2022 Sunscreens, Gluten Free and Hormone Disrupter Free

May 8, 2022

The older I get, the more I learn, it is important what we put in our bodies as well as on our bodies. So, this years picks for gluten free, Hormone Disrupter free sunscreens is here!

Why Gluten Free Sunscreen?

As you sweat the sunscreen can run and get into your eyes, nose and mouth, thus entering into your system! Which can definitely cause a reaction. Years ago, my daughter came home from camp with a rash because a well meaning leader sprayed her with a sunscreen that contained gluten.

Many people will tell you, you can’t have a reaction from gluten being on your skin, my skin says differently! I also know a lot of gluten free people, from running a support group, that also react topically to gluten. This is why gluten free sunscreen is important to me.

It isn’t enough for your sunscreen to be gluten free, it also needs to be hormone disruptor free. Keep reading to find out why.

Why Hormone Disruptor Free?

If you have celiac disease, your are more prone to developing other conditions like diabetes and thyroid disease. Hormone disrupting chemicals increase that risk. A hormone disrupting chemical is one that either mimics or blocks your hormones. Some of these chemicals /toxins can build up in your tissues and become toxic.

2 of the most harmful chemicals are also very harmful for the coral reefs and are responsible for bleaching them. They are Oxybenzone and Octinoxate (Octylmethoxycinnamate). For more information about these 2 chemicals and others, check out this post that discusses hormone disrupting chemicals, what they are used for and the problems they cause.

Reef Safe does NOT mean that it is hormone free or gluten free.

The majority of spray on sunscreens are not hormone free. Click here to find certified gluten free sunscreens. The certified products on the list are there for being gluten free, some still contain harmful chemicals that should be avoided. Many brands have hormone free, chemical free, and gluten free products, but not all of their products may be safe. Check the labels to be sure.

This post contains affiliate
links. I include these links for your convenience. I earn a
small commission for the referral, but your price remains the same.

Safe Sunscreen Options 2022

These sunscreens are free of hormone disrupting chemicals and are gluten free. All of them are reef safe, as well. I am unaware of any other harmful ingredients in these products, at this time. Please double check ingredients, because like all products, ingredients can change for a multiple of reasons and may be inconsistent from one year to another.

Also, ingredients may be different throughout their line and may not be consistent across the product line.

We try a new sunscreen each year.

All Good

We tried this sunscreen a couple of years ago and it worked really well for our family.

They are also listed as being vegan and biodegradable.

Hypoallergenic and great for sensitive skin
Reef safe and hormone disruptor free
Zinc Oxide 16% (Non-nanoparticle)
Gluten free
EWG rating

Babo Botanicals Sunscreen

This one we are trying this year. So far we are liking it.

This product is free of: Gluten, Dairy, Soy, Peanuts, Almonds, Walnuts, SLS, Sulfates, Parabens, Phthalates, Silicone, Synthetic Fragrances, Dyes, Formaldehyde, MEA, DEA, TEA, Petroleum

Be aware that it does contain Tree Nuts, Shea Butter and Coconut

Reapply every 2 hours for best results
Great for sensitive skin
Fragrance Free and Hypoallergenic
Reef safe and hormone disruptor free
Zinc Oxide 20%
Gluten Free
EWG rating

Badger

Certified Gluten free! However, not all of their products are gluten free, only some of them are certified and free of gluten. Certified organic ingredients and no GMOs. Cruelty free, biodegradable and reef safe.

Reapply at least every 2 hours
Reef safe and hormone disruptor free
Uncoated Mineral Zinc Oxide 22.5%
Gluten Free
EWG rating

Earth Mama

Made for the whole family: adults, kids and babies! Gentle, natural and organic ingredients.

Water resistant for 40 minutes
Reef safe and hormone disruptor free
Zinc Oxide 25%
Gluten free
EWG rating

Erbaviva

Award winning, organically crafted and coral reef safe with non-nano zinc oxide, aloe, sunflower, jojoba oils infused with organic essential oils of chamomile and lavender. Erbaviva baby sunscreen (spf 30) effectively provides full spectrum protection (uva & uvb) for the entire family without the unwanted chemicals.

Reapply after swimming, towel drying or every couple of hours
Reef safe and hormone disruptor free
20% zinc oxide
Gluten free
EWG rating

Green Goddess

In a chat with Goddess Garden Organics, I was told all of their products are gluten free!

Reapply after swimming (80 minutes water resistant)
Reef safe and hormone disruptor free
Zinc Oxide 20%
Gluten Free
EWG rating

Kokua

Made in Hawaii and safe for the reefs. They use a natural resin extract instead of beeswax. There are 23 antioxidants in this sunscreen. They really want to look out for your skin and keep it from being damaged or aging prematurely.

Shelf life 2 years
Reef safe and hormone disruptor free
(25%) of non-nano zinc oxide
Gluten free
EWG rating

Loving Naturals

Safe for baby and great for athletes. It does contain Mangifera Indica seed butter which is made from mango. I have a daughter anaphylactic to mango and so this is a concern for us.

Reapply every 2 hours sooner if swimming or sweating (80 minutes)
Reef safe and hormone disruptor free
Non-Nano Zinc Oxide
Gluten free
EWG rating

Suntegrity

I love the fruity smell of this sunscreen. We tried this a few years ago and it is one of my favorites! They also offer a non-scented version. The company also says it is great for babies but remember sunscreen shouldn’t be used on babies younger than 6 months without talking to your doctor.

Reef safe and hormone disruptor free
20% Zinc-Oxide (non-nano)
Gluten free
EWG rating

Happy Summer!

I hope this list helps you to find safe sunscreen that you love! Watch out for other allergy reactions, but hopefully this list will cut down on those issues too. Have a happy and safe time playing in the sun!

Alone in Your Gluten Free Journey

Aug 10, 2020

Are you alone in your gluten free journey? Are you unsupported by your family, friends, co-workers, doctor, and/or those closest to you?

Alone in your Gluten Free Journey - Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/StockSnap-894430/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2591874">StockSnap</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2591874">Pixabay</a>

It is never easy to change your diet. When someone, like a doctor tells you it is medically necessary, it is complex. You know you need to, but may feel forced into making that change. Now, don’t get me wrong, it can be just as difficult if you have come to this decision through other means. Not having support makes it much more difficult.

A Medical Diagnosis

With a medical diagnosis, you at least have the doctor and others in the medical field on your side. (If you have the right doctors.) There are support groups and so much information to be found. It is extremely helpful when you have a definitive answer to why you need to be gluten free, through having a diagnosis.

If you have read very much of what I write, you know how important I believe getting a diagnosis is. However, it isn’t always possible. I feel it is important to warn people, to not decide they are NOT celiac, if they haven’t been tested. You CANNOT know for certain that it isn’t celiac without full testing.

Testing

Another complication is that testing isn’t perfect. The damage to the intestines can be missed, even if you have had biopsies. Damage to the intestines happens in patches, so if they don’t get the right patch, the damage is not found. You may need to be tested more than once or twice. Having a firm diagnosis helps you to know exactly what you are dealing with.

Gluten free without an official diagnosis

This can be a hard route to go. Just because you test negative one time doesn’t mean that you are free and clear, especially if the disease is in your family. Family members of those with celiac, should have periodic testing whether they have symptoms or not.

If you are lucky and look really hard, you may find a doctor who understands that diagnosis can be tricky and some people suffer from gluten intolerance or other conditions.

