Do Young Living Essential Oils contain gluten? Are Young Living Essential Oils gluten-free? Are Young Living Essential Oils safe for individuals with celiac disease? I know you want to know the answer to this. You know how I know? Because my original post on this subject is still, to this day, my most popular blog post. I receive e-mails and comments all the time, asking for information.
I am creating a new post because I received a more updated list and wanted to make it easier for you to access it, by creating a file for you to download directly from the blog. This way you don’t have to wait for me to check my e-mail, read your message, reply and attach the file. Honestly, this can take months. You deserve faster service than that!
There are MANY people that will tell you (and have told me), the amount of gluten in these Young Living products is very minimal and not worth getting upset about. To these people, I gently reply, for individuals with celiac disease or like me, who have an anaphylactic reaction to gluten, these minimal amounts are really dangerous. They also build up over time, gradually stimulating the immune system to have an immune response. For those who care, and there seem to be a lot of us, this information is really really really important!
Also, I get many people asking what oil to use if they can’t use the V6 carrier oil that Young Living sells. You can use olive oil in a pinch (I hear it stains, so be careful). Coconut oil will work whether in a liquid or solid state. We personally use Spectrum Organic Almond Oil and are very happy with it. I buy a large bottle and it lasts us years! Please see affiliate links to these products below and click on them to purchase if you’d like to support my blog in a very minimal way with no cost to you. (Thank you!)
Here is the note I received from a Young Living associate within the past year: We attached a list that shows which products contain wheat/gluten. The list also indicates which products do not use any gluten containing ingredients; however, we cannot guarantee these products as gluten free. It is possible that these products are manufactured in facilities which use gluten in product formulations. Though there may be gluten processed in the same facility please rest assured that according to cGMP’s (current good manufacturing practices) the machinery is cleansed and sanitized between products to prevent contamination. If you have additional concerns about the use of any of these products we would encourage you to speak to your health care provider.
To sign up with Young Living, go here and enter 1414775 as the Enroller ID and Sponsor ID. Choose the Premium Starter Kit in order to get the most for your money and start enjoying your oils today!
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You know I love Young Living products and that their therapeutic grade essential oils are the only oils I use for myself and my family. (Read why, here!) I would be remiss, though, if I didn’t share the information I’ve acquired about the presence of gluten in several of the products Young Living offers. I’m not saying gluten makes these products ineffective. Surely, there are so many people with testimonials about the benefits of many Young Living products. This is not to devalue their experiences or yours, but to educate and inform for those, like me and my daughter, who cannot include gluten in any of our food, supplements or skin care products.
I originally signed up with Young Living to get their Tender Tush diaper rash cream for my youngest. It wasn’t much better than other creams, but essential oils mixed with coconut oil were definitely more effective. I didn’t think about it then, because honestly, it never crossed my mind that there could be gluten in a diaper rash cream. I know better now.
As I’ve been leading essential oils classes, I’ve included information about the Young Living supplements and skin care line. Because I want to provide as much real life information as possible, I started looking into some supplements to try myself so I could report back with results. My first purchase was going to be MultiGreens. I researched the ingredients and noticed Barley grass juice concentrate. My years of gluten research had alarm bells ringing in my head. I immediately wrote customer service. Here is their reply:
Hello Theresa,
Thank you for your email and for your patience in our reply to your inquiry. Multigreens are not Gluten free, I have also attached to this email a gluten content list.
If you have additional questions or concerns, or if we can assist you in any way, please feel free to contact us via telephone at 1-800-371-3515, fax at 866-203-5666, email at customerservice@youngliving.com, or our Live Help feature at www.youngliving.com.
If you are gluten intolerant, gluten sensitive, or allergic to gluten, like me, please read the following list carefully, to make sure you are not inadvertently putting gluten into your body and stimulating an immune response.
The essential oils themselves have NO gluten in them. However there are massage oils that do, as well as the V-6 oil used for capsules to swallow and diluting oils applied to the skin. The oils that contain gluten are:
Dragon Time Massage oil Ortho Ease Massage oil Ortho Sport Massage oil Relaxation Massage oil Sensation Massage oil V-6 Enhanced vegetable oil Cel-Lite Magic Massage oil (The gluten in these products is in the form of wheat germ oil.)
