Gluten what? Celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow and Victoria Beckham are helping raise awareness about living a  gluten-free lifestyle. A quick lesson about gluten: gluten-free foods do not automatically make them good for you (darn!). It simply means that they don’t contain wheat, rye, barley, any gluten-containing cousins of wheat, and are processed in a gluten-free facility.

It has become easier to identify gluten-free products with food labeling laws that require companies to indicate if the food product contains wheat (the primary source of gluten in the diet) and/or if it was processed in a facility that also processes wheat.

Did Kavita’s post about how to lose weight by accident not convince you to hop on board? Well Healing Lifestyles and Spas have found 5 delicious snacks:

Mary’s Gone Crackers
Mary, a real person and the founder of the company has Celiac Disease and  had trouble finding delicious gluten-free foods. Her solution? Make them herself!

Udi’s
With gluten-free eliminating wheat, you may think that there could be no such thing as great tasting gluten-free bread. Well Udi’s delivers delicious bagels, buns, breads, and muffins. Now you don’t have to go bunless at your next BBQ!

Erewhon GF Breakfast Cereals
They have all kinds of cereal your little heart could desire. Ranging from adult, grown- up cereals such as Crispy Brown Rice or ones that make you relive your childhood such as Cocoa Crispy Brown Rice or Strawberry Crisps. You are sure to find a delicious option for your morning.

NoGii – No Gluten High Protein Bar
Elizabeth Hasselbeck, co-host of The View and author of The G-Free Diet, has used her celebrity to shine the spotlight on others like her who live with (or whose kids live with) Celiac Disease. They use the perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter to create a gluten-free energy bar that is high in protein. There is also a kids bar!

KIND Healthy Snacks
You can find these delicious snacks at your local Starbucks during your morning coffee run. All KIND bars are simply made with nuts and fruit. You can’t go wrong with that!

Good nutrition and great taste can finally go hand in hand!

In a Red Sea of gowns at last night’s Oscars, there was one star who out shown the rest—literally. Gwyneth Paltrow’s dress was sparkly in all the right places. However, the 38 year old Glee-ful superstar’s best accessory wasn’t her sleek, glittering Calvin Klein sheath dress, it was her radiant skin.  The glow was almost more reflective than her dress!

Last week one of our Facebook fans, Samantha Krygier, asked:

“What is the best facial to get glowing skin?”

Looks like Gwyn showed off her dewy complexion at the perfect time. With skin so bright, we know Gwyn’s been hitting the spa just as hard as she (obviously) hits the gym.  There are a few different facial additives that we common folk can try at the spa to get the same healthy, natural looking skin.

1. Hyperbaric Oxygen

Oxygen infused facials plump skin and stimulates collagen production. Try: The Rejuvenating Oxygen Facial using Intracueticals at Perricone MD Flagship Facial Salon in NYC

2. Alpha Hydroxy Acids

No matter your age, a facial rich in  AHAs and peptides will boost elasticity, promote new cell turn over and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Hello fountain of youth! Try: The Un-Wrinkle Facial at Facelogic-Encinitas in San Diego, CA

3. Vitamin C

Don’t spill your orange juice on your face just yet… but Vitamin C in your facial will help fight signs of aging, repair UV damage, and leave your skin noticeably brighter. Try: The 80 Min Hylunia Vitamin C Facial at the Golden Door Spa at The Boulders Resort in Carefree, AZ

And for the Oscar Gold treatment try:

4. 24k Gold

This royal mineral leaves skin feeling taught while combating free radicals. Try: 24k Gold Leaf Facial at Spa Martier NYC

Now that you and Samantha have the inside scoop on the spa treatments that will get you beaming skin, go register for those #50dollartreatments April 11-17 so you can one-up Gwyneth’s glamorous glow.

Photos Courtesy of The Huffington Post.

Are you getting enough sun? Gwyneth Paltrow's extreme low levels of Vitamin-D can lead to Osteoporosis.

It seems in the world of health you can never have too much of a good or bad thing and there will always be a heated debate of what is good for you and what isn’t. Such is the case with getting enough sun. Each year when winter takes its final bow and we’re introduced to the warm weather, the strict rules of applying SPF and staying out of the sun take effect. Millions develop skin cancer for venturing out unprotected, but what about those who suffer from a disease that is the total opposite?

Gwyneth Paltrow announced to the world on her blog GOOP that she is one of the unlucky few suffering from Vitamin D Deficiency. While most bring hats and umbrellas to the beach to shy away from the sun, the actress was ordered to get more sun or take a chance at developing osteoporosis.

Gwyneth writes: “I went on a prescription strength level of Vitamin D and was told to…spend a bit of time in the sun! I was curious if this was safe, having been told for years to stay away from its dangerous rays, not to mention a tad bit confused. “

We are too. Vitamin D is an essential nutrient and not enough has been linked to depression, heart disease, heart failure, infertility, bone loss, fractions and even cancer. Well, how do you combat the disease without frying in the sun like a slab of bacon?

Shine from Yahoo suggests getting at least 200 IU daily, and up to 800 mg. You can find Vitamin D in fortified milk, yogurt, eggs, salmon, or a multivitamin. What signs should you look out for? Signs of a D deficiency include muscle pain/weakness and bone pain. The only surefire way to know if you are D deficient is to get a blood test. Ask about it at your next physical.

Images Courtesy of Special News Online

Celeb and GOOP author Gwyneth Paltrow and family (Apple included) are going to be in Nashville for a while – so, as you do, Gwyneth had an industrial warehouse converted into a cutting-edge, million-dollar home in just 10 days.

In her newsletter, Gwyneth detailed the breakneck pace and the gorgeous results – at one point, 30 workers were busily installing drywall, painting, hanging, tiling, and wiring – all at once. The furniture and decor was moved into the home with just 3 days to spare.

Head over to Apartment Therapy or Paltrow’s site to check out the results – they’re undeniably gorgeous, but one has to wonder at the wisdom of building an entire home from the ground up just for a temporary stay. Aren’t there any 5 star hotels in Nashville?

(All images courtesy of GOOP)