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links for your convenience. I earn a small commission for the referral, but your price remains the same.

Reasons people don’t get a firm diagnosis

Not enough biopsy samples
Too expensive to be tested/ no insurance
If it is a child, doctors are very reluctant to continue testing without a positive blood test.
There aren’t tests for intolerance. Everything else is ruled out, in order to get the diagnosis of non-celiac gluten intolerance.
Many people don’t understand, other diseases also respond better to treatment, when gluten free: crohn’s and thyroid disease are two great examples.

Unsupportive Family Members

This can be harder than not being supported by your doctor. Not being supported by those you love makes this dietary change not only challenging but sometimes impossible!

I have seen parents, unsupportive of their own children who need to be gluten free and tell them figuring out is their responsibility. I’m talking about children 14 or younger. Or even worse, not believing they need to be gluten free and continuing to feed them gluten, thinking that a little bit won’t hurt.

I know spouses who tempt and torment the one needing to be gluten free; it is never fun to live with a bully! Sometimes they even go so far as to make it difficult or impossible for the spouse to eat gluten free. This is medical abuse, your life and health is being put at risk of other diseases and complications related to celiac disease.

The prescription for celiac and gluten intolerance is eating gluten free!

What Can You Do?

Medically:

Don’t go gluten free before being tested.
Keep looking for a doctor you can trust and who will listen to you.
Learn what you can from accurate sources about gluten intolerance, celiac disease and any other medical issues you have.
Always get copies of your blood work- be involved in your medical journey. You are your own advocate!
Ask questions to doctors and nurses. Even if they get annoyed.

Dealing with family

Stick to your diet regardless of what family is doing.
Learn everything you can about being gluten free and how to do it safely in a shared kitchen.
Cook and shop for yourself.
Try to educate family members about your medical condition and how the gluten free diet is the prescription.
*It is much harder if you are a child or a spouse in a controlling relationship. You may want to seek counseling, ask your doctor for help/resources, or do what you can to change your environment.
Join a local support group. If you don’t have support at home or with your family, a support group can be especially helpful to talk about issues and difficulties.
Many places have Facebook groups in different areas. There might be one near you or you might consider starting one up, so you can help and support one another. Example: Gluten Intolerance Group of Utah County (Gluten Intolerance Group is a national organization and trademarked. Do not use their name if you begin a group, unless it is with them and okayed by them.) or Gluten Free in Utah County
Be consistent with your diet. If you don’t take it seriously, neither will anyone else.

Work and School

Take your own food.
Get a 504 plan with the school.
Bullying isn’t tolerated in the work place and should be reported to HR. Most states have laws about work place bullying.

Move Forward

Alone in your gf journey- moving forward Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=918900">Free-Photos</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=918900">Pixabay</a>

Especially if you have a diagnosis, stick to being gluten free even though it is difficult. Be your own advocate.

Find a support group
Look for on line resources, blogs, Pinterest pages, reputable groups and organizations.
Many areas have gluten free pages on Facebook
Try gluten free apps here’s my favorite.
Look to help, support and mentor others. You will help yourself in the process and it is very rewarding.

COVID-19 aka Corona Virus Quarantine To Dos

Mar 17, 2020

So, here we all are, taking precautions by quarantining at home, due to the corona virus (COVID-19). Many people have been sent to work from home. Kids are home from school and many have gone from having empty houses during the day to full houses 24 hours, non-stop. Schedules have come to a stand still and seriously disrupted. What to do?!

You can find official information and guidelines at the CDC.

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links for your convenience. I earn a small commission for the referral, but your price remains the same.

Clean-make your home a corona free zone

Not the most appealing thing to have on the list, but very productive! Do all that deep cleaning you have meant to get around to. It is almost spring, after all.

It felt so good getting the cobwebs out of the corners of my bathroom, wiping down the walls and washing the curtains! Hopefully you have cleaners on hand. Remember that vinegar is a great alternative to industrial cleaners.

Make sure you also hit those everyday surfaces: door knobs, remotes, mouse, keyboard, light switches and banisters.

Play Games

This is the perfect time to build family memories! Make the best of it! If you need some fun game ideas here are a few that we have found to be enjoyable.

Games for Younger Kids

I don’t have young kids at home, but these ones are fun!

Garden

It is so nice! At least we aren’t all stuck inside with it pouring rain out (knock on wood)! What a great time to get outside and enjoy the spring sun! The sun is good combat against the virus!

Puzzles

I love puzzles, but finding time to do them isn’t always easy. This quarantine is a great opportunity and excuse to do them!

Learn Something New

Learn something new. There are so many avenues to do this from YouTube to Amazon! What are your interests or a new hobby you have wanted to try out?

Build It

Speak It

One of my kids favorite things to do is to learn new languages. You Tube is also great for this!

Write It Down

Improve your writing skills and write about that time you were in quarantine with your entire family. Or learn how to write in fancy ways!

Explore Poetry

Poetry can be so much fun. Along those same lines, so are alliterations and idioms.

Draw It

There are so many ways to express one’s self! Drawing can come in handy in so many situations and be quite relaxing. No pressure, you don’t have to be fantastic right away, it is a skill that takes time to sharpen and acquire.

Explore Your Artistic Side

Painting is very relaxing and fun to do. So many tutorials and ways to learn or freestyle your way to some fun and creative art.

Create It

Try your hand at sewing, crocheting or knitting. There are many blogs and You Tube channels that can help you get started. Or I have a few patterns for crocheting on my blog.

Make it to eat it

Now may be a good time to try a new recipe, bake something, or just teach your kids how to cook. I love Pinterest for finding new foods and fun things to make!

Go Outdoors

There are many sources that say outdoors helps fight the Corona virus (COVID-19). Just keep to yourself. You are still social distancing, there’s a lot of room in the great outdoors! The general rule appears to be keeping 6 feet between yourself and other people whom you don’t live with.

*Kids should not be playing together on a playground.

Go for a bike ride
Go for a walk
Go running or jogging
Take a nature walk on a trail
Hike
Have a picnic (your own yard or a park where you can maintain social distancing)
Tennis
Visit with someone who can’t get outside, through their window

We will get through the Corona Virus Quarantine!

Times are tough, but we can make the best of our situations by being creative, taking precautions, and making the most of this time. We won’t let COVID-19 aka Corona Virus get the best of us!

For more information on the Corona Virus check out the CDC website.

The Toilet Paper Crisis of 2020- A celiac nightmare

Mar 4, 2020

Normally I am prepared and have extra toilet paper on hand, but I have had bigger things going on in my life, than remembering to stock up on toilet paper! We have had big changes in our household with our daughter and granddaughter moving in with us.

I was caught unaware of the mass hysteria building outside my house. Of course, I heard about the Coronavirus and have been paying cautious attention. Imagine my surprise when I realized we just opened the last toilet paper in the house (a house with 6 people who have celiac, crohn’s and gluten intolerance), and there is no toilet paper at the local store and warehouse!!!!

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links for your convenience. I earn a small commission for the referral, but your price remains the same.

Toilet paper Crisis 2020 — Image by Shutterbug75 from Pixabay

Toilet Paper Gone in 1 Hour!

Every where we went they told us it was sold out in an hour! An hour!!!! How am I supposed to get toilet paper when no one can keep it in stock?! It’s not that these people need toilet paper, it’s simply mass hysteria causing people to hoard loads and loads of toilet paper and water!

