Gluten-Free Pizza Crusts and Common Sense Gluten-Free Living

Gluten-free pizza crusts are a great idea.  This article explores some points regarding being sensible where gluten-free living is concerned.

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Healthy Gluten-Free Pizza Crusts

In our last article, we covered being gluten-free when it isn't medically mandated.   Now that there is more awareness of gluten-sensitivity, there is a bigger selection of gluten-free foods.  It's easier than ever for people with medically diagnosed gluten problems to eat healthy diets. However, don't automatically assume that if a food is labeled as gluten-free that it is 100% good for you either.

Some gluten-free foods, for example,  are high in saturated fat, sodium, or cholesterol. Other foods may be gluten-free, however, they have a high calorie count and contain little else that is nutritious. Another real danger that you have to watch out for if you have to deal with gluten-sensitivity is the fact that there are no protocols in place from the food and drug administration as to what it takes for a food to be certified as gluten-free.

Gluten-Free and 100% Gluten-Free

A lot of foods can be labeled dishonestly.  For example, the word light can mean lighter in calories, but it can also mean lighter in color.  You could find something that is low in fat, low in sugar, but it's sodium count is way too high.  These problems can be bad, but not immediately dangerous.  However, where gluten-free foods are concerned, a minor slip can be potentially fatal.

For example a lot of facilities that are listed as gluten-free also bake regular baked goods as well.  Even if the facility wipes down the baking pans and surfaces, there is still a big risk of cross-contamination. That's why when you're buying something like gluten-free pizza crusts for example, you want to make sure that you are getting them from a place that is certified as 100% gluten free.  Eating gluten-free is healthy to people who have a gluten sensitivity obviously, but even someone who is gluten-sensitive isn't exempt from healthy eating.

A healthy gluten-free diet, should include foods that are proved to be healthy such as natural food, lean meats and fish, low-fat dairy products, and fruits and vegetables.   These foods are all safe to eat if you are gluten-sensitive. Non-gluten grains such as quinoa and amaranth are another way to get grain without the dangers of gluten. In face, a lot more products such as breads, cereals, and pastas are being made with these grains.  If you are gluten-sensitive and have to watch gluten, find the right foods to help you, such as gluten-free pizza crusts.

Venice Bakery
134 Main Street
El Segundo, CA 90245
(310) 322–7357
http://www.venicebakery.com/

Gluten-Free Pizza Crusts: Do You Need to Be Gluten-Free

Gluten-free pizza crusts, like all gluten-free products have become part of the big buzz concerning being free of gluten.  But do you need to be?

Gluten Free Pizza Crusts | (310) 322–7357

Gluten-Free Pizza Crusts: A Gluten-Free Food for Those That Need It

Gluten-free pizza crusts are a great idea for people that have a gluten sensitivity such as Celiac disease.  One thing that you have to watch out for nowadays is how much the words gluten-free are bandied about.  A question that we are often asked is: "do I need to be on a gluten-free diet?"  First off, never self-diagnose.  Visit your doctor and get a checkup.  It is only through blood work and study that your doctor can determine if you need to be on a gluten-free diet.

One danger that a lot of people are falling into is the trap that gluten-free means a healthy diet.  The Paleo Diet and other diets advocate a return to the diets of early humans that didn't include gluten at all.  However, there are some people that not only are not gluten sensitive, they actually need it for health. For one thing, going gluten-free isn't as easy as you may think. While gluten itself isn't a nutrient as such, it is often present in many foods that are nutritious such as whole grains. Whole grains contain vitamins and minerals, such as iron and B vitamins, not to mention fiber, which you need for a healthy digestive track. Whole grain foods lower your risk of heart disease, type-2 diabetes, and even some forms of cancer. So if you have no need to be gluten-free, don't buy into the hype.  Talk to your doctor instead.  But what about if you do need to be gluten-free?

Gluten-Free When It's Necessary

If you have been diagnosed by a physician to be gluten-sensitive, which can only be done via tests involving bloodwork and biopsies, don't blithely assume you need to be gluten-free.  If, however, you have been diagnosed with celiac disease or other form of gluten-sensitivity, then you should start finding foods that are gluten-free, such as gluten-free pizza crusts.  

So remember, you want the truth.  Talk to your doctor.  If you need to be gluten-free, buy gluten free products to help you. 

Read More

Venice Bakery
134 Main Street
El Segundo, CA 90245
(310) 322–7357
http://www.venicebakery.com/

Is a Gluten-Free Diet Right for You? Part Two

Part two of our our series explores being gluten-free as a child.

Gluten-Free Pizza Crusts | (310) 322–7357

Gluten-Free in a Gluten Filled World

We sometimes forget that children are exposed to even more gluten than adults are.  Remember, gluten isn't just found in breads and wheat-based products.  Gluten is also found in a lot of products that children eat on a regular basis including cereals, candies and other things that can pose a serious risk to their health.  That's why you want to have a source of trustworthy gluten-free pizza crusts and other baked goods.

For a child that is not gluten-sensitive, a lot of the products that are out there usually pose health risks such as obesity and maybe diabetes.  For a gluten-sensitive child, however, there is the very real danger of anaphylactic shock.  From WEBMD.COM:

"Anaphylaxis is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic response that is marked by swelling, hives, lowered blood pressure, and dilated blood vessels. In severe cases, a person will go into shock. If anaphylactic shock isn't treated immediately, it can be fatal.

