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NOV 14, 2020

When You’re Allergic to Thanksgiving!

When You’re Allergic to Thanksgiving! By Stephanie Geurts at (nochefsteph Instagram)  Gravy, stuffing, biscuits, pies, green bean casserole, corn bread….. The holidays can be a bit isolating for those with allergies and dietary restrictions and I think everyone has had enough isolation this year so I’m planning a holiday meal for all which will need to be gluten free, low FODMAP, almond/egg/dairy/nightshade free – what does that even leave on the table? First let’s talk turkey – this one is easy to keep safe! Whether you’re roasting, grilling or crock-potting the turkey, here are some seasonings that are gluten free, low FODMAP and AIP – these should be safe for most people - sage, thyme, marjoram, rosemary & sea salt. Garlic infused olive oil is low FODMAP and a great way to get some flavor when onion and garlic have to be excluded. It is also a great sub for butter if dairy needs to be avoided. I love gravy on everything and I certainly need it with turkey! Tapioca starch is great grain free way to make gravy with the turkey drippings. It does work the best when whisked with butter or ghee but olive oil can be substituted if dairy is off limits. Now for the sides – thankfully sweet potatoes are AIP friendly and low FODMAP (stick to ½ cup if mannitol bothers you). If you’re looking for more than a mash, try roasting a pan of sweet potato chunks in garlic infused olive oil and sea salt and then toss with chopped bacon and green onion (green top only to keep low FODMAP). This recipe also works well with cauliflower in place of sweet potato as a spin on loaded baked potatoes. Sage roasted carrots with maple olive oil – roast cleaned and peeled carrots with olive oil and maple syrup mixture (note: some avoid all sugars on AIP), sea salt and a dash of dried sage or fresh sage leaves. Parsnip mash – boil and mash parsnips with garlic infused olive oil & sea salt, mix in chopped fresh chives and parsley. Roasted green beans – roast beans with garlic infused olive oil and sea salt, top with dried cranberries (watch sugar content for AIP and keep to 1 tbsp. per serving for low FODMAP) or chopped pecans if nuts are safe (we all tolerate pecans well). For dessert this year I’ll be making Hearthy Foods pumpkin flour donuts – they’re grain free, vegan adaptable and have no added sugar. ½ cup banana flour ½ cup kabocha pumpkin flour 1 ½ teaspoons of baking soda ¼ teaspoon of salt 1 teaspoon of cinnamon Dash of cloves Dash of ginger 1 teaspoon of vanilla 2 tablespoons of olive oil 1 cup of walnut milk (use gum free coconut milk if AIP) 2 eggs (use gelatin eggs for AIP) Blend, pour into greased donut pan, bake at 325 for about 12 minutes, top with frosting/icing unless avoiding sugar About author : My name is Stephanie and I'm not a chef or nutritionist but I do love food. I come from a family with some allergies and intolerances so I am always looking for ways to modify recipes to be gluten free, low FODMAP and kidney healthy. I try to eat fresh when possible but mostly I specialize in just doing the best I can.

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OCT 29, 2020

When Gluten Free Isn’t Enough…

When Gluten Free Isn’t Enough… By Stephanie Geurts (@NochefSteph)  www.nochefsteph.com Many people know they feel better skipping the gluten but not everyone gets relief from simply cutting out the gluten containing grains.  Most of these grains are oligosaccharides, one of the FODMAPs. FODMAPs are short chain carbohydrates and some are not well absorbed.  The acronym stands for fermentable oligo-saccharides, di-saccharides, mon-saccharides and polyols.  Some of the FODMAPs can be absorbed by individuals who have the correct enzymes – lactose is good example of this.  Lactose is a di-saccharide, it has 2 sugar units that require the enzyme lactase to absorb it.  People who do not have this enzyme are known as “lactose intolerant” The oligo-saccharides are not absorbed by anyone, humans do not have enzymes to “digest” these so they can cause multiple unpleasant symptoms.  The most notable oligo-saccharides are wheat, rye, beans, garlic & onions.  While many people associate bloating with wheat and beans, they might not realize the amount of other foods that are a part of this same group. The good news is there are many safe swaps out there for cooking and baking.  We go through jugs of garlic infused olive oil in our house.  Garlic is water soluble but not oil soluble so it is safe to use the infused oil even if garlic bothers you – just make sure it is strained to be pure oil and does not contain chunks or residue.  Spring/green onions do not contain FODMAPs if you use only the green tops.  These and chives are a good swap for white/red onions. The grain free market for flour has been an amazing alternative to using gluten and many of them are also low FODMAP.  Green banana (staple in our house) and yam flour are good examples of gluten free, grain free, and low FODMAP alternatives.  Almond flour has gotten so popular but does contain high amounts of oligos so we use pecan in our house as a substitute. Diagnosing FODMAP intolerance is a bit of trial and error.  There is breath testing for some of the categories and of course the elimination diet.  Thankfully there are many great alternatives, for those that need to adapt their diet, as we continue to see products coming on the market with FODMAP labeling.