So, knowing I had to be there when the store opened, there I was and the store opened early!!! The line was already super long and everyone was in a crazy hurry to get to the supplies! Thankfully, they put a limit on how much toilet paper you can buy at one time! I was able to get what I normally buy!

Toilet paper Crisis of 2020 — Image by Alexas_Fotos from Pixabay

Please!!! Calm Down!!!

I had one woman hit into my cart, it was uncomfortably close to my leg! Trying to get from the store to my car, I was almost hit twice by cars driving crazy in the parking lot! Then, again, after putting my cart away and walking back to my car, I was nearly hit by a driver who was driving crazy to get a parking space that just opened up.

People are rushing and acting crazy and there isn’t an outbreak! There is no emergency! This is just panic over the possibility of a quarantine that may or may not materialize!

The Real Crisis

The real crisis is the mass hysteria, being hyped up by the media, causing people to lose their ever lovin’ minds!!!! Even the governor of our state has tried to reassure people to calm down. No need to buy massive amounts of anything, especially water. We won’t lose services if there needs to be a quarantine. We will still have water and services.

Toilet Paper Crisis of 2020, don't forget the water — Image by David Mark from Pixabay

There is a crisis in people who genuinely need toilet paper, being unable to get it because it is being hoarded!!! There is a crisis in other supplies due to hoarding as well. What we are seeing goes beyond being prepared.

A Plea

Let’s please get some common sense back! Come back down to Earth everyone! It’s okay and good to be prepared, but hey, stop with the craziness! People are stocking up like they are never going to have toilet paper or bottled water again!

Toilet paper crisis of 2020- wash your hands, stay home if you are sick — Image by jacqueline macou from Pixabay

Take a few minutes and think about this manufactured crisis (the crisis over toilet paper, not the virus). It is scary, people are dying, but the cases in the United States are small. Precautions to not spread the disease around are being taken and urged so strongly to the public that people are going crazy! What you do need to do is calm down, wash your hands, cover your coughing and sneezing, stay home if you are sick, see a doctor (if you suspect you have the Coronavirus, call ahead and let them know your suspicion) and be sensible about your supplies.

Please check out the CDC website for accurate information on the Covid-19.

Oh, and if you do have auto-immune diseases and conditions like celiac, crohn’s and gluten intolerance, it may be a good idea to stock up!

Best Sun Care for Baby

Apr 23, 2019

Sun care for Baby is important to think about and plan for. A baby’s skin is delicate, thinner and more vulnerable to being damaged by the sun. In fact, researchers say, that from the time an infant is born to 6 months old, their skin is very vulnerable. Babies do NOT need a tan!

One of the reasons their skin is so vulnerable to sun damage is because they haven’t yet developed all the melanin their body needs. The melanin is what your skin pigment is made of and it helps give you some protection from sun’s rays. Babies bodies are still developing, they aren’t done yet.

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links for your convenience. I earn a small commission for the referral, but your price remains the same.

Infant Sun Care

Do NOT use sunscreen on infants under 6 months! Consult with your doctor about sunscreen and sun safety, with babies under 6 months old.

Sun burns on baby can quickly become an emergency. It can cause dehydration, high fever, chills, infections and heatstroke. Not to mention increasing their chances for problems with skin cancer. Babies are more likely to die from a sun/heat medical emergency than older children and adults.

Babies should be sheltered from being in the hot sun as much as possible. Their delicate new skin needs to be protected from the harsh rays. Stay in the shade as much as possible and cover baby with light clothing that covers arms and legs (careful baby doesn’t overheat). Using a big brimmed hat is helpful as well in shielding them from the sun.

Sunglasses and Cars

Did you know there is melanin in your eyes, too? Just like the skin this isn’t fully developed in infants and their eyes should also be protected. Baby sunglasses that protect eyes from UV rays can be found in many places.

They can also be exposed to the sun through the car windows and be burned. UV shields for windows can help this problem. Come up with a system to help you remember you have baby in the back seat, so baby is never left in the heat by mistake. This can be an object that you put on the steering wheel, around your water bottle, or on the front seat that gives you a visual cue to help you remember.

When to use sunscreen

It is illegal for companies to market sunscreen to or for children under 6 months of age. If you feel you need to use a sunscreen consult with your doctor before doing so.

So, 6 months is the magic number for sunscreen. Put sunscreen on all areas that are exposed to the sun and remember to re-apply as you are in the sun, swimming or sweating. It is a good idea to do a test area on your child like the inside of their wrist to make sure they aren’t going to have a negative reaction to something in it.

There are a lot of chemicals in sunscreens to be wary of. Remember that a baby’s skin is still delicate and thinner than an adults. Many sunscreens are formulated to go deep into the layers of skin, so be sure to get sunscreen that is safe for babies and kids. Sunscreen made for babies and kids often are formulated differently and have less chemicals.

I recommend avoiding all spray on sunscreens, because they are laden with chemicals that aren’t good for anyone, especially baby. Those chemicals get inhaled when they are sprayed. Also, many sunscreens contain hormone disrupting chemicals, these chemicals mimic or block hormones.

Safe Sunscreen

My criteria for the sunscreen I list here are: hormone disrupting chemicals free, non-nano zinc, and gluten free. * Some are certified gluten free, but being certified gluten free doesn’t mean it is free of other harmful chemicals. (Just a reminder.) Also, some companies with safe sunscreens also make unsafe products. Check the ingredients to be sure you are getting the best for your child.

Babo Botanicals

This sunscreen does contain a tree nut, Shea butter, but is free of peanuts, almonds and walnuts. It also doesn’t have any gluten, dairy, or soy! There are no SLS, Sulfates, parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, dyes, sodium chloride, formaldehyde, MEA, DEA or TEA. *They do not have a rating by EWG, that I could find.

Broad spectrum protection from UVA and UVB rays
Non-nano zinc oxide (20%)
Vegan – cruelty free, B corp certified
Water resistant and reef safe
No hormone disrupting chemicals
Free of gluten, dairy and soy
Synthetic fragrance free

All Good

This reef safe sunscreen is also great for kids! Highly rated by EWG.

Non-nano Zinc (16%)
UVA/UVB broad spectrum protection
Water resistant and reef safe
No hormone disrupting chemicals
Gluten free

Thinkbaby

This Mom’s Choice award winner has a lot going for it. Highly rated at EWG.

Non-nano Zinc (Average particle size>100 micron)
UVA/UVB broad spectrum protection
Water resistant and reef safe
No hormone disrupting chemicals
Paraben, phthalates, PABA and 1,4 dioxane free
Gluten free (3rd party verified)
No animal testing-Leaping Bunny Member
Made in the USA

Baby Bum

This product is made by SunBum. I have been disappointed in other products in their line, (because while they are reef safe, they still contain hdcs), but they have done a fantastic job with their baby products! It looks like Sun Bum hasn’t been rated at EWG since 2016. It does have a great rating, though.

Non-nano Zinc (20%)
UVA/UVB broad spectrum protection
Water resistant and reef safe
No hormone disrupting chemicals
Gluten free
Fragrance Free, Sulfate Free, Dye Free, Silicone Free
Petroleum Free, Talc Free, Formaldehyde Donor Free, Glycol Free, Mineral Oil Free
Propylene Glycol Free and Retinyl Palmitate Free
Vegan- cruelty free

Badger

Great ingredients, but they recommend re-applying every 40 minutes. Highly rated by EWG.

