Franz GF Bread

There is a new gluten free bread in town that tastes really good and
has the texture of a normal yummy wheat bread, and it is delicious
and safe. Give it a try...you can find it at the Franz Bakery Outlet in
Hazel Dell on HWY 99 and 68th Street. Enjoy!

May GIG Meeting

Save the date for our next GIG Support Meeting

on Saturday, May 19th from 10am-12pm.
Our guest speakers are:
Health From The Heart, Dr. Julie Glass, ND
Elisha Joyce from Smarty Bars
Along with her yummy Smarty Bar samples, Elisha will
also be bringing her bars to sell. Cash or check only please!

Village at Van Mall Clubhouse
5000 NE 72nd Ave
Vancouver, WA 98661
Parking is on the street so please check the signs.
Don't forget to bring your food donations for the Food Bank.
See you there!

Iron:The Double-Edged Mineral

"Too much or too little can be harmful to your health. Iron is one heavy-duty mineral.
As many of you know, iron is used to make red blood cells—the oxygen transport system of the body. Once iron is absorbed into the bloodstream, it is stored in the ferritin molecule. Unless the iron is eliminated through blood loss as in the case of menstruation, child birth, physical injury or blood donation, most of it remains in the body where it is stored.
Iron stores are known to rise with age and, for many years, were considered harmless. But a landmark study in Finland published in the journal Circulation suggested that excessive iron stores rank right behind smoking as the most prevalent risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Elevated ferritin levels may contribute to heart damage—even after a heart attack—by producing free radicals which attack cellular integrity. It now appears that menstruating women are protected from heart disease from the loss of iron-rich blood during the menses.
It is estimated that the average female who is menstruating is losing approximately 500 mg of ferritin per year. If elevated (over 150 ng/mL for women and 300 ng/mL for men according to many integrative physicians), ferritin becomes an increasingly harmful risk factor for heart disease. The higher the ferritin, the more the oxidation of LDL cholesterol.
Consistently high ferritin levels can reflect a condition called hemochromatosis—an inherited disorder impacting about 1 out of every 200 to 300 Americans that causes the body to store excess iron in the tissues.
But doctors fail to recognize iron overload because the symptoms are so similar to other more familiar diseases like cirrhosis, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Iron overload can also cause hair loss, fatigue, abdominal pain and even irritable bowel syndrome.
For those suffering from hemochromatosis or individuals testing above 150 ng/mL, consider reducing iron intake by cutting out red meat and monitoring supplemental iron intake especially in vitamins and fortified cereals. Cut down on vitamin C and red wine during meals, which are both helpful in the absorption of iron (I know, I know).
Surprisingly, there are very few iron-free multivitamins on the market. This is the very reason that I made sure that UNI KEY developed iron-free options for both men and women (especially post-menopausal)—Iron-free Female Multiple, Iron-free Male Multiple, and Iron-free Dieters’ Multivitamin & Mineral.
On the other side of the coin, if the ferritin levels are below 30 ng/mL, this can be an indication for anemia—a condition in which the blood cannot carry sufficient oxygenation required for optimum health. You can also be anemic if your red blood cells are low in hemoglobin, or if you are just low on red blood cells. Adult anemia is usually caused by an iron, folic acid, and/or B12 deficiency. Your body cannot properly manufacture hemoglobin without these critical nutrients.
It may also seem puzzling that after the age of 50, anemia rises sharply—similar to iron overload. In this case, however, adults with iron deficiency are bleeding somewhere and are “wasting” iron. These conditions include ulcers, colitis, precancerous polyps, or even colon cancer. Poor digestion and malabsorption (think lack of hydrochloric acid) are also huge factors, as well as alcohol abuse. Other causes of anemia are chronic inflammation, kidney disease, and low testosterone in both men and women. Symptoms of low iron are somewhat similar to those of excess: fatigue, lifeless hair with cold hands, and cold feet.
To know the true state of your iron levels, at your next blood test, have your physician order a ferritin test, first and foremost. In addition, get a CBC or complete blood count. A normal red blood cell or erythrocyte reading will be between 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/mcL for women and 4.7 to 6.1 million cells/mcL for men.
Low Hemoglobin (Hb) would be under 12 g/dL for women and 14 g/dL for men. Larger than normal RBCs indicate a B12 and/or a folate deficiency, whereas small red blood cells suggest iron deficiency or sometimes lead poisoning.
If you are suffering from anemia, it is imperative that you shore up your digestion. Make sure you are taking sufficient digestive enzymes and especially an HCL supplement which helps in the absorption of all acid-based minerals, including iron. Take a high quality multivitamin with up to 18 mg of iron daily (the RDA for menstruating women). Sometimes the addition of B12 (make sure it is the methylated B12 for complete utilization) and folic acid is necessary. Additional digestive enzymes derived from plants are also important to take because they assist with both digestion and absorption.
Remember, iron overload or anemia are just symptoms—not a disease. Understanding the cause, along with the cure, are the best pathways to better health and longer life.
(Please note: All values and measurement increments may vary between different laboratories. Talk to your healthcare practitioner about the meaning of your specific test results.)"

