Living Without Magazine for the Allergic Foodie
June 19th, 2010

Living Without Magazine for the Allergic Foodie

Living Without Magazine

I recently have been checking out Living Without magazine online. It’s a great resource for those living with food allergies and sensitivities. The magazine both online and in print is a great resource on food choices, allergy news and just everything to make living without certain foods a lot easier. You can also find the actual magazine at health stores and even at our favorite Whole Foods market.

The latest issue has tips on gluten-free dining out tips, and a cool article on gluten-free beer. Whether nuts, dairy, gluten or even soy is your vice check out this well designed magazine to help you get through the day.

Needles on My Head, Hands and Legs
October 6th, 2009

Needles on My Head, Hands and Legs

Remember me. This is me getting Acupuncture

How can I put myself through a little more torture besides no pizza, free bread on tables and my favorite breakfast of bagels?

Pins in my body like a voodoo doll. But I’m both the doll and the subject. I’ve been talking to a friend lately about Eastern Medicine Treatments and Acupuncture. It made sense to try a little of this age old method that has worked for many. I went in not really knowing what they would do or if it was going to be crazy where you stand against a wall and they throw pins at wherever the pigeon poops. Well it wasn’t like that at all. It was a long conversation about my past and present of my body, history of medical occurrences in this skin and how hot and cold my blood was. It was the most thorough interview I think I have ever been in. They really like looking at the tongue and taking your pulse too. After a long interview and frantic writing it was time for the needles. They understood my Qi. They went for some particular areas, not sure what but I think it was to increase my blood flow and target certain parts of my body.

11 needles in total – 1 in between the eyes, 1 one each hand, and 4 on each leg.

11 grimaces later I felt tingly, warm and sometimes numb. I would move my arm and then feel like one movement would effect the rest of my body and I learned quickly to keep still. 20 quiet minutes later the lady was pulling them out and I wasn’t sure whether I would fall over or be able to move. I got up and all was fine. I don’t feel especially different, but I’ll go again. Next visit we’ll be discussing herbal treatments. Then I’ll be drinking condensed mud water.

Before and After: Gluten Free Fekkai
September 25th, 2009

Before and After: Gluten Free Fekkai

Gluten-free Fekkai Shampoo

Last week I got the chance to take advantage of a free giveaway that Saks Fifth Ave has on Frederic Fekkai shampoo at a shampoo swap. Pretty much you bring in an old bottle of any brand shampoo and they exchange it for their own. Now I’m not sure whether this is genius marketing or a totally money hole for Frederic, but I assume any brand charging $23 per bottle of shampoo has enough money to give away a couple hundred bottles at Saks.

I happen to be first in line and suprisingly there were not a ton of people there, but I traded a random bottle of cheap shampoo and got an Olive Oil Moisturizing Shampoo. The shampoo is not only gluten-free but smells soooo good. Frederic Fekkai has more a neutral smell, like it’s not too florally girly and not manly but just right. I’ve used this brand once before and it works awesome. It’s a bit hefty of a price for something you use for a few minutes and then wash down the drain, but I find I use less of good products. If you get a chance try it out.

My head and hair are gluten-free and so can you.

Random Observation: Flossing is Easier Sans Gluten
September 22nd, 2009

Random Observation: Flossing is Easier Sans Gluten

Flossy floss

I’m not sure if I’m imaging things or whether this is a true observation of being off of gluten for one week. When I’m flossing, I notice there’s just less gunk in my teeth. If I’ve grossed you out already, I’m so sorry but it’s the nature of this blog.

When I really think about this, it makes sense. Gluten is defined by Dictionary.com as “the tough, viscid, nitrogenous substance remaining when the flour of wheat or other grain is washed to remove the starch,” or “glue or a gluey substance.” It makes sense that a gluey substance would be more prone to stick to your teeth.

This blog sounds like an article out of The Onion, but less funny and less thought out. My apologies. Let me think of the ways to give you back the last 2 minutes of reading.

Anatomy of My Alligator Skin
September 20th, 2009

Anatomy of My Alligator Skin

Some of the areas of my alligator skin I am trying to manage are the typical eczema trouble spots, in order of most obnoxious.

Neck, chin and jawline- I’m coming apart at the seams and I can’t turn my neck all the way because it stings. Eyelid and eyebrows – No idea why here, there’s no sweat glands (correction: there are sweat glands in our eyelids). I look like a red panda but less cute. Inside and outside elbows – Comes and goes the quickest from here. Behind the knees – Not so itchy and bothersome, but looks the most horrific. Like I’m hanging myself from my knees all the time. Upper lip – Stopped using SoftLips and it’s already getting better.

For a better representation I’ve added some images to help depict where it hurts and the anatomy of my alligator skin. I’m using sock monkeys to represent a normal person. Exhibit A is a normal sock monkey. Lots of color, happy and healthy. Exhibit B is dull, has lots of itchy pain areas and looks plain ole crazy. By day 90 I hope this improves.

Oh No AveeNO
September 17th, 2009

Oh No AveeNO

My anti-itch cream I was using, is going to fall into the “don’t touch for 90 days bin.” It’s the Aveeno Anti-Itch Cream with Natural Colloidal Oatmeal. The calamine does usually calm me a bit and the texture is good, but it probably won’t help if I rub gluten all over me.

Generally I really like Aveeno products for a drugstore run, so maybe I’ll find something else. I do think that eliminating the number of products I’m using is good for my skin. All the chemicals and products are more likely to conflict than really work together. The more I put on, the worse everything gets. Less is More.

Some are good, some not so much. I'll talk about other products in more detail later.

AveeNO. It has oatmeal in it.