If you've been here for a while you'll know that I'm gluten intolerant, which means my body struggles to break down gluten & foods with it in.
I check the bad of every food packet I pick up, I have to. However some things like sweets don't always come in packet that breakdown the ingredients. So I have a way of staying on the safe side of things..
Eat specialised gluten free sweets!
Candy Kittens are a company that make gluten free & (some flavours) vegan gourmet sweets. They have actually just undergone a rebrand so their flavours are limited, however my favourite are the Wild Strawberry & Eton Mess.
They sweets are great if you fancy a littler gluten free treat! They aren't that healthy so I wouldn't recommend eating a whole bag in one go, but they are nice to have now & again.
I also really like their new packaging!
These used to be quite hard to get hold of, but they are now available in your normal supermarkets as well shops like Selfridges.
Coconut oil is a staple item that everyone should have in their cupboard. Why?
Well it's just so damn useful!
You can use it for a ridiculous amount of thing from hair treatments to cooking ingredients!
So I'm going to share some of its uses with you below.
Oil Pulling - Teeth Whitening
I haven't really looked into this use much as I already have a teeth whitening method that works for me (Doll White Strips). However there are a lot of company marketing/ selling this method.
Hair Mask/ Oil
You can either use this as a overall hair mask or as a hair oil. I personally prefer to use it as an oil. I use it sometimes to add some moisture to the ends of my hair. As I have long hair the ends can get pretty dry so sometimes they need some added moisture from an oil, coconut oil is perfect for this. Plus it smells great.
Facial Oil
Again another I don't tend to use, but a lot of people swear by coconut oil as a facial oil. Use it overnight to add moisture to the face & to reduce oil production in the daytime. Some even use it as a cleansing oil to remove make up.
Cuticle Oil
This is what I mean by a multipurpose product, basically you can use this as an oil anywhere on the body really. A lot of people like to use it on their cuticles as part of a manicure.
On Pets/ Animals
Whether it's a dog, horse or whatever pet you may have you should have some coconut oil lying around just in case. I know last year this was an essential for my horse as he had a lot of dry scabby skin on his fetlocks (ankles) & it was the only thing that made it better. If your animal is suffering with any flaky/ scabby/ dry skin issues apple some coconut oil to the area a few times, you will see a difference.
Cooking
A lot of healthy recipes these days use coconut oil in them. It can be using in baking for flavour & in cooking to add your diet. Using it to grease a pan can help add to your good fat for the day. It can be very helpful if you're very strict with your diet or counting your macros.
I have been gluten free for quite a while now & this has included some holidays.
I've only been away in Europe over this period, so I'd like you to keep that in mind.
I have heard that certain countries like Australia are amazing at catering for the gluten free population!
So I wanted to talk to you a little about how to go about gluten free abroad & potential issues.
I was actually pleasantly surprised when I went to the supermarkets! I thought they'd have nothing gluten free, however I was wrong. They actually have a reasonable selection, especially if you're only on holiday for a week or two. They have the basics such as cereal, biscuits etc.
The products taste pretty much the same as they do here in the UK.
So firstly, I'd advise going 'self-catering' as this way you can go to shops to find gluten free items & check any necessary packaging. I would also advise looking online for any registered gluten free restaurants around, so you know where you're safe.
Another key thing is learn or write down your requires if you're in a country that doesn't necessary speak English. Language barriers can be hard at the best of times!
Overall, don't ever let your dietary requirements stop you going on holiday or travelling!
It's possible, it just sometimes involves a little more pre-holiday prep.
I've been gluten free for just under a year now so I thought it was about time I posted some tips for going gluten free.
1. It's not as hard as it seems!
I know any dietary changes can seem scary & complicated, but it doesn't always have to be. Gluten free sections in supermarkets are now quite visible & with a huge variety. You can still have the odd treat like cake but it's a great diet to cut down on the naughty things like that.
2. You need to check labels on everything.
Although supermarkets have sections it always does to check the label. Some items like frozen goodies aren't generally in the 'free from' sections. Same applies to items like dairy-free cheese!
Another reason to check the label is for me I also can't have oats, barley & rye, so even in the 'free from' section I have to check.
3. Find gluten free recipes to stop your diet getting boring.
There are plenty of websites, companies & books with some amazing gluten free recipes. So don't feel you're limited to fish/ meat & vegetables, because that's really not the case!
4. Check your drinks too!
By this I generally mean alcoholic drinks. Drinks like beer have yeast in them & therefore gluten so stay away! Spirits that are distilled are generally fine.
I can do a more in depth blog post on this if you would like, just leave a comment below.
