coeliac am on a diet to lose weight have high cholesterol and blood pressure can eating some of the gluten free foods help.

OUR REPLY
A gluten free diet can help many health issues. However many prepacked gluten free goods are no healthier than regular foods, in many cases they are even more fatty. You may be better to check out the Paleo diet instead of just gluten free, but make sure you have the go ahead from your GP before you embark on any new eating plan when you have specific health issues. It's awesome for overall health, gluten and dairy free so naturally lowering saturated fats and loads of fruit and veg. Hope that helps Pauline and let us know how you get on. Happy New Year. Heidi

http://glutenzone.ie

Kids Glutenzone

I love baking and cooking with my little lady. She loves making cakes and cookies just like any other seven year old. She also loves taking her creations to school to share with her friends and none of them know it is dairy and gluten free!!

Here's a simple recipe for spiced cookies but you can use anything, chocolate chips, peanut better, whatever you enjoy.

Recipe:
225g olive oil spread (you can use butter if you don't need dairy free, it does give the cookies more of a crunch)
1 egg
170g brown suagr
280g self raising flour (we use the Aldi one only €1.89!!)
1 tsp vanilla extract or seeds from a fresh vanilla pod
Dessert spoon of grounded mixed spice

Heat oven to 180 degrees.

Line baking sheets.

Add all ingredients into a blender and mix until made into a large ball.

With a spoon make small balls and place on baking tray (make sure mixture is not too wet, if this is the case add some more flour, but remember not to dry it out as gluten free baking all mixtures will be more wet than regular baking).

Place in oven and cook for 15 minutes or until lightly brown.

Leave out to cool before removing from baking tray.

             Gluten free spiced cookies made by Gracie Grimwood, age 7!

http://glutenzone.ie

Galway Independent - Coeliac Survival Guide for Christmas

Galway Independent - Coeliac Survival Guide for Christmas

Cashew Milk

If you are a little bored of rice or oat milk, not keen on the photo estrogen’s in soya milk and like me find it too time consuming to make almond milk – here’s a delicious milk, cheap, easy to make and I make gorgeous smoothies and even ice cream out of it!

Smoothie with cashew milk and banana – gluten and dairy free but really creamy!

To make milk (more than one portion)

1 cup raw cashews

3 cups water
1 teaspoon natural vanilla extract or 1/2 vanilla bean

• 
  

To make the smoothie

1 cup of milk and 1 very ripe banana

Blend in powerful blender and serve – perfect breakfast!

• Gluten Free Directory - Add or recommend your favourite gluten free businesses right here.

• 
  
• www.glutenzone.ie

• 
  

Gluten Free Halloween Candy Apples

My first attempt at Halloween Candy Apples!

We are only a small family so don't need lots but just double or triple the ingredients to do more - the measurements below made 6 candy apples.

Wooden sticks/skewers
6 apples
100g castar sugar
85g golden syrup
85ml water

Place in saucepan and stir until boiling and thickens.

Dip apples in the syrup and place on a flat tray with grease proof paper.

Leave to set and then enjoy!!

Gluten Free Beer in Ireland

If you are like me, when I was finally diagnosed as a Coeliac (or Celiac) then life became a little more challenging.

I find it fairly easy to eat at home, I am a nutritional therapist and other than the odd craving for freshly baked glutinous bread (it's the smell more than anything!) I eat very well at home. But once I go out it becomes more of a challenge for me.

With the Glutenzone directory, we aim to help make life a little easier. Some of you are simply looking to eat gluten free because you feel better, some feel it controls their weight, some feel less bloated and some, like me have improved my health no end. From constipation (I could go 7 days and nothing), to IBS - never want to be out and about when that happened, bloating, tummy pain, skin rashes, oh I could go on.

At Glutenzone we are supporting EVERYONE who wants to opt for a gluten free life, we support Coeliacs, Celiacs (American spelling), gluten free, NCGS, gluten intolerant, Paleo - anyone.

For this post I would like to introduce you to a fabulous range of gluten free beer.

As I enjoy the Rugby World Cup, my ladish ways tell me there is no better way to enjoy a weekend of watching the Rugby Quarter Finals than with a nice cold gluten free beer!

I have found mine in Supervalu and Tescos in Killarney.

We also have found a fabulous company in Portlaoise, Egan's beer and wine.

Egans Portlaoise stock 20 + Gluten Free beers. Exclusive agents for Daas Belgian Blond and Ambre. Selling shortly into bars and restaurants countrywide. Call into shop to see them.

http://eganswines.ie/craft-beers/gluten-free

Gluten free web directory http://www.glutenzone.ie

Sign up to our mailing list today and receive your FREE EBook

Sign up to our mailing list today and receive your FREE EBook - Beginners Guide to a Gluten Free Diet

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

Last Name