The following are supplements that contain gluten, including what form of gluten it is:
Allerzyme (Barley Sprout Powder) Balance Complete (Barley Grass Juice) Ecuadorian Dark Chocolessence (Contains quinoa, which may contain gluten-like proteins) Essentialzymes-4 (vendors have been unable to confirm gluten-free) ICP (oat bran) Juvapower (Barley Sprout Seed) Juvaspice (Barley Sprout Seed) Kidscent Mightyvites (Barley Grass) Multigreens (Barley Grass Concentrate) OmegaGize 3 (“none to our knowledge”) True Source (Barley Grass) Ultra Young + (“none to our knowledge”)
As I said before, the diaper rash cream came as a shock to me, but a LOT of Young Living personal care products contain gluten. They are listed below:
ART Creme Masque (Oat kernel extract) ART Day Activator (Tocopheryl acetate is sourced from wheat germ) ART Night Reconstructor (Tocopheryl acetate is sourced from wheat germ) ART Renewal Serum (Oat Protein) Bar Soaps (Oat kernel meal) Boswellia Wrinkle Cream (Barley Extract – Hordeum Distichon) Copaiba Vanilla Shampoo (“we cannot guarantee the reformulated hair care products as gluten free”) Copaiba Vanilla Conditioner (“we cannot guarantee the reformulated hair care products as gluten free”) Genesis Lotion (wheat germ oil) Kidscent Bath & Shower Gel (wheat germ oil) Kidscent Lotion (wheat germ oil) Kidscent Shampoo (wheat germ oil) Kidscent Tender Tush (wheat germ oil) Lavender Foaming Hand Soap (Hordiam Distichon) Lavender Lotion (Hordiam Distichon) Lavender Mint Shampoo (“we cannot guarantee the reformulated hair care products as gluten free”) Lavender Mint Conditioner (“we cannot guarantee the reformulated hair care products as gluten free”) Lavender Volume Conditioner (wheat germ oil, hydrolized wheat protein) Lavender Volume Shampoo (wheat germ oil) Orange Blossom Face Wash (Hydrolized wheat protein) Prenolone + Body Cream (wheat germ oil + hydrolized wheat protein) Protec (wheat germ oil) Regenolone Moisturizing Cream (wheat germ oil, hydrolized wheat protein) Rose Ointment (wheat germ oil) Sandalwood Moisture Cream (wheat germ oil, hydrolized wheat protein) Satin Facial Scrub (hydrolized wheat protein, hydrolized wheat starch, barley extract, Hordiam Distichon) Sensation Lotion (wheat germ oil) Wolfberry Eye Cream (hydrolized wheat germ oil, hydrolized wheat starch, barley extract, Hordiam Distichon)
Thieves products are beloved by many and thankfully there aren’t a lot that contain gluten. However, it should be noted that the Foaming Hand Soap contains Tocopheryl acetate from wheat germ oil. I plan on making my own foaming hand soap when my September order of Theives arrives. Keep looking for that post!
The Animal Scent Ointment also contains wheat germ oil.
FAQ
Can you have a copy of this chart and e-mail? Most certainly! Use the “Contact Me” box on the homepage and I will get it right over to you.
Do I feel differently about Young Living now? I’m a little disappointed, but if I’ve learned anything from this process, it is ASK! Always ask. Don’t assume that because a company has high standards and superb products, that they’re allergen free.
Am I frustrated by the use of gluten in Young Living products? Yes, I am. I feel like I won’t get to try some of these products that people have experienced great results with. That said, thankfully their oils are gluten free and that’s what really matters.
Should Young Living change their product formulations? I wish! I wish Young Living would recognize that we are a society overburdened with gluten and that so many people are sensitive and allergic. I wish they’d consider that and produce a reformulation that included products without gluten. I also wish I knew how to get that ball rolling…
Should we avoid these products? You should avoid the products mentioned above if you are sensitive to gluten. Even rubbing products containing gluten on your skin can cause an immune reaction and we wouldn’t want that! I won’t ever get to try the MultiGreens, but perhaps I’ll find a blend I like for myself elsewhere and supplement with additional oils, separately.
Is Young Living still the best company for oils? I say yes. I say this is the only company that follows their oils from the very seed planted in the ground to the harvesting of the plant, from the rendering of the oil to the seal on the bottle. I think for me, the disappointment and “a-ha” moment came when I realized that just because they make awesome, pure, therapeutic grade oils, does not mean that they are a supplement company or can produce a product for personal care better than I could at home. It’s so easy to fall in love with a company and surrender to them, believing they are the only company for you, without double-checking the things you would anywhere else… That being said, my supplements will continue to come from Designs for Health and Apex Energetics, because these companies are GMP (Good Manufacturing Processes) Certified and I know every ingredient that goes into their products. Also, they never include gluten or dairy, corn or soy in their products, and I personally, need that validation.
Remember, for oils, Young Living is the only way to go, in my opinion. For other products, I may recommend heading elsewhere…
To sign up with Young Living, go here and enter 1414775 as the Enroller ID and Sponsor ID. Choose the Premium Starter Kit in order to get the most for your money and start enjoying your oils today!
Please, follow me on Facebook and Pinterest. Comment below if you have something to add. Contribute to Facebook conversations or check out my Pins. I look forward to hearing what you have to say!
