Your Gluten-Free Grocery Store Guide: Fill & Download for Free

Cooking Turkey with Reynolds Oven Bags (Keeping It Gluten-Free)My favorite way to cook a Thanksgiving turkey (and I cook 2 - see my post on 11/14/2012) is in a Reynolds® Oven Bag, but you need to use flour. I have always successfully used white rice flour but I decided this year I should contact Reynolds and find out what their recommendations are, after all it's their product and I am sure they would like the gluten intolerant to use it. Here is there response to my question:Dear Michelle:Thank you for your inquiry regarding Reynolds® Oven Bags.Flour should be added to the Oven Bag to protect against splitting. As meats cook, layers of fat and water accumulate. Without the flour, a layer of water may form under the layer of melted fat. The water under the fat will boil. The trapped steam can create enough pressure to cause a boil-up through the fat layer. When this happens, a "popping" sound is heard. If the popping becomes excessive, the bag can split. The addition of flour helps eliminate the possibility of this problem.The only substitute for the tablespoon of regular flour is cornstarch or another kind of flour, i.e., rice flour, potato flour (also called potato starch), etc.Thank you for contacting us.Jim, Consumer ResponseWhen I have used white rice flour I have found that it didn't always blend well with the added liquids in the bag so cornstarch may be something to try. Cornstarch is gluten-free (e.g. Argo or Bob's Red Mill*) and may be a good substitute for the flour if you want to use the resulting liquids to make gravy or a sauce. Otherwise feel free to use white rice flour, or another gluten-free flour blend and enjoy!*Here's the usual gluten conundrum: Argo is listed as gluten-free and labeled as gluten-free, while Bob's Red Mill is listed as gluten-free, labeled gluten-free, and processed in a gluten-free facility. You have to decide how much reassurance you need that a product is gluten-free. Another brand that I didn't mention is Rumford Cornstarch which is listed as gluten-free but processed in the same facility as other products containing gluten. Again, it is all about risk and what you are willing to pay for added precautions. I have often used Argo with no problems. Check the labels of your local store brands and refer to a Gluten-Free grocery guide for additional brands and information (see my Gluten-Free Resources Page for grocery guide info.)

If you feel like you’re already doing everything you can to get clear skin — eating right and using good-for-you skin care products — yet... you’re still battling blemishes, acne or eczema or other skin issues that just won’t die, you could actually have an allergy to gluten.We’ve heard a whole lot about gluten-free lately — I know, it’s almost reached saturation — but, for some folks, this just could be the missing link to getting your skin clear for the first time and for the long-term. What a relief that would be, huh?Gluten — found in about 80 percent of the protein found in grains — functions as a sort of glue that holds dough together, giving it its elasticity. And, it’s not just in bread, it’s pretty much everywhere — in beer, pizza dough, cereals, soups, sauces, even salad dressings (but don’t let that scare you). There are so many gluten-free options now, that going without doesn’t have to be a horror show.While a relatively small percentage of the population has a serious gluten allergy (called Celiac disease), many more of us are simply intolerant or sensitive to the stuff.So what exactly is the connection between gluten and our skin? Whatever our bodies view as an allergen, whether it’s nuts, dairy or gluten, the response is the same — inflammation. Basically, for those of us with a gluten sensitivity, the presence of gluten activates our immune system and can trigger inflammation of all kinds — acne, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, etc. That’s why our skin can look red, angry and irritated — it is! In addition to frustrating skin problems, those with gluten sensitivity may have a host of other symptoms that include gas, bloating, fatigue and joint pain. Even those who don’t experience gas and bloating may suffer from other digestive issues that stop our bodies from absorbing the essential nutrients that keep our skin healthy.According to the Mayo Clinic, wheat is one of the top eight most allergenic foods, so it’s not surprising that most of us have sensitivity to wheat and/or gluten. Gluten allergies are hard to diagnose, even with a blood test, so the best way to figure it out is to eliminate it from our diet. And, going gluten-free can be one of the best things we can do for our bodies and our skin. There are plenty of hearty, healthful gluten-free grains out there including quinoa, millet, buckwheat, teff, amaranth, corn and rice. There are also more and more restaurants and retailers that are making it easier to live a gluten-free life. In many natural and even conventional grocery stores, there’s now an aisle (or more!) devoted to gluten-free products, and there are a plethora of cookbooks to guide you to recipes that are fast, easy and delicious.Those who have tried an elimination diet say that after giving up gluten, they begin to see their skin improve (as well as their energy levels) within as soon as one to two weeks. So, even if you don’t have an allergy, it’s worth giving it a try. You might find that just a few foods that are staples in our daily diet are contributing to skin troubles. Imagine... just skipping a bagel or substituting some rice pasta in your diet for regular could help pave the way to clearer more radiant skin!

I wrote a whole blog post about how to go gluten free. Check it out for an in debt guide in going gluten free.But, in short - just get started! Get rid of everything gluten in your house and plan a long grocery store run where you read labels and find replacement products.Good Luck!