-Edge On Health, Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman

May GIG Meeting

Save the date for our next GIG Support Meeting
on Saturday, May 19th from 10am-12pm.
Our guest speakers are:
Health From The Heart, Dr. Julie Glass, ND
Elisha Joyce from Smarty Bars
Along with her yummy Smarty Bar samples, Elisha will
also be bringing her bars to sell. Cash or checks only please!

Village at Van Mall Clubhouse
5000 NE 72nd Ave
Vancouver, WA 98661
Parking is on the street so please check the signs.
Don't forget to bring your food donations for the Food Bank.
See you there!

Alliance Update 2012 Vol. 2

Celebrate Celiac Awareness Month with  Cupcakes and a Countdown   One year ago, the national news outlets from coast to coast were buzzing about gluten-free labeling. The efforts in Washington,DC, building the world's tallest gluten free cake, and the gluten free labeling summit, produced RESULTS.  Congress and the FDA heard us and we ate cake! This year, we invite everyone to make cupcakes - - one for every year they have been gluten-free. Take a picture and post it to the ACDA's Facebook page. Then, post it on your Facebook page or blog and link to the ACDA's page.  The more likes we receive the more voices will be heard from our virtual community. People will vote by "liking" the photos, as well. Categories include: best presentation, most unique decorations and years of being gluten-free.  The winners will receive prizes of gluten-free products and coupons.  Among those gift giveaways come from many companies you know and love - - Glutino, Enjoy Life Foods, Mary's Gone Crackers, Savory Palate (Carol Fenster), Gluten-Free Makeovers (Beth Hillson), Jules Gluten Free, and many more.  Now for the Countdown.  The FDA has a goal of finishing the gluten-free standards by the end September.  That means there are 153 days until (fingers crossed) the U.S. finally has clear GF labeling.  The countdown begins on May 1st, the start of National Celiac Awareness Month   Don't forget to check our Facebook  and 1in133.org pages throughout the countdown as we highlight your cupcake entries!  Calling Labeling Advocates We Need USDA The majority of food products in this country (80%) are regulated by the FDA. So, when the labeling rules are finalized, our community will still have to monitor labels on meat and poultry products regulated by the USDA. There has been no word from USDA Secretary Vilsack about the need for GF labeling on foods overseen by his agency.  Consistent labeling is critical and we don't want to wait years for that to happen.  We're asking Secretary Vilsack to help us celebrate awareness month with a commitment to adopt the gluten-free labeling requirements, establish by FDA, once they are finalized later this year. Tell Secretary Vilsack -- It's Celiac Awareness Month. Commit NOW to one gluten-free labeling standard. Don't forget tweet that #advocate for #GFLabelingUSDA It's Not Too Late for  Awareness Month Proclamations There's still time to get an official proclamation for Celiac Awareness Month. Having the Governor or your state or local mayor make an official proclamation is one way to raise the visibility of celiac disease.  How can you make it happen? In many cases, a citizen needs just to ask.  This is a wonderful project for local support groups or students.  Remember elected officials and their staff want to be helpful and look forward to educating the public, particularly on health issues, whenever possible. Make it happen by following these steps . . .   North American Society   for the  Study of Celiac Disease  Leading physicians, scientists and researchers in the fields of celiac disease  and gluten sensitivity in the United States and Canada now have a professional organization dedicated to the study of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity.   The North American Society for the Study of Celiac Disease (NASSCD) has as its mission to advance the fields of celiac disease and gluten related disorders by fostering research, and by promoting excellence in clinical care, including diagnosis and treatment of patients with these conditions.  Membership in the organization is open to medical, scientific and allied health professionals in the fields of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.  Stefano Guandalini, M.D., founder and medical director of the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center, was elected as the NASSCD's first president.  Other ACDA Members on the Board of the NASSCD include Joseph A. Murray, M.D., Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN; and Peter H.R. Green, M.D., Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University.  read more Coming Events  May - National Celiac Awareness Month            6    Making Tracks for Celiacs          Arlington, VA 12     Making Tracks for Celiacs          Buffalo, NY          Syracuse, NY 19     Digestive Disease Week (thru May 22)          San Diego, CA  19     Making Tracks for Celiacs           Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN 20     Making Tracks for Celiacs           Baltimore, MD          Tri-County, MI      June   10    Making Tracks for Celiacs           Long Island, NY

