International Clinical Trials Day

Today is International Clinical Trials Day. Clinical trials are a critical part of healthcare research and development across the globe. These trials can include testing treatments, new medications, and new approaches to healthcare in humans. There is a tremendous amount of research involved with getting a new medication approved by the FDA and people who sign up for clinical trials are a vital part of this process.

While I have been part of focus groups and online surveys, I have never personally participated in a clinical trial. Recently, I learned about CureClick through the WEGOHealth advocacy community. CureClick is an interesting new web portal that shares information about clinical trials in general as well as including information about recruitment for active clinical trials. I learned a lot about clinical trials from this website and it helped me understand how, as patients, we can help inform our own medical futures. According to CureClick "Participants in clinical trials can play a more active role in their own health care, gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available, and help others by contributing to medical research."

To my knowledge, there are a few clinical trials specifically aimed at finding a medicinal aid to those of us living with Celiac Disease; CureClick just doesn't list them yet. The good news is that I am CureClick Advisory Board Member and I have a lot of communication with the founders of the website. I have already asked them to share any celiac-related trials with me immediately which I will then pass along to you. Right now, CureClick is currently recruiting for trials about severe asthma,  mild/moderate asthma, high cholesterol and risk factors for heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes.

Many people are excited about the possibility of drug therapy for celiac disease. Personally, I do not know if I would ever take a pill for celiac treatment but it is nice for others to have options. I am happy to see medical researches even paying attention to Celiac Disease. It is empowering to think that participating in a celiac disease clinical trial can help shape the medical future of our disease.

Please visit CureClick.com for more information about clinical trials and learn more today! Stay tuned to Gluten-Free Fun for any celiac disease trial announcements. You will be the first to know as soon as I do!

Celiac Awareness Month SuperSeedz Giveaway

I am excited to host another giveaway in honor of Celiac Awareness Month. This time, I am giving away SuperSeedz!

SuperSeedz are gourmet, shell-free pumpkin seeds that come in a variety of different flavors. They are also allergen friendly, peanut-free, tree nut-free, egg-free, dairy-free, fish-free, shellfish-free, soy-free and made with gluten-free ingredients. Flavors include "Really Naked, Sea Salt, Cinnamon and Sugar, Coco Joe, Tomato Italiano, Curious Curry, Somewhat Spicy and Super Spicy."

I like these SuperSeedz for a variety of reasons. First off, portability. They come in a resealable pack in both 1oz travel packs and 5 oz larger packs. As a traveler, I love this option. I can throw a couple of the travel packs in my carryon bag and have a nutritious gluten-free snack to go! The second reason I like these SuperSeedz is because of the flavor variety. I liked the sea salt the best, but also enjoyed the Tomato Italiano which would make a GREAT salad topper. The "Somewhat Spicy" was a little too spicy for me and I didn't even dare to try the "Super Spicy." I am the girl that sweats eating mild Thai food, so I stick to non-spicy. If you like a little heat, go for it! Lastly, these seeds are high in protein. You know I am on a kick to find higher protein travel snacks and these are perfect!

The product is available at numerous national retail outlets like Costco, Whole Foods and others as well as online at SuperSeedz.com. You can also buy most flavors online at Amazon.com.

You can enter to win your own sample packs of SuperSeedz below. Don't delay, the giveaway is only live until Friday!

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What Happens When You Tell People You Can't Eat Gluten

It's been a while since I posted a Friday Funny but I felt this deserved it's own post. This has been me for the past 34 years of my life. Explaining what gluten is, what I can't eat and reminding people there is actually food I CAN eat, why I can't just pick out the lunch meat from a sandwich, and so on and so on. Can you relate to this video?

Celebrate Celiac With Simple Mills

Simple Mills has recently gone through a package rebranding and also launched three new products to its popular line of almond flour based baking mixes, including Pizza Dough Mix, Pancake and Waffle Mix, and Vanilla Cake Mix. The thing I love about Simple Mills is that their mixes are made from almond flour and other simple ingredients and preparation is easy. I am someone who is slightly baking challenged, so the easier the recipe the better! Simple Mills is easy to make and full of flavor.

