Starting the gluten-free, dairy-free diet… July 31, 2008

Well back in 1999, it was not as easy to start this kind of diet. The resources and products were not as available are they are today.  Hindsight is 20/20, back then we thought this was a bad thing, but not true.  We were basically forced into eating healthier because to have a gluten-free, dairy-free diet, you have to basically eat whole foods made from scratch.  Today you can go to your local grocery store and get prepared foods that are gluten-free, dairy-free, but full of bad ingredients.  You really have to read labels if you want something healthy that is already prepared for you, or you could just start from scratch with healthy ingredients.  

So we began to buy healthier things to eat and learn to make food from scratch.  We found some good resources for gluten-free recipes.  I still refer to The Gluten-free Gourmet Cooks Fast and Healthy by Bette Hagman.  Then we read about candida and it’s connection to gluten.  We started to look into and follow some of the advice of The Body Ecology Diet, by Donna Gates.  Not long after eating this way did we all start to notice changes in ourselves. We started to feel healthier and look healthier.  Once that started happening we started researching everything!  We wanted to know more.  And one thing would lead into another thing and then another…  

For example, one thing we discovered was that regular disposable diapers, besides being bad for the environment, they contained dioxins, that are linked to cancer and infertility.  AHHHH!  We switched to cloth diapers.  From that we discovered a product called Bac-Out.  It was recommended for cleaning the diapers along with their premium laundry powder. It is a natural enzyme stain remover by a company called Biokleen. Which actually now produces a whole line of natural cleaning products.  We still use the Bac-Out and laundry powder as well as all the new products that have come out in the last nine years. They have glass cleaner, paint thinner, a substitute for W-D40, carpet cleaner, toilet cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, degreaser, dishwashing soap, dishwasher soap, etc.

Another example is when we became pregnant with our third child.  Someone said, “If you don’t want to have stretch marks stop using soap.”  Which after a few days of not using soap the stretch marks faded.  Why?  Well, we found out most soap is not good for you; the ingredients take the elasticity out of your skin.  Don’t worry we use soap, and all other hygiene products; we just use the natural form that won’t effect us.  Basically we use Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap, Giovanni Shampoo and Conditioners, Thai Crystal Deodorant, some Burt’s Bees products (but read the labels on these, they have just been bought out by Clorox), Jason’s or Young Living toothpastes and mouthwashes,  Eco-Dent floss, Fuchs toothbrushes, we can go on, but if you want some good alternatives to everyday products we have not mentioned, just let us know.

But the learning didn’t stop there.  And it still hasn’t stopped.  There is so much information to learn, so much research to be done.  We will do our best not to leave out anything we have learned.