Can’t Sleep? Natural Sleep Remedies So You Can Fall Or Stay Asleep Tonight
Are you wondering “are french fries gluten free” because they’re made from potatoes? Think again.
While french fries SHOULD be gluten-free, there’s a really good chance that they aren’t. There are two factors that directly affect french fries – whether they are battered or pre-formed AND how they are fried.
So my first question when dining out is “Are the french fries gluten-free?” If they don’t know, I assume they’re not safe. If they say they’re gluten-free, my next question is “Do you have a dedicated fryer or do you fry other items in that same fryer that are made with wheat?” This will tell you whether those fries are actually gluten-free or not.
The biggest problem is ultimately the fryer. No matter what a restaurant tells you, fryers are contaminated with gluten when other gluten-based products are fried in them. And NO, the temperature of the oil used doesn’t get hot enough to denature the gluten proteins. So that’s not a reasonable excuse for you to eat unsafe french fries.
Another point to mention is sweet potato fries (want to make them yourself at home? Here’s how). It’s pretty difficult to get sweet potato fries to crisp up like white potato fries. Often sweet potato fries are battered. This means that you have to ask if the sweet potato fries are gluten-free because the batter could include wheat.
Lastly, if you’re buying frozen french fries from the grocery store, make sure the package contains the words “gluten free” or a certified gluten-free label. Even though you might not see the word “wheat” on the packaging or any other more whole food ingredient that naturally contains gluten, you don’t know that an ingredient used is derived from a gluten-containing grain. Don’t make the rookie mistake of relying on label reading to help you determine if something is gluten-free. You’ve no idea where the ingredients came from and if they happen to be contaminated.
NEED MORE HELP?
If you feel like you’re at your wits’ end and fed up knowing what to eat…
Or you feel like food is your enemy now that you’ve gone gluten-free because you don’t know what’s safe…
And you’re feeling deeply overwhelmed with the process of ridding your life of gluten…
I have a really neat opportunity for you so keep on reading!
I’m hosting a special webinar (that’s totally free) where I’m going to talk about the process how to simplify going gluten-free as well as how I (and my clients) have gotten to a place where the lifestyle and diet are a piece of gluten-free cake.
If you’ve been GF for less than 2 years, are still struggling to “stay on the wagon,” or haven’t even started going GF yet… this is for you.
Today and tomorrow, I’m hosting an exclusive webinar called…
There’s no cost to attend and I’m going to cover some of the biggest questions you have!
Think of it like you and I sit down for a cup of tea (or coffee)… let’s talk. Plus I’ll have a special surprise for you at the end! BUT please be aware that I will not record this event so if you miss it, then you’ve missed out.
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Five Guys Burger and Fries, Elevation Burger, Chick-fil-a, Cheeseburger in Paradise and Energy Kitchen all have dedicated fryers (Energy Kitchen actually bakes their fries). [These are the chains, you may find some local restaurants that do as well.]
I’ve found a bunch more since last year: Burger 21, In-N-Out Burger, Joe’s American Grill, some Red Robin locations and more. I put a list together of national chains with GF fries: http://glutenfreedairyfreenj.blogspot.com/2011/04/are-french-fries-gluten-free.html (first half are local NJ restaurants, bottom half are the chains).
Here at Elevation Burger we actually ONLY cook our freshly cut potatoes in ALL our fryers. We do not deep fry any other food, so every fryer is “dedicated”, and there is no chance of any mix ups! Additionally, we use 100% olive oil to cook our fries in, so individuals with peanut oil sensitivity can enjoy our fresh fries as well. There is no coating on the fries, and salt is our only seasoning (you can ask for no salt if you prefer). Real food, cooked as simply as possible using real ingredients is so delicious and satisfying!
I wouldnt call a product with gluten “contaminated” ,, 1/3 of society is being totally assinine not eating gluten
Your symptoms are complete BS and brought on by your own gullibility.