I tried some of their almond flour muffin mix in December and loved the banana muffins so I was excited to try the new pancake and waffle mix this month. The new, naturally gluten-free Pancake and Waffle Mix from Simple Mills has 8 simple ingredients: Almonds, Arrowroot Powder, Organic Coconut Sugar, Organic Coconut Flour, Cream of Tartar, Aluminum-Free Baking Soda, Sea Salt. These ingredients are 100% gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, and soy-free. They are also free of refined sugar and emulsifiers and gums. Obviously, this isn't a good mix for someone that has a tree nut allergy but perfect for those who are gluten-free or paleo.

I am a big pancake fan so sampling this new mix was a perfect opportunity for me. The pancakes were thinner than I expected, but still good. I love big pancakes so I prepared the recipe for four which made me two giant pancakes. I added sliced bananas on top and this made for a healthy and yummy breakfast. The almonds add a good protein punch to these pancakes so I stayed full much longer than I do with "regular" GF flour pancakes.

I want you to try your own Simple Mills pancakes so I am giving away one box. Everyone should celebrate Celiac Awareness Month with a little morning sweetness. Enter below to win!

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Things I Can Do With Celiac Disease

When people are diagnosed with celiac disease, they often focus on things they can no longer eat or things they think they can no longer do anymore. In honor of Celiac Awareness Month, I thought I would focus on things I CAN do with Celiac disease. This list is in no particular order, just as these things popped into my head.

• Meet amazing people both in person and virtually sharing celiac disease stories.
• Travel the world.
• Ride 45 miles on my bicycle in one day!
• Find more than 2,000 gluten-free friends in New York City.
• Ride an elephant in Thailand.
• Drink beer.
• Fly on a trapeze.
• Drink wine with friends.
• Go to a New York Mets game, drink beer, and eat a hamburger.
• Work for a James Beard Award Winner on a gluten-free pasta pop-up truck.
• Prepare for a blizzard. 
• Bake cookies.
• Work with gluten-free companies across the nation to share their products.
• Share gluten-free secrets with my favorite Silly Yak. 
• Dine at a 5-star restaurant.
• Eat bagels in New York City.
• Share breakfast with toucans and monkeys.
• Plan your gluten-free vacation.
• Eat bottomless baskets of french fries.
• Build a castle.
• Eat baguettes.
• Go to the beach.
• Live 34 years gluten-free! 

I want to hear from you. What are things you CAN do with Celiac Disease? Let's show the world that we can live our lives while being gluten-free!

Let's Tweet About Gluten-Free Travel

Tomorrow night I am co-hosting a Twitter chat all about gluten-free travel. I am teaming up with Be Free Village for this live Twitter event. Be Free Village is a cool company that will send gluten-free snack packs directly to your travel destination. What's better than having gluten-free food waiting for you when you check into your hotel?!

If you read my Gluten-Free Globetrotter® website, you know I am obsessed with traveling the world gluten-free. As a life-long celiac, all of my vacations have been completely gluten-free. I will share my best tips, top gluten-free destinations and more during our #GFreeTravel chat.

GLUTEN-FREE TRAVEL TWITTER CHAT

#GFreeTravel

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

9pm EST/7pm MST

Follow our Twitter chat using hashtag #GFreeTravel. Don't forget to follow both @GFGlobetrotter and @BeFreeVillage on Twitter too!

GIVEAWAY ALERT!!
Be sure to follow and tweet to @BeFreeVillage on May 6th for a chance to win a 5-day voyage gluten-free snack pack delivered to your destination of choice!

Can't make the live Twitter chat? You can search #GFreeTravel the day after the chat for a discount code on your next Be Free Village purchase! 

Happy Celiac Awareness Month Plus PF Chang's Giveaway

Happy Celiac Awareness Month everyone! 

This is truly a month to celebrate our gluten freedom. Our celiac community has come a long way and there is more advocacy than ever for research about celiac disease. I applaud all of the doctors, research, bloggers, Tweeters, Facebookers, Instagrammers, and more for sharing the positive word about celiac disease.

In honor of celiac awareness month, I am hosting lots of exciting giveaways during May. Be sure to follow me here and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to enter to win. Now is my chance to thank you all for being faithful readers of Gluten-Free Fun and give back with exciting gluten-free prizes.First up... a $25 gift card to PF Chang's.

Instead of filing a silly lawsuit, let's thank PF Chang's for feeding us delicious gluten-free food. PF Chang's has extensive gluten-free options and recently launched a new website all about their gluten-free food and preparation. You can learn more at: http://glutenfree.pfchangs.com/

Ready to kick off Celiac Awareness Month and to enter to win? Let's go eat some lettuce wraps!

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