5. Ask at restaurants.
Yes, you can still eat out! However a lot of menus STILL don't have gluten allergens listed, so ask your waiting staff. Also before going anywhere I always check menus online, if I don't see anything I think I can have I won't be going there.
6. Fruit & vegetable are gluten free!
In case you didn't know fruit & veg are gluten free, so eat up! Go for veg over fruit because of the sugars, however fruit can help curb your sweet tooth. This is another thing about the diet which can help with weight lose, if that's part of your aim.
So I hope these tips help you a bit. Whether you're going gluten free by choice, intolerance or celiac reasons these tips should help you out!
As someone who has to be gluten free it can be hard to snack, as most things you'd consider a normal 'snack' has gluten in it!
So I've had to find different thing to snack on throughout the day. With this diet I feel like I snack more as gluten free foods aren't as filling as normal foods, so it's important to pick snacks wisely.
I try to have bigger meals so that I stay fuller for longer, however sometimes I do find myself looking in the cupboards for a quick snack. So here's some of my favourite things to have when I'm feeling a bit peckish between meals:
1. Fruit
I try to get some of my five a day in when it comes to snacks, so picking up a piece of fruit is ideal. My favourite fruit to have are raspberries or strawberries, followed by bananas.
2. Corn Thins
Very similar to rice cracks/ thins apart from my nutritionist said I can't have rice, so I have to have the corn version instead. These do seem a little boring but you can put things on them like spreads or smoked salmon etc.
3. Kale Chips
These seem to be the 'it' thing at the moment, however for me they're just an alternative to crisps (chips if you're American). Most crisps contain gluten, but I sometimes miss the crunchy texture as a snack. This is where kale chips come in. Kale also has great health benefits.
4. Cupcakes
Now you're probably all thinking, doesn't that completely contradict the above items. Well I say we all deserve a treat or 'cheat' snack every now & again. This is my favourite thing to have, a cupcake. I recently found a local bakery that produce & buying in loads of gluten free items & these cupcakes are one of them. Honestly you wouldn't even know they're gluten free! They taste AMAZING!
Let me know your favourite gluten free snacks below, so I can try them too!
After a long day at work sometimes you just need a drink.
Especially if you're get ready for a night out a little pre-drink is ideal. In this day & age for most young people a must!
However there's nothing worse than having that little bit too much pre-drink & not getting let into the club! Well LBD have got you covered!
LBD is brand focusing on a slightly lower alcohol percentage in their drinks, so you can pre-drink but not drink too much. They products are vodka based with added flavours.
The flavours include:
Peach & Raspberry
Lime & Watermelon
Apple & Cranberry
Their products come in bottles & cans. I personally think this a great idea as premixed cans are a lot easier to take in your clutch bag to a friends house to get ready. The cans also only have 99 calories in them, which is awesome! They also only contain 1 unit of alcohol!
These would be perfect for someone who isn't that into drinking as with the cans you can barely tell they have alcohol in them!
The bottles & cans are both available at ASDA stores across the UK.
My favourite flavour this the Peach Raspberry! But they are all really nice. If you're into fruity drinks you'll love them! Simply mix with lemonade & enjoy.
These are my drink of choice right now. I have to say I prefer the cans as they're just easier to take around with you & I know how many units I'm having per can! You can pick up 2 cans for £3, which I think is a pretty good price compare to some of the other premixed cans on the market.
I never used to really eat mints, until I read in The Glam Guide that they are actually a lot better for more formal events and I have attend a few recently. Luckily just before these events these got posted through my letterbox. Good timing or what!
These are some mints & chewing gum for a company called Peppersmith.
Like I said I'm not one for mints or gum really but these are great. Why?
Because they are actually good for your teeth!
Peppersmith's products contain no sugar! Instead they use Xylitol, which is a naturally occurring sugar alternative. So firstly this means there are less calories in their products (up to 40% less) and Xylitol has also been linked to active dental health benefits!
Xylitol works by being absorbed by plaque causing bacteria so it can't multiply, which in turn prevents decay!
Sounds good to me!
Now onto the flavours, they come in three flavours. Peppermint (mints & gum), peppermint & eucalyptus and lemon & peppermint. My personal favourite is the lemon & peppermint, which sounds really odd but actually is really nice!
They also work out to be roughly the same price as any high street mints/ gum.
So these blog posts have been strictly blog exclusive, however this post has a video to go along with it.
You can read this & watch the video (which I advise) but it's honestly up to you.
So first of all an update on my Gluten Free diet.
This diet has really changed everything for me. I feel a million times better for cutting out gluten!
When I started the diet I was struggling to fill myself up, however my mind is starting to learn what being full really is (and it's not being bloated).
I also feel like I have so much more energy on this diet.
Which leads me nicely onto my next point..
Getting a bit fitter!
