More and more people are being diagnosed with gluten intolerance.  In fact, celiac disease (CD) is four times more common today than it was five decades ago, according to 2009 research performed at the Mayo Clinic.  CD is an autoimmune disorder, meaning the immune system treats gluten (found in wheat, spelt, barley, oats, and rye) as a toxin.  For every person diagnosed with celiac, experts believe there are many more people who have non-celiac gluten intolerance.  This condition is one in which a wide range of digestive problems occur when a person eats gluten.

I have probably always known that I had a high gluten intolerance and as I got older and more and more interested in nutrition I started cutting it out of my diet more and more.  I just felt better, my digestion was better, and my energy and skin reacted better when I ate more fruits and vegetables and less processed carbohydrates.  About 8 months ago, I completely took myself off of gluten and in 2 weeks felt very different.  I then went to a GI doctor to really get it tested through blood and stool samples.  Guess what?  Highly intolerant to gluten.  It’s always amazing what happens when you listen to your body right?

There are many symptoms associated with gluten intolerance such as: chronic fatigue, sinus infections, unwanted weight loss, bloating, stomach pain, skin rashes, etc.  If you or a family suffers from these side effects, it might be helpful for you to talk to your physician about taking a blood test and testing for celiac disease and also checking your antibodies for gluten to check out how tolerant your body is to gluten.

I have become a gluten expert so to say in the last several months and I thought I would impart some helpful tips to help you navigate what is gluten free and what is not.  More and more sellers and grocers are coming out with “gluten free” items, but we know marketing campaigns and labels are not always accurate.

4 tips for eating gluten free:

- Products labeled “gluten free” aren’t always good for you.  Choose items with few added sweeteners and are made from brown rice, millet, and other whole grains and not processed carbohydrates such as white flour.

- Gluten free is: brown rice, millet, buckwheat, amaranth, rice, potatoes, quinoa, and corn.  These are the basic starches that you can eat, but anything else not on this list probably has gluten.

- The Essential Gluten-Free Grocery Guide may be a great resource and is available at triumphdining.com

- There are many ready- made gluten free breads and muffins out there, but to save cash you can make your own.  Try “Alison’s Gluten- Free Baking Mix” recipe is on deliciousliving.com.

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Managing workplace stress is an on-going challenge for any busy professional or small business owner.  More and more wellness programs are being offered as incentives for employees to help mitigate stress levels and improve well-being in the workplace.  Buck Consulting put out a global survey of 600 organizations in 25 countries conducted last year found that workplace wellness programs are growing globally and doubling what was implemented last year, particularly in North America.  In another study conducted by investigators at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) it was found that nearly two out of three American adults say they don’t engage in routine exercise, “possibly because of demands of work and family.” Despite the benefits of regular exercise, it’s easy to not put our self care and well-being as the priority.

While it’s wonderful that the benefits of wellness programs and services are on the rise in this country, many work-sites don’t have access to these programs and services.  Therefore, here are some helpful tips you can implement into your work day to help put your health and wellness at the top of the list.

1. Manage your Time

Many  of us will start the day off by going right to the computer or blackberry before really setting our intention of what would be best for us that day.  We spend so much time on our computers everyday and often don’t give ourselves time to write down or organize what has priority.  Allow yourself to center in on your breath and then take 5 minutes writing out what would feel really good to get accomplished this day.

2.  Relax

Our eyes are open most of the day at work focusing on some work task, but our eyes often need a rest.  Take your hands together and rub them together generating heat.  Then invite the eyes to close and place your cupped hands over your eyes.  While your eyes are closed, take 10 deep breaths in and out and allow your body to relax.  You can do this practice as much as you need to throughout the day.

3.  Focus on the Present

In times like these when the impermanence our of our world feels quite pressing we can slow down and just breathe.  In our country,  we are battling job losses and now hoping for the best with an extreme oil spill that will affect many peoples quality of life and occupations.  These types of events can often have us spin into worrying about the future.  However, if we can remember to breathe even in these times of instability, we can find solace in our breath.  The breath is a connection to ourselves, our bodies, and the strength we can derive by being grounded in what is.   If we are to make healthy decisions and actions about our future, we first need to be grounded in what is and react from a conscious place of intention.

In addition, to using our breath to help us balance our minds we can also cultivate a gratitude practice.  When life is hard, we may not think there is anything to feel grateful for, but often in that same moment if we look a little further we can often find just as many things that we do appreciate.

Intuitive Wellness offers an integrative model of health and wellness solutions for the for individuals, small groups, and organizations.  For more information on services to aid in your or your organizations health and well-being, please visit us at www.intuitivelywell.com.