Its a wheat protein, not poison,people have been eating since the 7th century
The more knowledge we get in the modern world the dummer some of us become
Hey Frank, thanks for sharing your thoughts, but I’m not gullible nor are my symptoms in my head. No one is saying that wheat is poison (at least I’m not), however what you are saying is rooted in the idea that if it’s food, everyone should be able to eat it. And that… well, it’s simply not true. If you read this site consistently, you’d know that I have bloodwork and plenty of documentation to verify that my issues are real. And there are plenty of folks who do as well and it’s really not your place to question whether someone else’s experience is real or not. I’m certainly not questioning whether you feel fine eating the way that you choose to. If you want to talk about the misinformation out there about people thinking that the term “gluten-free” equals healthy, then please… let’s talk because I’ve written about that extensively here and have stern words for people who only buy products marked as such thinking that this is a great weight loss plan when really they’re eating very refined, high glycemic junk. But don’t leave comments that are highly uninformed stating that I’ve been duped. Do your homework and read more content here before assuming that I’m an idiot believing in BS. Your position is really no different than the folks who think that GF automatically means healthy and look at it as a weight loss trick.
Frank…you should thank your lucky stars that you do not have to deal with the issues of having Celiac Disease. Eating out for me is like playing Russian roulette. Will I get contaminated food or will I be safe? Every time Frank. Every time I go out to eat. I sit and watch my friends enjoy crisp Italian bread being dunked in olive oil…and I watch. If I participate…I will get deathly ill. I will most likely be so sick that I will dehydrate and need to go to the hospital. No Frank, its not in our minds. I had a medical procedure for the diagnosis of Celiac Disease. Since the day I was told I had the disease, I have not had any gluten…I have had cross contamination much to my dislike. And every year, I’m back in the Endoscopy Department having another scope shoved down my throat to check on my small intestine. No Frank. It’s not in our heads. LIke I said…you should thank your God you do not have to deal with it.
Wow Frank…
I’ve watched my 14 year old son suffer for years and he was recently diagnosed with Celiac Disease. I’m pretty sure his symptoms were not just in his head. Do some more research before you go spouting off something so ridiculous and offensive.
Take your cockeyed opinion and pound it where the sun don’t shine!
Frank, honestly, are you just stirring the pot? Obviously you are not educated about gluten sensitivity including what I have been diagnosed with, celiac disease. I didn’t choose to have to eat gluten-free for the rest of my life, but I will happily do so to improve my health. Educate yourself so you won’t continue to make such foolish comments.
Frank, I guess by your logic there’s no such thing as peanut allergies either. No one is forcing you or anyone else to be gluten free, but just for the record, some of us have to be gluten free. Trust me, I’ve spent too much time in the bathroom after eating food that’s been cross contaminated. Until you’ve walked in my shoes or the shoes of anyone else who avoids gluten for health reasons, you need to refrain from commenting.
Frank, your comments are disrespectful and uninformed…which only goes to show how you’ve chosen (in your own words) to be “dummer” by not researching something that can be backed up by years of medical research. While some people are fine eating gluten, some of us definitely are not. It’s no coincidence that once I stopped eating gluten (a substance that was damaging my body’s ability to grow and was making me sick) that I grew multiple inches, began to have healthy bone densities, and normal blood chemistry for someone my size and weight. I’m an average height and weight person now, but I was always well under normal because for those with Celiac Disease, gluten literally prevents your body from properly nourishing itself. The only thing that changed was that I cut out all gluten – and now I’m happy and very healthy. If you think I’m some uninformed schmuck, then take some time out of your very busy, “well educated” day of trolling internet boards for people with legitimate diseases and talk to a gastroenterologist. Either that or shut up. (P.S. If you’re trying to point that the rest of us are “dummer” than you, it would help to spell “dumber” right and to actually use some punctuation.)
Hey Frank,
Tell me if it was all BS, why would there be medical blood tests to check for gluten allergies? Obviously there is SCIENCE behind gluten allergy research and advancement in knowledge. The symptoms that you refer to as BS are obviously real enough to have sparked medical research and testing that has helped millions of people reclaim their health by avoiding a wheat protein that negatively affects them. This research most likely could have helped people, who years ago, did not know about this allergy. It has always been present, just because people didnt know about it years ago, doesnt mean it wasnt there and people suffered without knowing what caused their suffering. Talk to a doctor before making rediculous.and ignorant comments on this blog.