I remember eating dad’s apple crumble many, many times… (We grew up calling it “apple betty”, but I thought I’d call it a “crumble” to avoid any confusion.) I remember sneaking in and eating the crumbles off the top because they were the best part! I even saved the piece of paper I scribbled the recipe on probably 10 years ago. I had called him one day, craving this warm, sweet, apple goodness and he told me how he made it. Maybe I’m just sentimental like that, but I like to remember…. moments. I hope this becomes a staple in your family the way it has in mine. Simple. Easy. Good.
Assembled ingredients.
Dad’s Apple Crumble
Ingredients
5c sliced apples (more is better) 1 Tbsp flour (any gluten-free flour blend will do) 5 Tbsp white sugar (I use organic, unbleached) ½ c oats (I have Jules organic certified gluten-free instant, which I like to use for baking) ½ c brown sugar ½ c flour (any gluten-free flour blend will do) ¾ tsp nutmeg ¾ tsp cinnamon 1 stick butter (to make it dairy free, use a stick of Earth Balance)
You can see I have 9 apples here. In retrospect, I could’ve used even more. The apples cook down and the more the merrier as far as I’m concerned!
Directions
Peel and slice the apples. Spread them out in a 9×13 or 8×8 pan. The size of the pan totally depends on how much of a ratio you want of crumble to apple. I like to make it in a 9×13 so it seems to last longer! Sprinkle with flour and white sugar, mix together with a fork so the apple slices are covered.
Combine oats, brown sugar, flour, nutmeg and cinnamon. Place butter on top and cut it into the mixture with two knives until the butter is in tiny clumps covered in the mixture. Pour crumble mixture on top of the apples evenly.
Bake for 30 minutes at 375. Serve hot, warm or cold, with or without ice cream. Enjoy!
See my scribbled note, Dad? Makes me think of you!
I’m not a fan of peeling apples but it’s worth it!
Do you compost? It’s a great way to keep food scraps out of landfills, allowing them to break down naturally.
Today is my 35th birthday. It’s pretty surreal actually… Getting older and all that jazz. Being a mom to two lovely babies. Being a wife to an incredible husband. Turning 35… Anyway, happy birthday to me! Today also marks another turn in my journey with food.
I gave up gluten when I was in grad school. It was a new concept to me, but as I pursued the nutrition specialty for my degree, I thought, “Maybe there’s something here.” So, I played around with giving it up and I felt better and better as time went on. Gone were the bloating, gas, cramps and unpredictable digestive upsets. Increased energy, clearer skin and regularity arrived in their place. Gluten-free became less of a learning curve and more of a way of life. I learned about gluten-free baking, flours, cookies, packaged products and how to avoid the hidden sources of gluten. I encouraged others to do the same and I have literally worked my practice around the removal of allergens, like gluten.
But I cheated. I hate to use that word, but that’s what it was. I believe in moderation. I believe in obeying cravings. Still, if I’m sensitive to a food and I eat it, I’m cheating. When I was pregnant with my first child, I was just turning the corner from vegan to omnivore and I ate no less than three burgers a week from In-N-Out (aaaah, I miss them!). I didn’t think about the gluten, I just knew I wanted a burger! I was a 90% gluten-free person. I didn’t buy it and I didn’t bring it home, but I would have a bite here and there when I was at restaurants or social events. However, pregnancy seemed to be an especially gluten-filled time.
After the birth of my second child, we discovered that she was allergic to wheat (via a blood test at nine months of age). She had low markers, but considering how little I consumed, we removed it completely from her diet and mine. It wasn’t that hard, considering how familiar I was with a gluten-free lifestyle. Still, I missed it. The occasional hamburger (with bun, from Five Guys… it’s not In-N-Out but it does in a pinch), or naan from an Indian restaurant, or just a good ol’ fashioned piece of real bread made me swoon. I continued to eat gluten-free until my daughter weaned herself at 14 months. Her eczema cleared up quickly and we went about our lives.
When she weaned, I couldn’t wait for a taste. I was so excited. I just had a little here and there and I loved every bite. Then, this summer, I started having reactions. We weren’t sure what they were from but they were serious. They involved rashes, and throat swelling, itching inside and out and extreme lethargy. Benadryl kept me out of the hospital, barely. It also exhausted me for a day or so after using it. Then I discovered HistaEze, which I HIGHLY recommend. It has none of the side effects of Benadryl and all of the necessary ingredients to stop allergies in their tracks (whether seasonal or situational). Still, we needed to know the cause. I started to have increasing anxiety about going places just in case I had another attack. With five attacks in two months, I contacted an allergist and set up an appointment.