Non-nano Zinc (18.75%)
UVA/UVB broad spectrum protection
Water resistant and reef safe
No hormone disrupting chemicals
Gluten free
Non-GMO certified by NSF to NSF Non-GMO True North
98% organic ingredients
Cruelty free- Leaping Bunny

Adorable Baby

Made from all organic products. Highly rated by EWG.

Non-nano Zinc (24.7%)
UVA/UVB broad spectrum protection
Water resistant and reef safe
No hormone disrupting chemicals
Gluten free (*verified through e-mail)

More Sunscreen Info.

I have written a few posts about sunscreen and the harmful chemicals in them and why they are harmful. As well as what other sunscreens are without these chemicals and are gluten free. I also write about why gluten free sunscreen is important to me. Check them out here: Harmful Chemicals in Sunscreen and Safe Sunscreens 2019- Hormone Free and Gluten Free

Safe Sunscreens 2019- Free of Gluten and Hormone Disrupters

Apr 19, 2019

Safe sunscreens are a must. You don’t want to burn, but you also don’t want a negative reaction and other medical problems caused by your sunscreen. Many sunscreens contain harmful chemicals. These chemicals can be detrimental for your health and the environment. Also,if you have celiac or react to gluten, you should consider a gluten free sunscreen. Then, there are the hormone disrupting chemicals you need to be aware of. I have addressed the harmful chemicals and what they are and what they do, in this post, you can check it out.

Safe Sunscreen

Gluten Free

Why you should look for a gluten free sunscreen. Okay, so everyone will tell you that if you have celiac, you don’t need to worry about what you put on your skin, because the gluten protein is too big to absorb through your pores. However, there are many people with celiac or other gluten issues who react to gluten topically. (I am one of those people! The reaction is horrible!!!)

Also, if you get the sunscreen in your eyes or on your lips and in your mouth, that is one way to get cross contact with gluten. I have had sweaty sunscreen run into my eyes and mouth before and it isn’t pleasant. Even worse, if it causes you to react to the gluten. If the sunscreen is on your hands and you are eating, you can get cross contact that way as well.

For me and my family, finding a gluten free sunscreen is important, but we also want it to be free of hormone disrupting chemicals and here is why: having celiac makes us more likely to develop other auto-immune diseases. Chemicals that disrupt hormones increases that risk. My youngest daughter, has Hashimoto’s disease and the last thing she needs is more problems with her hormones.

Gluten free or certified gluten free doesn’t mean it doesn’t have other issues that are unsafe.

Free of Hormone Disrupting Chemicals

Reef Safe does NOT mean that is is hormone free or gluten free.

The majority of spray on sunscreens are not hormone free. Click here to find certified gluten free sunscreens. The certified products on the list are there for being gluten free, some still contain harmful chemicals that should be avoided. Many brands have hormone free, chemical free, and gluten free products, but not all of their products may be safe. Check the labels to be sure.

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links for your convenience. I earn a small commission for the referral, but your price remains the same.

Safe Sunscreen Options

These sunscreens are free of hormone disrupting chemicals and are gluten free. All of them are reef safe, as well. I am unaware of any other harmful ingredients in these products, at this time.

ThinkSport

3rd party verified for being gluten free. They are a Leaping Bunny member; meaning they don’t test on animals. Rated well by EWG. Sunscreen should be re-applied every 80 minutes for the best protection when sweating or swimming. Consult a doctor for children 6 months and younger.

Mineral based, water-resistent, no PABA, parabens or BPA. Non-nano zinc oxide.

Great for travel with the 3 oz bottle, it is approved by the FDA for carry on baggage.-

All Good

Lists their products as being gluten free on their web-site. Free of hormone disrupting chemicals and safe for the coral reef. Excellent rating by EWG. Their sunscreens are vegan and biodegradable.

This particular brand is tinted so you can be sure you are getting covered. Re-apply every 80 minutes.

Fragrance free, non-nano zinc (18%), vegan, and biodegradable.

Babo Botanicals

*No phlalates- fragrance free, soy free, gluten free and dairy free. They use certified organic oils. Safe for adults and kids. Hypo-allergenic, but does contain Shea butter. Has mixed ratings at EWG depending on the product from their line.

Non-nano Zinc (19%)

Suntegrity

Phthalates free, as well as free of other hormone disrupting chemicals. They have no gluten ingredients, but haven’t been tested and will not make a definitive statement for that reason. They have excellent ratings at EWG. Contains organic ingredients. Contains a small amount of essential oils, but their tinted face sunscreen and no fragrance sunscreens are the way to go. They are also free of mineral oil.

Non-Nano (20%)

Leaping Bunny certified

Badger

Un-coated clear zinc oxide (22.5%) and fragrance free.

Raw Elements

Really good ratings a EWG. Safe for the reefs and biodegradable. This sunscreen is also soy and nut free, besides being gluten free. Re-apply every 80 minutes. Non nano (23%) and hormone disrupting chemical free. USDA certified organic. It does contain Mangifera Indica seed butter which is made from mango. I have a daughter anaphylactic to mango and so this is a concern for us.

Kokua

Excellent EWG ratings. Made in Hawaii and safe for the reefs. Non-nano zinc (25%), hormone disrupting chemicals free, biodegradable, and broad spectrum protection. They are also gluten free! They use a natural resin extract instead of beeswax. There are 23 antioxidants in this sunscreen. They really want to look out for your skin and keep it from being damaged or aging prematurely. I can’t wait to try this sunscreen!

Raw Love

Could not find an EWG rating. Non-Nano, free of hormone disrupting chemicals, and made with natural ingredients, they don’t use fillers. The owner of the company is gluten free and developed her sunscreen to be safe for her skin. Needing skin products that were hormone disrupting free, were a necessity as well. Cute company in Hawaii. Re-apply often.

Loving Naturals

Verified gluten free through e-mail. This sunscreen has a high EWG rating. Should be applied every 40 minutes. They use all natural ingredients and are part of the Leaping Bunny Program. No testing on animals, cruelty free. Broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection.

Goddess Garden

In a chat with Goddess Garden Organics, I was told all of their products are gluten free! Excellent ratings at EWG. New sheer formula in their daily mineral sunscreen. Non-nano zinc oxide and is reef safe without harmful chemicals for you and your skin.

True Naturals

All their products are gluten free and vegan, according to the ingredient statement on their page. Great ratings by EWG. Their sensitive skin formula is especially great for those prone to allergies. Certified organic.

California Baby

From their website: “California Baby products are free of common allergens such as gluten, milk/casein, egg, peanut, walnut, cashew, almond and pecans, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat.” (does contain coconut) Great EWG ratings. Award winning, cruelty free sunscreen. Apply every 80 minutes

Kabana Organic Skincare

Green Screen D Organic SPF 35 is free of common allergens: soy-free, gluten-free, corn-free, dairy-free, Non-GMO and vegetarian. Mixed reviews on EWG. Contains 6 certified organic and mineral ingredients. 25% non-nano zinc oxide.

I hope this post helps you to find safe sunscreens for all your outdoor play, this year!

For babies check out this post on Best Sun Care For Babies. You don’t want to use the same sunscreen on babies as you do on yourself.