Ah, Frank. It sounds like you are very unhappy about something. I don’t know if it’s gluten related or not. Hopefully you will never have the senstivity issues. It’s an unfortunate reality for many of us, and it makes us leary of eating out or buying food we aren’t familiar with for fear of miserable reactions. It feels like poison to us, although a larger population finds it nourishing and healthy. Here’s to your good health, Frank. Hope you never have to eat your words…cuz they won’t taste real good.
Frank, honestly your comments come from an ignorant place. I was diagnosed with extreme gluten sensitivity and have happily eaten gluten free for almost 3 years. I no longer have blinding migraines, have to take any medications at all, and haven’t seen the inside of an emergency room in 3 years. If you tried to educate yourself you would realize that science backs up the fact that people shouldn’t be eating gluten at all. Scientists overseas have dug up remains of people from before the 7th century that had all the signs of Celiac Disease. By contaminated, we in the gluten free community mean the food is no longer safe for us to eat because it has been touched by gluten. The next time you decide to call us all fakers, you may want to do your research or at least learn to read one of the many reports of improving symptoms and lives that have been bettered by being diagnosed.
My goodness, Frank! How wonderful it must be for you to live in a world without allergies. I am well aware that gluten is a protein. Did you know that if wheat or rye or barley is grown in a field this year and next year the farmer grows oats that the oats are contaminated? I know you think that is foolishness. But, until you endure the pain that accompanies such an allergy, your remarks show your ignorance indeed. As well-meaning as you may think you are, and as intelligent as your arrogance indicates you believe yourself to be, you are as dumb as a baby pig on this subject. Stick to what you really do know, if there is indeed anything you are properly versed in.
Wheat now does not have the same gluten content it did 50 years ago. ALl of the modifications that our lovely scientist have done to make things easier have made things more toxic for us that have issues.
In regards to my symptoms being in my head. Wow, I must have one over active imagination and amazing control over diarrhea and vomitting. And my 10 year is amazing in breaking into hives and having flares of ezcema on demand when she is exposed on her skin and she can projectile vomit amazingly well.
Hey there, Frank. Like so many others on here, I have blood tests for both my daughter and me that…OMG…show we have gluten issues. Frank, prior to my diagnosis, I was about to be tested for RA, MS, and lupus Who know eliminating this nasty gluten (for me) was all I needed. As for my daughter – she was diagnosed with failure to thrive. Within 6 months she had RSV, pneumonia, Influenza B, and roseola. Her asthma was out of control. She missed 16 days her first semester of 4k because of constant illness and high fevers. She was diagnosed in January and missed just 1 day during the second semester, is now on the growth charts, and rarely sick. Frank, I truly hope that you nor any of your family members NEED to eat gluten free. And finally, Frank, if you think it’s all bunk – maybe just stay off this site?
Hi Frank, I wrote this post a few weeks ago for someone who thought the same way you do, hope this helps you! 🙂 Some of our symptoms before going gluten free included:
For me (As long as I can remember until GF at age 27):
– Bloating
– Bowel movement once every 2 weeks
– Diarrhea at least once a month lasting about 12 hours
– Vomiting (about once every 6 months to a year) assuming it was the 24 hour bug but nobody else in a family of 5 would ever get sick with it
– Painful feeling in my stomach made worse by eating
– Ability to sleep up to 48 hours STRAIGHT and wake up feeling as though I had not slept
– Frequent almost daily headaches
– Muscle pain like I had exerted great physical activity when I had not
– Joint pain
– Sciatic nerve pain
– Muscle “knots” that could not be relieved
– Colds lasting more than 3 months and always ending in bronchitis or pneumonia and a trip to the doctors
For my son (then age 1-3):
– Bloating
– Diarrhea that would last a few weeks rest a week then come back again
– Broken arm (from a short distance fall)
– Moodiness
– Slept more than most children
You’re right, I was SO sick before going gluten free I wished they were imaginary symptoms so I could simply unimagine them! It took my son being diagnosed in order for me to be diagnosed so I probably had a bunch of small minded doctors that thought the same way you do, that I had a ton of IMAGINARY SYMPTOMS! I’m glad to report since going gluten free we are free from ALL of those symptoms and even though I HATE this gluten free diet I could never go off it again because I enjoy being healthy and feeling healthy like normal people do and being FREE from all those symptoms finally! I cheated once and I spent hours in the bathroom with extremely painful diarrhea. Likewise my son was exposed once a few months after going gluten free by someone who felt we didn’t NEED to be on this diet, he uncontrollably vomited for the next 5 hours and many of those hours were dry heaves…they were definitely wrong! So we didn’t have imaginary ailments or symptoms! I wish we did because I’d LOVE to be able to eat like everyone else and not be excluded from things because of having Celiac Disease! I didn’t post this for sympathy but rather to be informative, so now you know! 🙂
Frank, Unless you have suffered, you have no idea. I wouldn’t wish this on you or the worst person in the world….