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OCT 22, 2020

Do You know what the Autoimmune Protocol is? Hearthy Foods can Help

The AIP diet is a protocol designed for those with autoimmune disease to lower inflammation and nourish the body! There are certain foods that cause bloating, digestive problems, and stomach aches. One of the ways to identify these problems is to eat thing from one single ingredient to identify the cause.     The AIP diet stands for Autoimmune Protocol, and it’s designed for those with autoimmune disease to reduce inflammation to allow their bodies the opportunity to heal. It removes inflammatory foods. After the elimination period, foods are reintroduced one by one to see if the body has healed and can tolerate them again. When we created our flours, we inadvertantly discovered that Hearthy Flours were ideal for AIP diets. Each flour is nothing but 100%.        WHAT CAN YOU EAT ON THE AIP DIET?  AIP diet in essence about gut health.  The food of yesterday is not the same as the food of today in terms of how it is being process.  The advancement in food technology has cause problems like allergies, cancers, and severe reactions. Knowing which foods to eat and which foods to avoid on the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) is only half of the battle. Here is short list of food that is recommended:   All animal proteins (excluding eggs) All vegetables (excluding nightshades) Fruits in moderation Healthy fats (avocado, olive oil, coconut oil, animal fats, etc.) Bone broth Collagen Grain-free baking flours (Cassava, Apple, Banana, Coconut, etc.)        Here is a short list of foods that should Avoid on the AIP DIET :    no grains no dairy no legumes no Nightshade vegetables and spices (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, all peppers, red spices) no nuts and seeds based spices no Eggs no Soy no Thickeners, gums, and food additives no Poor quality seed oils Many continue to follow an AIP template even after their autoimmune symptoms have reduced. This can be a preventative measure to stop symptoms from flaring again, or it may just be that you feel better eating more of an AIP template. Regardless of how long you follow it, AIP is meant to be a short-term healing solution and not a long-term way of life.

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OCT 15, 2020

Signs Your Body Tells You : NO GLUTEN

Written By Lauren Pardee Sure, pizza-induced bloating is expected from time to time, but if it's become a consistent issue, it could be time to reevaluate your relationship with gluten. And bloating is just one sign that you could be dealing with a gluten allergy or sensitivity. According to Dr. Vivek Mittal, MD, of Mittal Gastroenterology & Rheumatology, diarrhea, constipation, smelly feces, abdominal pain, fatigue, tiredness, brain fog, anxiety, anemia, unexplained weight loss, bloody stool, and new changes in your bowel habits are all signs that your body is sensitive to or fully unable to digest gluten. Of course, seeing a doctor is the first step to addressing your concerns - and, if they give you permission, Dr. Mittal said that keeping a food diary and tracking your symptoms as you make minor changes to your eating habits can help you learn more about how gluten interacts with your body. "[The] amount of gluten [in one's] diet should be individualized based on the symptoms using a symptom diary," he added. "Gluten-free can be to various degrees. A patient diagnosed with celiac disease will need to completely avoid gluten, including separating cooking utensils and reading each label carefully. A gluten intolerance is where a small amount of gluten can be tolerated." Harvard Health Publishing noted that people with celiac disease can damage their small-intense lining after eating just 50 mg of gluten (about a small crouton!). In contrast, those with gluten sensitivities can generate symptoms similar to celiac, but without the intestinal damage. A blood test can help you identify if you have celiac or nonceliac gluten sensitivity, Harvard Health Publishing added. Some good news: just because you have a gluten sensitivity now doesn't mean it's always a forever diagnosis. The Mayo Clinic shared that some people with nonceliac gluten sensitivities can retest their gluten sensitivity one or two years after removing gluten from their diet. And for those considering going gluten-free despite not having a gluten allergy or sensitivity, know that there is not enough science to prove that it's always beneficial for your health. Not only are gluten-free alternatives often more expensive, but the Mayo Clinic noted that they may lack important nutrients found in gluten-containing products, like iron, calcium, fiber, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and folate. Plus, they may have higher fat and sugar content, too. It all boils down to seeing your doctor; if you really want to feel your healthiest, seeking medical guidance is the best way to do it.

