Years ago (2012 or so), I wrote this article to help those taking their first steps into the GF world. I am here to help! Read on for my musings and tips for beginning a gluten free life… It’s all about perspective!
Leaving the Gluten Behind
Going Gluten Free is not Just a fad.
Deciding to pursue a gluten free diet is actually saving lives. As of 2010, 1 out of every 133 Americans has full blown Celiac Disease, while 1 out of every 124 has either a gluten intolerance or allergy.
10 years ago, that statistic read 1 out of every 6,000.
Celiac Disease is the most common genetic disease in America today. It effects your duodenum. What the heck is that? It’s that space where your stomach ends and your small intestines begin. This part of your body is lined with feelers, sort of like hairs, that absorb nutrients. (those are called villi)
With Celiac, when you eat foods with gluten in them, your villi are stripped and can no longer absorb nutrients from your food. (Picture a new tire being rubbed raw, even becoming bald by rough terrain) That is where the problems begin.
Symptoms of Celiac (even intolerance) can show themselves in so many ways. Some people are suddenly and dangerously anemic. Many people suffer with Chronic Irritable Bowel issues (constipation or diarrhea or both!). Some get migraines while others are lactose intolerant. Still, some people even have itching, peeling skin. Symptoms can also cause victims to lash out with nutty mood swings or make you infertile. Few unlucky people may have all of these issues. Not everyone with Celiac has any of these issues (there are many more symptoms not mentioned here). That is why it can be very difficult to diagnose. Ultimately, it can lead people to diabetes and other life threatening complications.
So if Celiac specifically causes so many problems, how do you fix them? The sad news is, there is no cure for Celiac Disease. Following a strict GLUTEN FREE DIET is the proven way to mend your damaged body. So where do you begin?
If you are just starting out and basically all that you know is that you can never ever eat sour dough bread or sheet cake or Zaxby’s celebration special, or a chicken quesadilla from taco bell ever again, I want you to stop for a second. Take a deep breath. (exhale)
It’s going to be okay.
The best news of all is that there are alternatives for literally Any food that you can think of! I am here for you. You don’t have to “live without”. You just need to learn to substitute.
It’s been more than two years {presently, I’m in my 8th year of gluten free living} since I have dropped the gluten. I have never felt better in my life! No, I don’t eat those things anymore (although sometimes I do Dream that I accidentally eat gluten!), but I have learned to cook in a different way. It’s the same, but it’s different.
I’m here to tell you that eating gluten free food doesn’t have to be disgusting. Although, I consider myself a true optimist, I know that there are some pretty gross gluten free foods out. I’m also a very honest, picky eater. I have the right to be, and so do you!
My Celiac Story
After she showed me the bread basics, I was hooked! (I found kneading therapeutic!)
In early 2011, I had tea with a new friend named. We met for a chat and I offered to bring something baked and wonderful along. She politely said that as much as she would love that, she did’t think there was any thing I could make that was safe enough for her to eat.
To me that seemed a bit extreme.
Before this point, I sort of just considered myself a bit of a hypochondriac. I had all of these seemingly unrelated issues- pealing skin and scalp dismissed as eczema; migraines that would take me out for 3 days, tummy troubles, low iron, and other annoying things. Because of these issues (especially the skin and tummy stuff), I thought maybe I had a food allergy.
This friend had planted the idea in my head and encouraged me to be tested as well.In April of 2011, I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease.
What’s more, in just one short month of eating carefully, I felt like a brand new person! It was a long time until I had another headache. My skin cleared up, my tummy was happy, and the other symptoms I had remedied themselves!
But now that I’m here, now that I know how to fix it, I do whatever it takes.
I have an incredible husband. We were still dating when I was diagnosed. Without his support and encouragement, without his willingness to taste test my trial and error creations, I highly doubt I could have made it this far!
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