Frank, peanuts are food, also, yet thousands of people have life-threatening peanut allergies. Just because gluten is not a poison to you, doesn’t mean it isn’t a poison to others. It is asinine to assume that, just because gluten wasn’t identified as the cause of medical problems until recently, it is safe for everyone. My father almost died before he was diagnosed with Celiacs and put on a gluten-free diet.
Well Frank I guess if ignorance is bliss, you must be an amazingly happy person. Until you experience what we go thru on a daily basis you don’t get to have an opinion about this so shut the hell up! Cindy is being way to nice by saying she wouldn’t wish this on you, well I’m not so nice so I really wish you had ONE week to experience what we do then maybe you would have a clue and oh maybe some compassion!!! Sincerely, Some one who envy’s your ability to eat ANYTHING he wants!!!
Tell that to my belly and it will tell you what cross contamination does to it. I struggled for years feeling awful and being told I needed this procedure and this medication. All I needed was a gluten free diet. Even my skeptical husband now defends me. The atmosphere in our home is much more pleasant.
Frank you are an idiot who has no idea what you are talking about! I suppose that when I was down to 95 pounds because I had chronic diarrhea and all the food and nutrients that I was eating was going through my system like water through a garden hose, my symptoms were complete BS! I agree that the people that are eating gluten-free because it is the “New FAD” are crazy. Why would you want to spend all that money for gluten-free food if you didn’t have to. But there are some of us (those with Celiac Disease) that even a spec of gluten is poison to our bodies. What do you have to say to the airlines that have stopped serving peanuts on flights because of people with peanut allergies? Peanuts are not poison and people have been eating them for hundreds of years. Are those people just faking their anaphalaxis? To quote you Frank, “The more knowledge we get in the modern world, the dumber some of us become”. Well said Frank, you are stuck on stupid!
Frank, While I’d like to tell you how naïve you are, I think it’s more likely that you’re very close minded. There is too much data and scientific studies out there that support gluten intolerance. My advice to you is to educate yourself before you start judging others…here’s a few good books by Medical Doctors that have been studying the effects of gluten (you might actually learn something that might save your own health if you actually take the time to read a couple of them) 1) The Gluten Effect (Drs Vikki & Rick Petersen) The Wheat Belly, Grain Brain (Dr. David Perlmutter) these are just 3 of several, it’s a great start. As many others have stated the grains that we consume today are not produced the same way that they were back in 1940…in addition, gluten is now in 99% of all food products that are manufactured in the US…our bodies weren’t meant to break down the gluten protein 24/7, our digestive system is not structured to produce that many enzymes.
Just because you choose to remain closed minded about the issues, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist and it doesn’t mean that you should judge others that choose healthy eating vs living life on medications. You sir, are part of the problem of our society instead of trying to share information that might help someone with their health you scoff at the helping them find the root cause…I’m sure if you were in the medical field that you’d be one of the first that wrote out a Rx to every patient that came to see you. Luckily for so many people there are those of us out there that are taking about a real issue that affects real people and by eliminating gluten they get real results, so glad I fall into this last category.
Frank- Do everyone a favor and take your ignorance elsewhere.
Sure thing about wheat being a product of the 17th century; however Frank, you are the one that doesn’t get it – part of the problem is the wheat we that is available is not the same wheat product – just like most other products today – overprocessed and played with; extra additives, etc etc….Lucky you if you have never had any reactions to anything. Apparently you were never told that if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all.
Funny how someone who is calling people “dummer” can’t even spell dumber. Oh, the irony!!