Health and Wellness Volunteers

Hello,

It is getting close to time for our Event in Seattle on June 16^th.  I was wondering if you could help spread the word that we are in need of volunteers to help man some of the stations on Saturday.  I have the message below:

Are you willing to volunteer at GIG’s GF Health and Wellness Experience?

GIG needs volunteers to work at several different stations during the Experience on June 16^th.  I have listed these stations below:

Door monitor:  Make sure that everyone who goes into the exhibit space has a badge or a wrist band

Registration table:  Register people who want to enter the Experience at the door. 

Herb-Planting Booth:  Really fun booth!  People will perform some activity to win an herb-starter packet.

GIG Raffle/Sales Tables:  Sell raffle tickets and GIG sales items.  Hold three raffles throughout the day

General troubleshooter:  These people will work between the exhibitors and the hotel.  If an exhibitor needs help, they will take the issue to the hotel staff and/or work to resolve the situation

We are also looking for someone who would be willing to man a booth at the Experience for HomeFree.  You can view their website at:  www.homefreetreats.com  If you are interested, please contact Rebecca Powell at rebecca.powell@gluten.net and she can put you in touch with this company.

Volunteers will receive a free gluten-free meal and recognition on our website.  You can sign up at:  http://www.gluten.net/conference/volunteer.aspx 

I hope that I can see all of you there.  I am really looking forward to it.  Thank you!

Rebecca Powell

Systems Management Associate - Social Division

e:  rebecca.powell@gluten.net  p: 253-833-6655

 

Save the Date!  GIG's Health & Wellness Experience will be held in Seattle, WA on June 16th.  Ask us for more details.

 

Chocolate Fondue

Hello everyone!

 Just wanted to let you know that Scentsy has come out with a new brand called Velata. Velata has fondue warmers and premium Belgian chocolate. The idea is the same basic idea as a Scentsy warmer, warmed by a lightbulb, with a silicone dish.

The chocolate is FABULOUS!! My favorite dipper is bananas! I thought it would be strawberries, but bananas rule! :)

Interested in learning more? contact me, or go check out my website www.croyall.velata.us 

I will be doing parties as well with this one, so if you want free and half price that is the way to do it! You can also do a joint Scentsy/Velata party as well.

I cannot WAIT to fondue with you! :)

Best,

Cariann Royall

360-601-5472

www.croyall.velata.us

www.croyall.scentsy.us