Gluten...not so good for you!

I have at last, very reluctantly, joined the ranks of those who are gluten-free, or in my case, working toward gluten-free living. I have hesitated because I know of more and more people who are giving up gluten and I wanted to make sure I was doing this for the right reasons and not copying the choices of others. And I have NOT been diagnosed with Celiac Disease, but I have known I have issues with flour for several years now. Recently it has become worse. There are many symptoms associated with gluten intolerance and while I only have a few they are bothersome.  I get stomach cramps on eating certain foods with flour and I get terrible heartburn. As I get older the crappy food I eat not only shows up on my hips but also in my face as my complexion gets very blotchy, my face gets puffy, and I break out a lot. I also have struggled with itchy rashes on my torso and thighs and I notice the itchiness soon after eating whatever food I shouldn’t have eaten. Add to these symptoms difficulty losing weight and generally feeling sluggish and I finally decided enough was enough.

Perhaps you feel that I should speak to my doctor before making this kind of decision? Well, I will admit that I have not seen my doctor in a year (I will probably see her by the end of the year), but I have, in the past talked with her about gluten and flour in general and gotten her insight and opinion on gluten-free living. On a side note here – I have the coolest doctor.  She is attractive and smart and open to natural healing as well as medicine. And actually, my doctor does not eat gluten. When I questioned her as to why she said she was having some random health issues that she couldn’t figure out; she eliminated gluten and the issues went away, so she stayed gluten-free. I know already I will have my doctor’s approval of my gluten-free lifestyle.

It has been about 10 days since I started eating gluten-free and it has had some challenging moments. I learned the hard way that in order to make specific dietary changes you have to be prepared; I wasn’t as prepared as I should have been. But I have things considerably easier than it would have been 15-20 years ago. I can buy gluten-free crackers, cereal, and pancake, cookie and cakes mixes. Most grocery stores carry several different kinds of gluten-free pasta and lots of restaurants have either adjusted their menus or list the ingredients in their food so those who follow a gluten-free diet know what they can and cannot order. I have made a few mistakes so far. Nothing huge, little things but each one increases my awareness of where gluten can hide. For instance, did you know that gorgonzola and bleu cheese are made with mold incubated on wheat? I didn’t know that. So bleu cheese is out.

And how do I feel? Well, better. Not fantastic yet, but definitely better. I was sick for a few days – I am not sure if it was my body detoxing or the flu, but I am better now. I have significantly less heartburn, no stomach cramping, no itchy rashes and my skin is much clearer. An added bonus is my clothes are fitting better. Sadly, giving up gluten has made me realize that there are other things I have been eating that I will probably end up eliminating as well, and if they are not eliminated entirely, they will be consumed rarely.

Just want to finish my post with a salute to my mother, Marolyn Parker. This spring she gave up dairy, this summer she gave up gluten, and she stopped drinking carbonated beverages entirely. She has lost weight, has more energy, and eliminated many of her allergy issues. She visited recently and I watched her enjoy eating out while still sticking to her diet. She helped me realize that it didn’t have to be hard. So thanks, Mom!