Assalaamu alaikum,

This issue of Halal Consumer Magazine comes at an exciting time. Just a few weeks ago, IFANCA celebrated its 40th anniversary with a banquet and two-day conference. The celebration was a success thanks to the hard work of the IFANCA staff and thoughtful participation from attendees. If you would like to learn more about the event, read the full story on page 32.

Though they aren’t a new development by any means, mushrooms have been gaining more and more popularity in recent years. Delve into this food trend in “Mushrooms: Nature’s Hidden Gem” on page 6. Like mushrooms, gluten-free products have also been around for a while, but new offerings are popping up all the time. If you’re interested in learning more about what it means to be gluten-free, check out “Is Gluten-Free the New Normal?” on page 8.

Stomach and digestive issues can be a serious cause of concern for many people. Taking care of your gut health involves more than just eating the right foods, though that is a big part of it. The article on page 12 has more tips for improving gut health, such as practicing stress management. Meditation is a great way to keep your stress levels at a minimum. To get started, find tips in “Meditation for a Calmer State of Mind” on page 16.

Social media has introduced many budding chefs to all sorts of tools that can help out in the kitchen. However, not every one of these small appliances is a necessity, and too many of them can just end up cluttering your counters. For an idea of which ones are worth splurging on, read the overview on page 24.

Lastly, if you’re getting back into an exercise routine, make sure you’re working out at various levels of intensity. Not sure what counts as moderate or vigorous intensity? The article “Check Your Intensity” on page 28 can help you decide.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter. If you need to reach us, send an email to halalconsumer@ifanca.org. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Alison DeGuide, editor