My appointment was yesterday. I had a back scratch test done and wheat flared up instantly. By the time the 15-minute wait was over, it was taking over the other tests on my back. As the allergist said, “We found our smoking gun.” Somewhere between pregnancy, nursing, giving up gluten and taking it back, wheat and my body had a horrible disagreement. The Gluten Doctors have a great blog that I read and they also agree cheating is not an option – read more here.
The red “H” up top is the histamine control and the big red dot below is wheat… after one minute.
So, I start the next year of my life armed with two epi-pens and a bunch of paperwork that basically tells me to never eat wheat again. No more splurges. No more tastes. Apparently, exposure can lead to increasingly worse reactions and I’m not up for that. No taste can compare to living a long and healthy life with my family. It’s been a torrid affair and it’s over.
Yes, I know how to live wheat and gluten free. Yes, I can help you learn too. But only time can help me say goodbye. Food is a powerful force in our lives. It’s associated with pleasure and celebration, comfort and joy. It’s okay to mourn. But it’s not okay to deny it or lie to myself about it. Like any bad breakup, it might include some wine, chocolate and a chick flick, but I’ll get through this!
It’s time to share my favorite recipe! I call this “mac n cheese” but really, it’s so much better than that, more gourmet than that. It’s gluten-free pasta with goat cheese, spinach, onions, garlic, spices and love!
I created this recipe when I was pregnant with my first child and I had aversions to so many foods. I had a really difficult time feeding my hungry, pregnant belly when I didn’t want anything. I especially didn’t want vegetables, which, as a nutrition-phile, was frightening! So, I experienced a slight craving for pasta and I went with it. While I was making it, I decided I wanted cheese and realized I could “hide” a lot of spinach in it. My husband and I devoured this so quickly and we were so stuffed but we couldn’t wait to make it again. We ate so much of it that I began thinning the cheese mixture so that I could divide the pasta into two casserole dishes and make it last!
Warning: I am not a chef, nor am I a recipe-writer! Even when I follow recipes I’m not that great at measuring. So, I’m estimating here and if you’re uncomfortable with that, I understand! Please, use more onion and garlic if you like or make your cheese mixture thinner or thicker if that’s what you like. I’m simply and humbly passing on the general flow and creation of a meal that my family and friends absolutely love and I hope you will too!
Gluten-Free Mac n (Goat) Cheese
Ingredients:
1 onion chopped
1-2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tbsp butter (or coconut oil – if you don’t use butter)
1 11-oz log of Chevre goat cheese
1c So Delicious Coconut Milk Beverage unsweetened (or other dairy / non-dairy beverage)
1 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp parsley
Salt & pepper to taste
Lots of spinach (at least 2 cups)
16 oz GF Pasta (I use Trader Joe’s organic brown rice pasta)
Water to boil
½ lb Cheddar goat cheese, shredded (or less)
Onions and garlic cooked with butter or oil – the foundation of many great meals!
Sautee the onion and garlic in the butter over medium heat until soft. Add the Chevre and break it up in the pot, lowering the heat slightly so it doesn’t burn. Once the Chevre softens, add the milk. When everything is thickened and liquid, add the spices and stir. Lower the temperature to medium-low, add as much spinach as you want and put the lid on it. You want it just below a simmer. Check it every few minutes and turn it off when the spinach is wilted.
I use both plain and “garlic & herbs” Chevre, depending on what I have in the fridge.
Thickened, melted Chevre and milk with spices on top.
I’m guessing this is 2 cups of spinach, but I cram even more in. Experiment with the amount you like. It practically disappears into the dish!
Now, boil the pasta and shred the cheddar cheese. Just before you dump your pasta into a colander, add a ladle-ful of pasta-boiling-water to your cheese mixture (this adds the starch to help the mixture adhere to the pasta when mixed together).
This is a half pound block of cheddar goat cheese from Trader Joe’s. I also will get cheddar goat cheese from Whole Foods and use 7 oz. The dish won’t suffer with more or less cheese.
Do you have a Kitchen-Aid mixer? Do you have the grinder attachment? I love it. It shreds a block of cheese in about 30 seconds!
This is the pasta I prefer to use. Cook til al dente so it doesn’t become mushy.
The water is milky because of the starch being released from the pasta. This starch, added to the cheese mixture, will make the mixture “stick” to the pasta instead of sinking to the bottom.
If you forget this step, don’t panic! You can’t go wrong with pasta and cheese. Can you?
Don’t forget this step… Rinsing your pasta will stop it from cooking and prevent mushiness when everything is combined and baked.
Assemble. Divide the pasta between two casserole dishes. Mix the cheese and spinach mixture into it. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar goat cheese on top. Cover and bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.
Divide pasta between 2 casserole dishes.
Stir the cheese mixture into the pasta and sprinkle the shredded cheese on top. Cover and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.
The goodness of this meal is unrivaled in our home! Enjoy!