I haven't been exercising too much (slaps wrist), so that is now my main focus.
I already think my immune system is getting stronger due to the diet and I think exercise will just help further.
I have also booked a holiday.. so I want that Ibiza body!
So it has been about a month since I wrote one of these posts. So that's means I've been gluten free for about that amount of time too!
I honestly think it's the best lifestyle decision I've ever made!
I feel so much better!
I have also noticed I haven't been feeling as run down & sluggish in general. It's amazing the difference it has made. I have still been suffering from my allergy but other than that I haven't been ill in any way.
I also noticed within the first week of the diet I had lost about two pounds. I don't want to lose weight but that indicates that it might help people do so.
I am just loving not feeling bloated. Before, I was feeling like I looked fat (for me) but now I'm noticing it must have just been bloating. below is a photo of how my stomach is looking now, which I am pretty happy with honest.
The only problem with this diet is I don't often feel full. I guess because what my brain has always thought is full is actually bloated. So I am therefore eating more, but am not putting on weight (sounds great doesn't it, this might not be the case for everyone though).
Due to this constant feeling hungry I haven't been exercising as much because it leaves me feeling starving even more. Naturally, because of the amount of calories you burn whilst exercising. However I am doing more stuff with my horse as the weather is getting better, which results in more exercise!
So I am getting on track with the diet & exercise side of things!
As for my allergy, I have finished all my allergy testing & have my vaccine. Now it's just a case of building up a resistance. However if it doesn't work it means there is another allergy to something we haven't tested. This could be a very long road (hopefully not), but we'll just have to see!
Also in case you are wondering the hospital I have been going to is called Breakspear Medical Group.
So I forgot to do my health update last week so I'm going to combine this week & last week.
I have been continuing with the diet by having more vegetables, fish & other good stuff!
I have been drinking less alcohol and drinking water along side it when I have been out.
(Which I strongly advise to everyone, that way you remember the night & don't wake up with a hang over.)
I also mentioned in the previous post about the vitamins I have started taking, below is a photo of them. The box on the right are also my eye drops, which have really been helping my eyes. I have been religiously taking these, which is good for me because I get really lazy with taking vitamins.
I also have been trying to continue exercising at least one/twice a week. I think last week I only exercised once, but I plan on making up for it this week.
I haven't exactly taken up walking but I have been getting out more and doing more stuff around the yard. So just generally being more active in the daytime.
So overall I think I'm doing pretty well, I could still be doing more but for now I'm already feeling better for making these little changes.
I also have a follow up appointment with doctor next week to find out what's going on internally.
So last week I posted about getting healthy & fit in this post.
A week has gone by now and I wanted to post a little update. I do plan on doing weekly updates, that way I hopefully can keep motivated!
So I have almost fully recovered from my throat infection, which is good.
I have also been to a private hospital about what the hell is going on with me. So I think things are on the up. They've done some tests, I'm now just waiting on results. They have also given me some vitamins & eye drops to take.
I have also been making some dietary changes too, partly due to what the private doctor told me.
I have been eating less sugary foods and more vegetables/ fruit.
I still am not drinking fizzy drinks much, maybe the odd glass of pepsi or something.
With regards to exercise, I didn't do any last week due to the throat infection. However this week I have done some bodyweight toning exercise and a little bit of yoga.
So overall I think I have done pretty well over the last week. Next week I aim to do a bit more exercise and just keep everything up. I have also been advised to take up walking which I plan on starting next week.
So this is the second year in a row where I have entered the new year with a throat infection, not cool!
I seem to keep getting these throat infections and to be honest I pretty damn sick of them! I've had immune tests and apparently my immune system is fine. So now the doctors have decided there's nothing they can do, I think it's time to try my own method of preventing these throat infection!
I know a lot of you will see this as a 'new years resolution' that I won't end up going through with, but if this works it will become a lifestyle that's worth keeping up!
This is partly why I'm blogging about this! I feel like by regularly blogging about my journey/ progress I will keep it up.
I read this interesting article this morning, linked here.
So my plan is basically to eat a little less junk food & fizzy drinks, drink more water to keep hydrated and to exercise more.
I have already been cutting out fizzy drinks as they don't seem to help my currently bad throat, so that part is simple enough. So that's one point down already :)
Sadly, I currently don't feel up to exercising so I plan on starting that next week.
These targets aren't so much about changing my body, it's more to help build my immune system, so I stop becoming so ill so frequently!
Here is a recent photo of how I look at the moment, just so you guys can see the changes to my body which are likely to occur.
Hi, I'm Eve. I'm a 23 year old professional photographer, who also has an interest in blogging/ vlogging. I like to write about anything really, from beauty to health issues!
