A Blogger A Day: Sure Foods Living

Name: Alison St. Sure
Lives in: San Francisco Bay Area

Blogs at: www.surefoodsliving.com
Tweets at: www.twitter.com/surefoodsliving
Like her at: Sure Foods Living on Facebook

Why we’re fans: Alison is a dedicated researcher, which often means doing the grunt work no one else has the patience or drive to do. Each year, she logs hours reading labels, making phone calls and sending emails to manufacturers just to compile a list of Halloween candy that’s safe for gluten-free kids. Her Halloween Candy Quick List has become a valuable asset to the community, and many websites (including NFCA) post the list to keep parents informed. But for Alison, it’s not a once-a-year deal; she puts that level of scrutiny into everything she writes.

Alison St. Sure

Alison’s Story: I was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2002. My husband is self-diagnosed gluten-intolerant. Both my children have been gluten-free since the womb! Both my parents are gluten-free after negative test results, and their health is so much better.

According to Alison: The most unexpected part of going gluten-free was that it would be so life-changing. Not only did my health dramatically improve, but I also found my life’s passion – raising awareness about the effects of gluten and helping people to live gluten-free. I like to say that I have turned my disease into a career!

A taste of Sure Foods Living:

• A Brief History of Wheat and Why It is Making Us Sick: The impetus for the article was my 98-year-old grandmother, who remembers when her grandmother started using high gluten flour. Though other writers have discussed the long-term history of wheat, it is important to look at how our diets have changed over just the last 100 years. I spent many hours doing research for this article and learned a lot.
• Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue and Gluten Intolerance: This article has received 143 comments so far, and most of the comments are great big long stories of what people have been through with these conditions. I still find it unbelievable that people with symptoms of fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue aren’t routinely tested for celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
• Vitiligo and Gluten Intolerance: I believe this is the only article out there that connects the two conditions with anecdotal evidence. The comments from readers are fascinating. This is a topic that needs to be researched by the medical community.

For more of NFCA’s Celiac Awareness Month celebration, visit www.CeliacCentral.org/awarenessmonth.