7 Harmful Chemicals Found in Sunscreen

Apr 15, 2019

There are far more than 7 harmful chemicals that may be in your sunscreen. I am focusing on 7 of the most harmful chemicals to your body, because they are endocrine (hormone) disrupters and some do damage to the coral reefs.

Sunscreen isn’t only a potential hazard for your health, but also to the coral reefs and marine life. Have you heard about how sunscreen is harming the coral reefs? It is pretty startling and some places are banning harmful sunscreens. (*Not all hormone disrupting chemicals damage the reefs. A sunscreen may be reef safe, but still contain harmful hormone disrupting chemicals.) Interestingly, the same chemicals that are harmful to the reefs and ocean life, are also harmful to us! They are known to be harmful and yet are still used in the majority of sunscreens!

Hormone Disrupters

What is a hormone disrupter and why should you avoid it?

Great questions! Hormone disrupters mimic or block your hormones and interfere with your body’s natural functions. They are confusing to your body and how it functions; they absorb through your skin and into your system.

This is of course bad for everyone, but is especially worrisome if you have a health condition like celiac or thyroid disease. Celiac makes you more prone to developing auto-immune thyroid disease and diabetes. Hormone disruption chemicals increase that risk. Also, another term for hormone disrupting chemicals is endocrine disruptor. Meaning it can disrupt your endocrine system, which is largely responsible for regulating hormones.

This is an incomplete list of health issues caused by Hormone Disrupting Chemicals:

Problems with sperm quality and fertility
Abnormalities in sex organs (fibroids, undescended testicles, and urethra defects)
Early puberty and early menopause
Endometriosis
Alter the function of the nervous system (possible connections to autism and ADD for example)
Effect immune function
Linked to some cancers
Respiratory Problems
Metabolic diseases – obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hyperlipidemia
Cardiovascular problems
May effect growth
Neurological and learning disabilities

Harmful Chemicals

This is not a complete list of harmful chemical that are found in some sunscreens. I am focusing on the ones that are commonly known as harmful due to hormone disrupters and what they do to the coral reefs.

Oxybenzone and Octinoxate appear to be two of the most harmful chemicals found in sunscreen, for the reefs, marine life, and you. Some people say that you can taste the fragrances used in sunscreens, when you eat fish from the ocean. For example, your fish may taste like it has had a coconut seasoning or cooked in coconut oil, when in reality, no coconut was used in seasoning or cooking the fish.

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links for your convenience to be able to find similar items to what I am using. I earn a small commission for the referral, but your price remains the same.

1 Oxybenzone or Benzophenone-3

This chemical in sunscreen and cosmetics is used because it absorbs harmful UV rays from the sun. However, there are several problems with this chemical! Oxybenzone is known to cause allergic skin reactions. “In laboratory studies it is a weak estrogen and has potent anti-androgenic effects.” (http://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/the-trouble-with-sunscreen-chemicals/) It acts like estrogen, in the body, disrupting natural hormone levels. (Making it a hormone disrupter.)

Some research has shown, teen boys have a lower testosterone level when they have high levels of oxybenzone in their systems. The chemical has also been detected in breast milk, may contribute to endometriosis, and poor sperm quality in men.

Yikes! It is also the main culprit to damaging the reefs, because it acts as a bleaching agent.

2 Avobenzone and Benzophenone

This is another chemical that helps to protect you against UV rays. However, it is less stable and breaks down quickly. It only gives about 30 minutes of protection, so other chemicals have to be added to help it break down slower and last longer.

Problems with this are similar to above: skin irritation, acne and rashes, and is a hormone disrupter. Even worse is the research that show avobenzone, becomes toxic when in chlorine. Studies have shown this toxicity can result in problems with the kidneys, liver and nervous system.

*I don’t know why Avobenzone is allowed in sunscreens that are considered reef safe,

3 Homosalate

Often paired with Avobenzone is homosalate. They are put together because the homosalate allows the sunscreen to absorb quickly and deeper into your layers of skin.

Homosalate disrupts estrogen, androgen, and progesterone. Besides being a hormone disrupter it may also enhance the absorption of pesticides! (http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/homosalate/) Another issue sited, is that it may take longer for our bodies to get rid of the chemicals, causing it to build up and be toxic.

4 Octinoxate (Octylmethoxycinnamate)

Octinoxate (Octylmethoxycinnamate) Another hormone disrupter to watch out for. It disrupts the hormones as it mimics estrogen and can disrupt the function of the thyroid. (http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/octinoxate/) Studies show it can also affect the reproductive system and may be linked to breast cancer. (http://www.thedermreview.com/octinoxate/)Not only is this chemical found in sunscreen but also in hair color products, lip stick, shampoo, lotion, nail polish and skin cream.

In sunscreens, this chemical is used for UV ray filtering and absorbs quickly into the skin. This chemical has been found in breast milk, urine, and blood of those who regularly use sunscreen.

Bleaches the coral reefs.

5 Cylcopentasiloxane / Cyclomethicone

This chemical is added to sunscreen for the purpose of soft skin and smooth follicles. The problem is, it is known to cause health problems, accumulate in marine life, and is toxic. May cause problems with reproducing and be an endocrine disrupter.

6 Phthalates

This chemical is especially bad, if you are a guy. It blocks male hormones, causes problems in development, reproduction, and normal brain function. These chemicals are endocrine disrupters. Why are they used in products? To smell good. They are part of the fragrance.

7 Parabens

Parabens are preservatives. If you have ever made your own beauty products you know they can spoil quickly, because they don’t have preservatives in them and some of them, like homemade shampoo may need to be kept refrigerated. Chemicals that are parabens will have “paraben” in the word, but may be listed as: propylparaben, benzylparaben, methylparaben and butylparaben.

2 big health issues with parabens: they are suspected of causing cancer and they are hormone disrupters.

As far as the environment goes, these chemicals have been found in marine life.

What now?

Most mineral sunscreens are free of these chemicals. Here are a few suggestions:

For more safe sunscreens check out this post for 2019!

Special Puppy Treat For Special Occasions- Gluten Free

Mar 9, 2019

My daughter spoils our dog! Penny is now 7 years old and she often wants a treat along with everyone else. We have all kinds of treats for her, but on special occasions it is fun to give her a special puppy treat!

Is it healthy for my dog?

The answer is: yes and no.

The peanut butter is awesome for your dog! Peanut butter is loaded with all kinds of proteins, vitamins and healthy fats. However, make sure to avoid sugar free and/or lite peanut butter. To replace the sugar they load it up with sugar substitutes, like xylitol, which is toxic for dogs. (As are other artificial sweeteners, but I think xylitol is the most harmful.)

The whip cream isn’t harmful and dogs love it! However, it may bother some dog’s tummies. Also, you shouldn’t do a lot, even though they love it! Whipped cream has a lot of sugar and fats that aren’t necessarily the best for your favorite puppy. (Honestly, my daughter should put a little less whipped cream. Also, just found out that the best peanut butter for her is raw and unsalted, we use Jiff.)

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links for your convenience. I earn a small commission for the referral, but your price remains the same.

Special Puppy Treat Ingredients:

A small paper plate (dessert size)

Peanut butter (preferably raw and unsalted, according to Cesar)
Whipped cream

Constructing the Puppy Treat:

1st spread a thin layer of peanut butter across the plate.

Next, apply the whipped cream.

Puppy Treat for a special occasion- gluten free-

Look at that anticipation!

