Going Gluten Free and Sugar Free Ain't Easy when You Are a Glutton for Sugar and Gluten!

Going gluten free, sugar free, wheat and yeast free diet is one of the hardest things and best things I've ever done for my health. Upon becoming ill, I suffered for weeks from inflammation so severe I was unable to get out of a chair or walk without excruciating pain.

That all changed after I learned sugar and gluten were feeding the fungi in my lungs and the key to being pain free was to get rid of refined sugars and gluten and introduce lots of immune system boosting fruits and veggies into my diet like acai berry, pomegranate and spinach.

In the beginning I thought going gluten free would be simple. My bigger worry was how to eliminate added sugars from my diet. I didn't realize that going gluten free and sugar free individually is easy, but going sugar free, gluten free, yeast free and wheat free combined was going to be hard.

Everywhere I looked prepackaged food labels showed added sugars and gluten. That's when I discovered I wasn't going to be able to eat throw in the over dinners or microwave meals anymore.

The rule of thumb became "if it comes in a box or a package then I can't eat it." Shopping the parameters of the store became routine. At first I had no idea what I could eat. All I knew is what I couldn't eat, which seemed like everything I loved; sugar and white bread were my two main food groups.

I'm still learning how to live sugar free, yeast free, wheat free and gluten free but I did figure out a few things I can eat like fresh fruit. Because I'm not a diabetic, I can have as many grams of natural sugars as I want. Canned fruit has added sugars, thus it's off limits, however fresh pineapple, sliced, dehydrated and served along side pepper jack cheese cubes is an amazing snack.

For a meaty snack I slice up some top round steak, rub with season salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes and toss into the dehydrator for homemade beef jerky. Other terrific gluten free, sugar free, yeast free and wheat free options include Almonds, Fritos corn chips, homemade salsa, eggs, grapes and salami.

White sugar no longer has a hold on me. I've tried Splenda and while it tastes okay, it's nowhere near as good as Stevia which has zero calories and no after taste.

I'm still new to the sugar free and gluten free lifestyle but my pain diminished entirely and that's enough proof for me to keep eating this way. Gluten free is good for everyone and if I can do it so can you. Happy and healthy eating!