How and Why to Go Gluten-Free

About a year and a half ago I went on a gluten-free diet, at the advice of someone I met at a friends baby shower. It was not easy, and at the beginning I did not even know about all of the gluten-free foods that were available at the grocery store. I went gluten-free because my days went like this; wake up, eat, run to the bathroom. Have lunch, bend over in pain from horrible cramps. Eat dinner, spend the rest of the night at home as close to the bathroom as possible. Wow, what a fun life I must have led back then? I did not have any clue what was going on with my body, or my stomach.


When these issues first started I made an appointment with my doctor. Without any sort of testing on his part he diagnosed me with IBS, also known as Irritable Bowel Syndrome. IBS is something that generally happens to people who are stressed or nervous a lot and since I was already being medicated for an anxiety disorder this kind of made sense. After a brief month on pills that did not really help I was back where I started.


While at that friends baby shower I found out all about Celiac disease, which is an intestinal issue that is caused by eating foods that contain gluten (the thing inside wheat and a few other grains then make them glue-like when wet). I was advised to stop eating wheat, which meant cutting out some of my favorite foods, like bread and pasta. I still ate a piece of cake at that baby shower, and I paid for it the rest of the night.


The next day I changed my diet. I ate corn tortillas instead of bread. I made my own soup instead of eating it from a can. I used rice instead of pasta. I lost five pounds in the first three day without any exercise. And, in about two months I noticed that I did not have to base my life around my stomachs reactions to the foods I ate anymore.


Why should you cut gluten out of your diet? Well, you do not have to unless you notice symptoms of stomach cramping or upset when you eat gluten foods. Celiac disease is a very dramatic response to gluten, and those with Celiac must be careful, for their life, and not get anything in their system that has gluten in it. For those like me that just get stomach cramps and frequent time sitting on the toilet, it is just a gluten intolerance. No matter what it means you do not get to eat all the stuff you want to. But, many stores are carrying gluten-free products now. Of course, no one in the area I live in does. If you do not suffer from Celiac disease or an intolerance to gluten you can still benefit from a gluten-free diet. Eating less starchy foods like breads and pastas can have a great affect on your energy levels and your weight.


When you cut gluten from your diet you really need to learn how to read food labels. Anything with wheat or wheat flour is a no-no. Many foods have gluten-free written visibly on their packaging now, which is helpful. Be very careful with cereals, breads, snack foods and pre-packaged foods. It is not easy to stop eating the foods you are used to, but when it means better health you can do it.


And I did get to eat cake again, very recently. Along with gluten-free foods you can also find gluten-free cook books. One of the wonderful books I ordered through a mail order book club gave me the recipe for a pineapple upside-down cake that tasted better than any I had ever had before. Who knew eating foods made out of corn and rice flour could be so good? And no debilitating stomach cramps for desert!


Resources:


Complete Gluten-Free Diet & Nutrition Guide by Alexandra Anca

The Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Gluten-Free by Anne Byrn