Enjoying Her Treat

Penny is a well trained dog and knows where she is to eat and to wait patiently until told it is time.

Penny always gets her treat at the carpet, by the back door. The plate doesn’t slide as much when she eats here. She patiently waits for the release word that tells her it is time to eat!

If you look closely you can see she still has whip cream just under her nose! She has really enjoyed her treat!

Specail puppy treat for a special occasion- gluten free

It is fun to give her something she really enjoys, once in a while!

Why does it matter that it is gluten free?

Our family is gluten free because of celiac, crohn’s and other medical conditions that respond better when you are on a gluten free diet. Okay, so our dog doesn’t have any of those, so why should she have to be gluten free, too?

Well, because my dog doesn’t wash her face and brush her teeth after she eats, before she licks me. I react topically to gluten and I need to minimize gluten exposure risks as much as possible. It is miserable to break out in a rash because of gluten and one exposure can last for months!

Some other risks, come from the gluten that goes in the air when putting her dog food in her bowl or touching her dog food or treats that contain gluten. Breathing in the gluten definitely is not good! Also, If I forget to wash my hands and touch my lips, skin, table or counter there is now cross contamination risks that can cause me to have a reaction.

A reaction to gluten typically lasts 3-5 days, at least the most obvious symptoms do. Some doctors say that the reaction can continue virtually unnoticed in your body for up to two months. However, on the skin I have experienced reactions that last for several months and took a steroid shot to calm it down.

I Am Glad Gluten Free Foods Are NOT Fortified

Feb 27, 2019

Why I am glad that most gluten free foods are NOT fortified.

Seems like a crazy statement, I know. I used to think it would be great if they would fortify the gluten free foods and cereals like so many gluten foods are fortified. However, as I have recently been doing research into the MTHFR gene defect/mutation and the problems and issues with it, I have changed my mind about fortified foods!

Also, some companies are fortifying their gf foods, so make sure you are reading labels.

I am not a doctor. I am sharing what I have learned in the quest to help myself and my family have better health. Please do your own research and talk to your doctor.

What is fortification?

We see fortified on a lot of processed foods, especially cereals. However, there is also fortification to milk and juice. So, what exactly does it mean when a food is fortified?

It means that a nutrient is added to a food when the ingredients in that food never included that nutrient to begin with. For example, milk and juice don’t naturally have vitamin D, but vitamin D is added to most milk and juice products. This addition did help a serious health issue, in children, that seems to be rare, now, rickets.

Rickets is the softening and weakening of bones; which leads to skeletal deformities and breaks, from a lack of vitamin D. The soft and weakened bones can be caused by other medical issues, but lack of vitamin D has been a major cause.

How is fortification different from enriched?

Fortification is done to a food when that nutrient was never a part of it naturally. Enriched foods are foods that have lost some of its nutrients from being processed and so those nutrients are added back in. Keep in mind that the nutrients added back in are almost always in their synthetic form.

Salt has added iodine. It has naturally occurring iodine and has more added for daily recommended iodine levels.

Our bodies tend to absorb and use ingredients that are natural, better than their synthetic counter-parts. Other than this, what could be wrong with fortified and enriched foods? It seems like a wonderful benefit to us and we don’t have to take as many vitamin pills. Right?!

Well, to understand the problem we first need to look at the MTHFR gene defect/mutation.

What is MTHFR?

Everyone agrees that the acronym MTHFR looks like it stands for a really bad phrase! Some people do refer to it by that crude phrase because of the havoc it can cause within a persons body.

“MTHFR mutation—changes to a gene linked to an increasing number of medical conditions, including thyroid disease—has become a controversial topic among scientists. While the National Institutes of Health lists five conditions directly linked to the genetic mutation, a growing body of evidence has linked it, either directly or indirectly, to a host of disorders affecting the heart, eyes, brain, thyroid gland, and other organ systems. The MTHFR mutation is also believed to predispose a person to certain cancers, birth defects, and autoimmune diseases.”

There are 2 MTHFR genes: C677T and A1298C. You can have one copy of one of the genes, one copy of both genes or 2 copies of one or both of these genes. With a gene test you can sort out with your doctor what you have and what is best to do about it.

What does it mean if you have this mutation?

It means that your body can’t properly use folic acid and convert it to the usable form of folate. Deliciously Organic said it best:

“For example, many people have the MTHFR mutation today. When someone with the MTHFR mutation consumes folic acid (the synthetic form of folate) the body can’t process it. The synthetic folic acid builds up in the system and the excess ends up stored as a toxin in organs and fat tissue.”

These stored up toxins can wreak havoc on a persons body! Your baby is still at risk for neural tube defects when your body is unable to properly use the folic acid that you are putting into it.

Here are some other possible problems (not a complete list):

Recurrent miscarriage
Tongue tie
Neurological problems
Anxiety
Growth problems
Thyroid problems
Anemia
Breast cancer
Prostate cancer
Childhood respiratory problems

Folic Acid verses Folate

Folic acid is widely recommended for pregnant women, especially before pregnancy and early on in their pregnancies. Folic acid was added to foods in the U.S. by FDA mandate in 1996. The purpose was to cut down on neural tube defects in babies. The incidences of these neural defects did drop and the program is considered a success.

However, folic acid is not for everyone! Folic acid is the synthetic version of the naturally occurring vitamin B, folate, that you find in vegetables, fruit, fruit juice, nuts, beans and beef liver. If you can’t convert the folic acid you are at risk for problems associated with low vitamin B levels as well as issues from the unusable folic acid.

So, in short, folic acid is synthetic vitamin B and folate is the natural form of vitamin B.

Why can fortification bad?

There are a lot of benefits to fortified and enriched foods. However, if nutrients that are being added and even mandated by the government, that your body cannot properly use and can cause harmful effects, it is a problem!

It is easy for adults to get too much of your daily vitamins and minerals, if you are eating a lot of processed foods and taking your vitamins. Yet, there can still be gaps in your nutrition and missing other essential vitamins and minerals. Adults are often low on magnesium, dietary fiber, calcium and vitamins A, D, E, and C.

Vitamins are also, often fortified with folic acid. Also, keep in mind that you can’t absorb calcium if you don’t have enough vitamin D.

What to do if you have MTHFR genes?

The following is a very short list, you can find more at this website, and please always discuss these issues and dietary changes and vitamins with your doctor!

Avoid folic acid- stick with the natural folate
Eat more fruits, vegetables, nuts and beans
Talk to your doctor about methylated folate and how much you should be taking
Eat less processed foods
Check your multi-vitamin for folic acid and find one that doesn’t contain it (I have no recommendations at this time, I need to do this.)

What is Dysautonomia?

Like I said, it is an umbrella term. These conditions effect the function of the autonomic nervous system. So, we are talking about, the things your body just does, without you thinking about and they happen automatically. Some examples are: dilation of pupils, lung function, heart rate, blood pressure, etc. When the body isn’t properly regulating itself you can have heart palpitations, shallow breathing, anxiety, fainting, feel light headed, have malnutrition and more.

“Dysautonomia is not rare. Over 70 million people worldwide live with various forms of dysautonomia. People of any age, gender or race can be impacted. There is no cure for any form of dysautonomia at this time, but Dysautonomia International is funding research to develop better treatments, and hopefully someday a cure for each form of dysautonomia. Despite the high prevalence of dysautonomia, most patients take years to get diagnosed due to a lack of awareness amongst the public and within the medical profession.”

