Hey Guys,

Sorry I haven't posted recently. I'm in the process of moving so I have been floating about without a lot of time to post but I do have some stuff to tell you guys. First off, due to my moving I haven't been able to take my GoodBelly for a few days and it has made a difference. My stomach has been a bit persnickety since then. So it clearly is doing something to help, so once I can I am getting some more of that stuff.

Now here is a tip if you are ever in California and looking for a place that is gluten free friendly. Just search on your little smart phone for a Mendocino Farms. Their menu is very clearly marked with what is or can be made gluten free and what is vegan. Today I accidentally ordered something with soy sauce and the manager came and told me when he saw and then helped me pick out a new sandwich, which he made sure was gluten free. Then to top it off he gave me some free potato salad while I waited for my order. I had accidentally forgotten to check for the little GF next to what I ordered. They were great about it and are one of the few places that really understands the gluten allergy. I'm now feeling great after my fabulous meal, no horrible side effects. So if you need a definite safe place for a meal (a sandwich nonetheless, difficult for us bread-free folk) then this is the place for you! I'm not trying to go all commercial on you and don't worry, once I'm in my new place and can cook again I will posting any successful recipes I have. Most will be cheap and quick as I'm poor and very busy. So if that's what you need and are willing to trust me then be looking forward to that in the coming weeks. :)

Good Belly

So I began using a probiotic called Good Belly and so far it's been pretty helpful. I'm only on day 3 but it's delicious and certainly hasn't caused any harm. Good Belly is a probiotic drink that is both dairy AND gluten free. This is the first I've found. I had tried a few before but they all made things worse because they contained one of the two allergens. My family and I then did some research and found this drink. They have a variety in dairy free that are really easy to find and then the slightly more elusive gluten free versions. It took me a while to find one but the other day I did and am now testing it out.

For those of you who don't know what a probiotic is, it's a supplement that puts some good bacterias in your stomach that are necessary for healthy digestion. These bacteria are very important, especially for people with issues like mine who are lacking specific bacteria that are needed to digest the foods they have issues with. Now it's not going to magically make you able to tolerate cheese and bread if you can't but it should help you digest everything you do eat easier. So for me it could mean I might be able to eat peanut butter again or one of the many other things that I have mild issues digesting.

I have the gluten free and dairy free version of it. You can tell easily because of the green cap and it also says "Now Gluten Free". I got the orange kind and it's a great way to start my morning. They have this thing called the 12 Day Challenge. They say if you don't notice a difference in that time you'll get your money back. So I will keep you updated as I try this out for 12 days. I have 9 days left! But so far so good! :) If this doesn't work out I will post my continued search for a probiotic and a healthier happier stomach.

Starbucks Drinks

I figure I'd start off with a staple in the life of all American's, Starbucks. I know that going to Starbucks, or really any cafe for that matter, is hard when you have restrictions. You can't get your old favorite drink anymore or try that new supposedly fabulous drink that everyone has been talking about. And if you've heard of Starbucks "secret" menu, you better believe it's off-limits to us. So what is safe at Starbucks and what isn't? You'd think it's as simple as ordering it with soy milk or almond milk but it's actually a bit more complicated than that. I have a friend who works at Starbucks and she let me in on a little secret. Even just asking for a drink with soy milk does not make it safe to drink. Apparently if you do not specifically state your allergy they sometimes will run out of one of the cartons of soy milk and instead of opening a new one they'll top off your drink with regular milk. And for someone who just prefers soy milk this is no problem. They go on their merry way not knowing the difference. But we end up with stomach aches or the runs or horrible gas and have no idea why. You think through what you ate that day and try to pinpoint it and nothing seems to add up, then you get to that Starbucks you splurged on. Are you now allergic to something else too? Nope. It's the dairy that was slipped into your drink without your knowledge thinking no harm would come. Now you can't blame these people. They don't know your issues. They're just trying to do their job and are taking a little short cut. Who hasn't done that? So my suggestion is to let them know of your allergy. If you're afraid to sound too demanding or to sound spoiled phrase it like this, "Hey, I'm lactose intolerant so I was wondering if (insert drink here) had any dairy in it if I use soy milk?" This is a good question to ask anyways as some of the drinks have a syrup in them that contains dairy. I always get a Soy Chai Tea Latte. This is a completely safe drink if you get it with soy milk and make sure to let them know you're lactose intolerant.

Just remember, it's okay to ask questions and to be a little difficult. This is your body, treat it right and don't put yourself through unnecessary pain due to your own over-politeness. Any more questions on Starbucks safety?

Hello!

Hello friends! My name is Isabelle (AKA Allergy Girl) and this is a blog for those trying to live without gluten and dairy whether it be by choice or due to a very a finicky stomach (like me). I may possibly have one of the worst most hateful stomachs in the world. But let me start from the beginning. I grew up like many other happy children, eating whatever I wanted and not suffering any consequences. Oh how I miss those days! Then in my junior year of high school I discovered I had been living with lactose intolerance which is what caused my many...issues, so to speak, when eating. I cut out dairy and began to feel slightly better. Unfortunately not all of my problems went away. I went back to the doctor and they suggested cutting out gluten and testing me for Celiacs. Luckily, I do not have Celiacs but I might as well as I am allergic to both gluten and dairy. So I have now been officially diagnosed with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), which basically means "We don't know what is wrong with you but you are going to get sick when you eat certain foods and any food could potentially cause this". 

Developing this in high school was very difficult and to this day I am still kind of stumbling blindly through life trying not to eat certain things and then accidentally eating them anyways. So this blog is here to help others who find themselves in a similar position to me. Hopefully the discoveries I've made will help you guys out. :) 

P.S. If you have any questions, any topic requests, any recipes you need altered, feel free to ask! I'll help to the best of my ability and use all of my resources to give you the most well-researched answer possible. <3