I’m pretty sure my symptoms are not in my head. They are in my stomach and coming out my butt in liquid form. Sorry to be blunt folks but, I have yet to find a Doctor who has ever diagnosed imaginary diarrhea .
Frank, frank, frank…what’s your deal? You have to hate on others because you’re not happy w yourself or someone else for some reason or another?
I have Celiac Disease as do my 2 sons who are 1 & 2 yrs old. I don’t have an “allergy” to wheat, barley, rye, & oats, I have a disease that causes pain, migraines, growth delay in kids, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, & so much more. If I were to continue to consume wheat, barley, rye, & oats that you state are “safe” for EVERYONE, I would end up w stomach cancer & quite possibly DIE, but yeah it’s safe for everyone to eat. I’m making all that up I guess too. If it’s all in our heads, why did I have an EGD aka scope down my throat that found the Villi (tiny hair like deals) in my small intestine were completely flattened preventing me from being able to receive any nutrition from anything I consumed? Why after a biopsy of my Villi did they find Celiac Disease & then, follow that test up w a blood test that looked for antibodies that were literally fighting off the food I was eating? Why would I subject myself to an EGD yearly (Lord knows those aren’t cheap even w insurance) & have a blood test performed any time I feel I may have eaten something that people with Celiac called “contaminated”??? I know, I do it to pay a Dr just for shits & giggles & to rack up more Medical debt that so many of us now have due to looking for an “answer” to our issue! That sounds like so much fun to me!!! Numerous tests, Drs visits, etc.
If this is all made up, why do Hospitals recognize it even when you’re admitted as a “dietary need”??? If it weren’t an actual “issue” for millions of people, they wouldn’t have a special menu nor go to great lengths to ensure our food is Gluten Free during our hospital stays.
I can definitely say that I don’t enjoy paying $5 for a loaf of bread & we go thru no less than 10 a month in this house!!!
Do some research before you start making these types of statements. It’s a VERY real disease for myself & many others. The intolerance is also very real for many too! This has been around since biblical times. Talk to a Dr & do some real research. There’s all kinds of crap articles out there on it, but can tell you Celiac Disease is VERY REAL & I suffer from other Autoimmune Diseases due to having Celiac! This wasn’t my idea of fun @ the age of 31 nor when I was diagnosed @ the age of 27! I’d love to eat out @ many of the places I used too & cannot or eat many of the foods I used to & can no longer eat.
Whose the “drummer” one now???
Woe… Frank? Have you ever seen someone with MS? Or maybe other diseases that show up on the out side of your body and scream HEY I”M SICK!!!??? No I bet not. There are many MANY illnesses that one can not see, But that doesn’t mean that it isn’t there. Do some serious research and see what the heck you are talking about.. There are many out there who go on this or any diet to see if they can loose weight.. this isn’t one of them. This one I know is to SAVE MY LIFE!! Yeah a few Doc’s and EX HUSBAND all thought it was in my head until I had a biopsy and found I was sick as hell. Guess what Dear Frank.. Going gluten free has saved MY LIFE!! I’m sorry you are miss informed. I feel badly for you that you couldn’t even look for the facts first.
I hope you always stay well and people never tell you it’s all in your head as you get sicker each day.
Have a happy life.
Betsy
Frank Frank Frank…. you shouldn’t be browsing the internet if you are not able to handle the vast information it has to offer. One man alone cannot plant a field. It takes many men to do so. Its called ‘unity’ and effort as well as togetherness. The young lady who has taken her time to create this website did so out of love and compassion for others and the illness and symptoms that are the issue. Its sad when one tries to be anal retentive. Ignorancy isn’t bliss at least not in this day and age. That belonged in the barbaric times. Maybe you fell through the cracks of time and ended up in the wrong place. If you do not like something (and anyone is entitled to their own opinion) kindly keep it to yourself move on until you find something or someplace you can relate to.
Thank you for taking the time to do what you do Jennifer! its not an easy task. But it is people like you along with others that are able to grow fields. Many Blessings.
would you all eat french fries if they were cooked in a deep fryer that had been used for wings that were marinated in soy sauce?
Never, Diana. They aren’t gluten-free. A fryer does not get hot enough to degrade (or the more technical term is denature) gluten. So anything that goes into a fryer that’s had anything with gluten on/in it will no longer be gluten-free.