What are Dysautonomia Conditions?

There are 3 conditions under this umbrella: POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), Neurocardiogenic Syncope (NCS), and Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). These conditions are often secondary to a main condition, but not always. Some of the diseases dysautonomonia is found with are: diabetes, celiac, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, lupus and Parkinson’s.

The first two are invisible diseases while the third one progresses and becomes more pronounced and noticeable. Invisible, meaning you look great and function well; how could you possibly be sick?!

POTS

The signs and symptoms can be subtle and/or look like a symptom of many, many other issues. At My Heart they describe these symptoms in greater detail. Please, check it out.

Symptoms:

Getting dizzy when standing
Having a fast heart rate when going from sitting to standing (or even bending over to standing)
Headaches
Abdominal pain
Nausea
Chronic pain
Heart palpitations
Shortness of breath
Sleeping problems- waking up frequently and night sweats
Brain fog- difficulty focusing, thinking or communicating
Reddish coloring in legs after standing
Abnormal sweating- too much or too little
Fatigue
Chest pains
Worse symptoms during menstruation
Gynecological issues
Shakiness
Anxiety

Please go to this link http://www.dysautonomiainternational.org/page.php?ID=30 for more information on POTS and what it takes to get a diagnosis, as well as treatment.

Neurocardiogenic Syncope

This is the most common form of dysautonomia and what most people are diagnosed as having. Neuro means it has to do with the nervous system; Cardio means it has to do with the heart; genic means it is causing or forming something and syncope literally means to faint. So, the nervous system is malfunctioning and causing the heart to beat faster because blood pressure has dropped, causing you to be light headed, dizzy or faint.

From the Dysautonomia International website it looks like there is a name change for this condition and is now being called: Neurally Mediated Syncope (NMS). (Seriously, Neurocardiogenic syncope is much more fun to say!) Please follow the link for more information on syncope, diagnosis and treatment.

This is a chronic condition where the blood pools in the extremities. When you go from sitting to standing (or, I have had this happen, from bending over or altering my verticalness in some way and then standing), blood pressure drops and heart rate increases. This causes you to be light headed, dizzy and may cause fainting.

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links for your convenience. I earn a small commission for the referral, but your price remains the same.

Symptoms

Fatigue
Light headed
Low blood pressure going from sitting to standing
Fast heart rate going from sitting to standing
Dizziness
Fainting

Multiple System Atrophy

This presents a lot like Parkinson’s disease and typically shows up after age 50. MSA is characterized by widespread nerve damage causing lots of problems, in lots of areas of the body. This means, symptoms can be in any part of the body. For a more comprehensive understanding of this condition please go to Dysautonomia International. Some of the symptoms are as the disease progresses and some are what happens late in the disease.

Symptoms:

Tremors
Drop in blood pressure/ heart rate increases upon standing- causing light-headedness and fainting
Headaches
Dry mouth, eyes and skin
abnormally dilated pupils
Impotence
Loss of bladder control
Heart arrhythmias
Difficulty eating, swallowing or chewing food
Difficulty speaking
Changes in voice
Parkinson type symptoms
Confusion
Demensia
Depression

Treatment for Dysautonomia

For most of these conditions, the treatment is as follows:

Increase fluids
Increase salt
Wear compression stockings
Exercise- mild aerobic or reclined exercise (rowing, swimming, recumbent cycling)
Sleep with elevated head
Medications- help with symptoms

There is no cure, just a managing of symptoms.

Celiac and Dysautonomia

There have been small studies performed to suggest that more research needs to be done to find out more about this connection between celiac an dysautonomia. There isn’t a lot on it, but it is out there. It is something to consider, if you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor about it. The majority of what I found, said that most dysautonomia patients were diagnosed after being diagnosed with celiac and while following a gluten free diet.

The question is whether dysautonomia patients should also be checked for celiac disease. It does seem to be found in a lot of celiac patients; is celiac in a lot of dysautonomia patients?

This may be the cause of the fatigue many celiac patients complain about, even when their celiac is well managed.

Good luck on unraveling your medical questions, complexities and quandaries!

Why Cooking Gluten Free At Home Is Better

Jan 9, 2019

Let’s face it, it is nice to eat out! It is fantastic to not have to think about: what to make, shop for the ingredients, cut, chop and put the recipe together, standing and cooking, or do any of the clean up afterwards! Eating out is awesome as far as all of this goes! I love that there are no dishes to do, when we eat out!

My goal, before being diagnosed with celiac disease and going gluten free, 15 years ago, was to spend as little time in the kitchen as possible. I didn’t like to cook! 15 years ago there weren’t a lot of options when it came to eating out and it was much, much less safe to do so. Awareness about celiac and gluten intolerance has helped in providing better gluten free products and options all around!

With that being said, there are a lot of benefits to cooking gluten free at home!

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links for your convenience. I earn a small commission for the referral, but your price remains the same.

Benefits to Cooking at Home

Finances
Safety from cross contamination
Less cross contact
Improve cooking skills
Healthier lifestyle
Family time

Finances- a Benefit to Cooking Gluten Free at Home

It is expensive to eat out! Gluten free dishes often cost more when eating out. The reason for this is because gluten free products cost more for everyone! It isn’t a straight across substitution to have a gluten free pizza crust versus a regular pizza crust. It costs a lot more for them to offer these substitutions.

Not to mention, that if the staff is well trained, your food needs more attention to detail in order to cut down on chances of cross contact.

Safety From Cross Contamination

When in your own kitchen, you have a system. If you don’t, you should. I have an all gluten free house, because everyone in our family has gluten intolerance to one degree or another. I know that there is no gluten in my kitchen and this is important in our family.

If you have a family where only you or a couple of family members are gluten free, gluten free foods should be clearly marked: jam, peanut butter, anything that can be double dipped with a knife or other utensil. This is a common way to spread cross contamination from gluten products to gluten free products. I recommend having a black sharpie in the kitchen and clearly marking “GF” on your strictly gluten free products. Then, educate the family on why they can’t use that peanut butter to make their gluten sandwich.

Less Cross Contact

You don’t have to worry about whether or not the people handling your food, understand how to properly handle your food! Gloves must be changed! Fresh ingredients that haven’t had a chance for gluten to be introduced should be used. Do NOT make my food on the same counter you just had gluten. You can’t brush off gluten crumbs and then touch gluten free foods.

My daughter got sick doing S’mores with college roommates because they were using the same bag of marshmallows. The other girls touched their graham crackers and then reached in the marshmallow bag. That is all it takes!

Improve Cooking Skills

Cooking gluten free at home is a great opportunity to improve your cooking skills. There are so many ways you can do this, but the biggest thing is trying and doing.

Take a gluten free cooking class
Read blogs to understand the differences between how you cooked before and cooking gluten free
Watch Youtube cooking demonstrations
Watch the food channel for ideas
Learn how to make substitutions
Take a chance and try a new recipe
Join gluten free Facebook pages
Have a meal prep day/evening or weekend
Get the family involved in the process of preparing dinner

Healthier Lifestyle

Have you ever noticed how much better everything tastes when it is homemade. When I was first diagnosed and had to cook gluten free, I found cooking from scratch to be cumbersome and frustrating. Over time (at least a year), it got easier. I planned into dinner the time it would take to make my own creamed soup and figured out what I could do while that was cooking.