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SEP 29, 2020

A Letter from an Allergy Mom that brought Us to Tears

This is a fantastic product. It's delicious. I was surprised to even find this. How odd to have apple flour... The bottom line is that, like that every product that I ended up buying, is fantastic. I eventually ended up buying the carrot, garbanzo, and banana. How did I end buying all of those you might ask. I actually ended up buying all those you might ask. I actually ended up touring the factory. That's right. I drive almost two hours from my home to pick up a custom order. My son is allergic to a food and the doctor wanted him to have in a powdered form.  There is only one company in America that makes it and they were out of stock for a month. I was desperate to get my hands on it. The owner of Hearthy listened to my story and without a second thought offered to make it for me me even though he had never made it before. He literally drove to the grocery store and purchase the ingredients, took it back to the factory, dehydrated it in his massive industrial dryers. He grounded it into flour and had it for me the next day. How do you find an angel like this? Who does this? He has a beautiful factory with very kind honestly kind employees. You can feel confident when you make a purchase from Hearthy that you are not only getting a first class product, but you are also getting a product made by ethical people. They are people that care. They are people that went an extra mile for  a sick child. I'm forever in there debt. - Karen Dekron

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SEP 18, 2020

The Secret Benefits of Gelatin: The Superfood that is so good for you that its need to be told

:Do you suffer from digestive problems, arthritis, bad skin, tooth decay, or are stressed all the time? You might be surprised that the solution to all of these problems can be found in a simple super-food. Yes, gelatin.This ancient super food can remedy health ailments by healing holes in the gut, filling in nutrients missing from the Standard American Diet, and provide the structural matrix for your skin, hair, muscles, and bones. With Hearthy Bovine based Halal gelatin, The first of its kind, We have many different ways to use Gelatin, you’ll realize that transforming your health can be cheap, easy, and delicious.     Add it your morning cup of tea or coffee. Bloom your Hearthy gelatin powder as mentioned above; add hot boiling water and a tea bag to make a yummy and healthy cup of tea. Add sweetener/sugar/honey to your taste. You can also add butter for added health benefits. SMOOTHIES… who doesn’t love smoothies. They are healthy and yummy. You can make green smoothies by adding kale, spinach and green apple or you can make a berry smoothie. Bloom your Hearthy gelatin and add it to your smoothies. Blend and viola. Gelatin is an excellent substitute of eggs in baked items, or should I say EGGCELLENT… you can also combine eggs and gelatin while baking bread or any other baked good. This will make it more moist and healthy. For a good night sleep, it is not even important to follow a recipe. Just mix Hearthy gelatin powder with a glass of milk, water or chamomile tea.  You can also add gelatin to your ice creams or your breakfast porridge. Blossom your beef gelatin powder as mentioned above. Use a blender to blend blossomed gelatin and a little bit of ice cream. Now add this to remaining ice cream. For porridge or cereals mix 1 teaspoon of gelatin powder in milk and then add porridge/cereal. This will instantly add a healthy dose of protein to your breakfast. Add beef gelatin powder to your sauces, stews, soups and gravies to thicken them. You can also add gelatin powder to you bone broth and it would be a double whammy. It would not only add thickness to the broth but will make it twice as healthier and laden with amino acids.  

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