This condition occurs when the immune system develops a specific allergen fighting antibody (called immunoglobulin E or IgE) that drives an inappropriate or exaggerated reaction toward a substance that is normally harmless, such as food. Your body may not react upon initial exposure but may produce antibodies with later exposures. When you are exposed to the substance later, the binding of the allergen to antibodies can lead to the presence of a large amount of a protein called histamine, which can then lead to the symptoms described above...Anaphylaxis may begin with severe itching of the eyes or face and, within minutes, progress to more serious symptoms. These symptoms include swallowing and breathing difficulties, abdominal pain, cramps,vomiting, diarrhea, hives, and angioedema (swelling similar to hives, but the swelling is beneath the skin instead of on the surface). If you have symptoms of anaphylaxis, seek emergency medical attention immediately. The condition can quickly result in an increased heart rate, sudden weakness, a drop in blood pressure, shock, and ultimately unconsciousness and death. [READ MORE]

Can a Food That's Not Gluten-Free Be That Dangerous?

Can a food that's not gluten-free be that dangerous? In a word, yes.  It depends of course on the level of gluten sensitivity your child has.  The scary thing is a lot of Celiac disease hasn't been diagnosed.

So remember, sometimes you want to protect your child.  Some dangers are obvious.  Others not so.  So start with their diet.  If they need to be careful what they eat, make sure that they eat healthy foods such as gluten-free pizza crusts.

For more information, click here

Venice Bakery
134 Main Street
El Segundo, CA 90245
(310) 322–7357
http://www.venicebakery.com/

The Venice Bakery Instagram Challenge

For 51 years, we has used the finest ingredients and time-tested baking techniques to ensure the very-best tasting quality products. Venice's mouth-watering gluten-free crusts are widely praised for their delicious taste and wholesome nutrition.

Customer service is the backbone of our family-run company and implementing and in order to engage our loyal customers from around the world we invited 10 gluten-free Instagrammers to join the Venice Bakery Instagram Cook-off Challenge.

Each Instagrammer selected was sent two 12" pizza crusts with an expectation that they would go wild and make the gluten-free pizza of their dreams. One we really loved was prepared by @get_fit_linds with homemade pizza sauce, fresh Mozzarella, green olives, red onion and yellow and red peppers.

This one looks like a winner to us!

Venice Bakery

134 Main Street

El Segundo, CA 90245

(310) 322–7357

http://www.venicebakery.com

How to Bake Gluten-Free Pizza Crusts

1. Preheat oven to 475 F.
2. Place gluten-free pizza crust on pizza screen and garnish crusts with your favorite toppings.
3. Place on the center rack and bake for 8-10 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
4. Cooking times may vary from oven to oven.

Venice Bakery
134 Main Street
El Segundo, CA 90245
(310) 322–7357
http://www.venicebakery.com

Is a Gluten-Free Diet Right for You? Part 1

This article explores some facts about gluten-free products that you need to be aware of.

Gluten-free and vegan pizza crusts (310) 322–7357

Gluten-Free Pizza Crusts, Should You?

As a maker of gluten-free pizza crusts, we believe in helping our customers, both current and future.  There are several myths out there regarding gluten and it can be confusing.

First off, let's get this out the way first, not everyone needs to consider a gluten-free lifestyle.  Yes, you read that correctly.  The only people who should give serious consideration towards taking a step towards being gluten-free are people who have been diagnosed with celiac disease or other form of sensitivity to gluten.

Gluten-Sensitivity vs. Marketing Hype

Not everyone needs to be gluten-free, and not everyone needs to buy gluten-free pizza crusts.  A lot of unscrupulous marketers are promoting products as gluten-free and tapping into consumer fears. According to this excerpt from the New York Times:

"I see this as part of the current American concern with digestive health, which is also responsible for the yogurt boom,” said Harry Balzer, vice president at the market research company NPD Group, where he has followed the food industry for some 30 years. “About 30 percent of the public says it would like to cut back on the amount of gluten it’s eating, and if you find 30 percent of the public doing anything, you’ll find a lot of marketers right there, too.”

Never mind that a Mayo Clinic survey in 2012 concluded that only 1.8 million Americans have celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes the body to attack the small intestine when gluten is ingested and can lead to other debilitating medical problems if not diagnosed.

An additional 18 million people, or about 6 percent of the population, is believed to have gluten sensitivity, a less severe problem with the protein in wheat, barley and rye and their relatives that gives elasticity to dough and stability to the shape of baked goods.

“There are truly people out there who need gluten-free foods for health reasons, but they are not the majority of consumers who are driving this market,” said Virginia Morris, vice president for consumer strategy and insights at Daymon Worldwide, a private brand and consumer interactions company." [READ MORE]

So remember, there is only one way to tell if you need to be free of gluten, and that is to consult a physician.  If you do need to live a gluten-free lifestyle, make sure that the products you are buying are 100% gluten-free, such as our gluten-free pizza crusts, gluten-free flat breads, and gluten-free bread crumbs.  

Venice Bakery
134 Main Street
El Segundo, CA 90245
(310) 322–7357
http://www.venicebakery.com/