We use fresh ingredients and eat more fruits and vegetables. My daughter had a friend who loved to eat at our house, because they never had vegetables at her house. We also use a lot less processed foods. We haven’t exchanged all our old processed gluten ingredients for processed gluten free ingredients. This is also more economical to make as much as we can ourselves.

We have tried more things and experimented more. I can make gourmet pizzas, Lasagna (which used to terrify me), Korean food, and so much more. It is fun to have a varied menu!

Family Time

We have tried to make dinner more of a family time. It was more challenging when we were eating out frequently. Grabbing a meal in the car and running from place to place. Sure you are together, but it isn’t always as meaningful as when you are sitting face to face and talking.

I have loved our family dinner times. My older two girls usually sit at the one end by me and the younger two sit at the other end of the table by my husband. My older girls and I have a joke that our end of the table is the fun end. There is usually more laughing, teasing and so forth at our end of the table.

Memories and relationships can be strengthened around the table in your home atmosphere, in a different way than what happens in public. Everyone is more open, for better or worse. Sometimes the worst times open up the way for better times and more communication.

2019 Gluten Free Goals For the New Year

Jan 4, 2019

The start of a new year has always been a great time for setting goals. It is a time to renew our resolve to the things we would like to accomplish. Here are a few goal ideas to help you with your gluten free experience.

Eat at Home

It is expensive to eat out. Often more expensive if you are gluten free. Gluten free ingredients often cost more than other ingredients, especially if they are buying only a few buns or bread to keep in stock. Often, the more you buy, the more you save, especially in retail. If places don’t get a lot of gluten free customers, they don’t buy as much and don’t receive the same kick backs as places that buy in higher quantities. Therefore, it is more expensive for them to stock gluten free specialty items.

Eating out increases your risk of getting accidental cross contact or straight up accidental gluten. The more you eat out, the greater your risk. You have no control of your food, how it is handled, or what ingredients are actually being used. Eating out is ALWAYS a risk! Most places try hard to keep you safe and minimize cross contact, but even the best places sometimes have errors.

I’m not down on eating out. I love to eat out, but there are definitely draw backs and risks. Eating at home has some great benefits besides finances: family time, less worry, and expanding your cooking ability!

Learn to make something new

My stance on cooking at home is that if I have to go to all that work, it better taste good! I love Pinterest! I love all of the ideas. I don’t count out the gluten recipes. If something looks good, I see how I can modify it. Does it just need a gf pasta or gf bread? What are my options for making it gluten free?

I used to be so intimidated about making something new or things that seemed hard to make. I was very intimidated by lasagna! I first learned how to make lasagna after going to a gluten free cooking class and the lady demonstrated how easy it was. It wasn’t bad, but I found an easier way to do it in a church cookbook. I made it gluten free and modified it to my liking, making it my own!

Try something new, make some adjustments, ask on gluten free pages for advice and soon you will be able to make anything gluten free. Let yourself experiment and enjoy the process.

Things I have made that used to intimidate me:

lasagna
cream puffs
eclairs
donuts
Korean food
gourmet pizza
cooking more at home

Try a new place

Like I said, I am not opposed to eating out. I love to eat out and would rather eat out than have the mess at home.

I get tired of going to the same couple of places. We used to hear about a new place opening up and plan a day to go try it out! I miss that! The adventure of trying a new place, new food, etc. It is still doable. You just need to know what questions to ask and have an adventurous spirit.

Here are some tips to make it a more pleasant experience:

Call ahead and ask about gluten free options and practices
Do you have a gluten free menu?
Do you have a dedicated gluten free kitchen area?
Are you able to use fresh ingredients that haven’t been handled all day?
Do you have a dedicated fryer? Are there any breaded items that are fried in that fryer? (Breaded fries or onion rings) Sometimes their dedicated fryer only excludes fish and meat.
Is the grill cleaned before cooking gluten free foods? Do they use a grill mat or can they use tinfoil to cook your food on?
Are there any measures taken to cut down on cross contact?
Is the staff willing to change gloves?
What are the substitutes you need to make?
Do they have any suggestions of what will make it easier for your to communicate your needs when you are interacting with their staff?

Try a gluten free product you haven’t had before

We can get stuck in our ways. We find products we like and stick to. Shake things up a little bit and try a product you haven’t tried before. Find out if the Trader Joe’s gluten free products are any good, try a different pancake mix, see if that gluten free cake mix tastes a little more like what you used to have, etc.

You may be surprised by what you find. There are a lot of great products out there and they are worth finding.

Attend a gluten free expo

These are great events to go to! There are a lot of booths and samples. This is a great way to find new products without breaking the bank. You get to sample and then decide if you like it enough to buy it!

Often there are information booths to learn more and activities for kids.

Participate in a gluten free event

The Gluten Intolerance Group often has events throughout the country on education and support. These are great for learning more about the health issues involving celiac, gluten intolerance, and other diseases and health problems that facilitate the need to be gluten free.

We have a local gluten free group that is putting together a Disneyland gluten free experience! They are planning on making it an annual event.

There are also gluten free summer camps and family trips.

Join a support group

(*I am a support group leader, but get nothing for endorsing going to a support group or the GIG website. I just believe in what they do and I know how it can benefit others to join and be involved.)

Joining a support group helps those who are newly diagnosed and connects people together who are living the same lifestyle. Support groups need the experience of those who have been gluten free, to help one another. Surprisingly, those who have been gluten free for a long time often find other benefits from coming to the support group:

Information you didn’t know you need to know
Places where gluten hides
Health information
Special speakers
Special events
Interacting with people going through similar difficulties and challenges
Help in how to handle situations with medical professionals, family, friends, work, etc.
There is just something different about talking face to face

health

Why Gluten Free Sunscreen?

Why Hormone Disruptor Free?

Safe Sunscreen Options 2022

All Good

Babo Botanicals Sunscreen

Badger

Earth Mama

Erbaviva

Green Goddess

Kokua

Loving Naturals

Suntegrity

Happy Summer!

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A Medical Diagnosis

Testing

Gluten free without an official diagnosis

Reasons people don’t get a firm diagnosis

Unsupportive Family Members

What Can You Do?

Medically:

Dealing with family

Work and School

Move Forward

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Clean-make your home a corona free zone

Play Games

Games for Younger Kids

Garden

Puzzles

Learn Something New

Build It

Speak It

Write It Down

Explore Poetry

Draw It

Explore Your Artistic Side

Create It

Make it to eat it

Go Outdoors

We will get through the Corona Virus Quarantine!

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Toilet Paper Gone in 1 Hour!

Please!!! Calm Down!!!

The Real Crisis

A Plea

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Infant Sun Care

Sunglasses and Cars

When to use sunscreen

Safe Sunscreen

Babo Botanicals

All Good

Thinkbaby

Baby Bum

Badger

Adorable Baby

More Sunscreen Info.

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Safe Sunscreen

Gluten Free

Gluten free or certified gluten free doesn’t mean it doesn’t have other issues that are unsafe.

Free of Hormone Disrupting Chemicals

Reef Safe does NOT mean that is is hormone free or gluten free.

Safe Sunscreen Options

ThinkSport

All Good

Babo Botanicals

Suntegrity

Badger

Raw Elements

Kokua

Raw Love

Loving Naturals

Goddess Garden

True Naturals

California Baby

Kabana Organic Skincare

I hope this post helps you to find safe sunscreens for all your outdoor play, this year!