i recently decided to go gluten free. i have had chronic gastrointestinal issues since i was 15. my sophomore year in high school, i missed the last day of school because i was in the ER for 14 hours doubled over in pain. the doctors couldn’t determine what was wrong with me (they kept asking me if i was pregnant, which set off my mother) and sent me home when the cramps finally subsided that evening. i can’t begin to adequately describe the pain. it was as if someone had my stomach in a vice while another person took a spoon and swirled my insides.
for years, this pain has come and gone. i never quite knew when it would make a surprise visit but the unwanted guest would make itself known in horrific ways.
i have seen a number of doctors about it. a few years ago, i had a colonoscopy and a endoscopy performed to determine what was wrong. the doctor couldn’t find anything but thought i could have a wheat allergy or possibly celiac disease. but he never tested me for it.
i tried to cut out wheat but it didn’t really help. recently, i started reading about celiac disease. for celiac sufferers, gluten, which is the protein found in wheat, barley and rye, eats away at the small intestine making digestion difficult and causing severe gastro problems such as bloating, gas, constipation, etc. i had finally found my answer.
i decided to go gluten free to see if it would help. the wheat-free diet hadn’t done much but since barley and rye also contain gluten, i cut those out as well.
for years, i had worked to get a flat stomach and no matter how many crunches i performed, i always had a bloat. now, the bloat is gone, my skin is glowing and i have lost weight without upping my workout regimen. a few of my friends also have stomach issues (one has severe IBS) and i have discussed my transformation with them and they have all gone gluten free and have had amazing results.
i have never been much of a bread or pasta fan—probably because of the pain that would result from eating either—but i do love my desserts and hoped to find an alternative to wheat so that i could have the occasional cake, pie or cookie. living in nyc helps as there are two gluten-free bakeries that offer amazing desserts, babycakes and ristoterria. and websites such as gluten free goddess have inspired me to bake gluten-free dishes once my new stove arrives next week.
if anyone is having stomach issues, go see an gastroenterologist and get tested for celiac. you have to eat gluten for at least a week before the visit so that they can detect the damage. celiac disease affects millions in the united states alone. check out celiac.com for more information.
going gluten free has changed my life for the better and it could yours as well…
There are far more people who have non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), another form of gluten intolerance. So, let your readers know not to be surprised if their celiac tests come back negative. NCGS affects an estimated 10-30% percent of the population, while celiac only affects about 1%.
Great post – thanks for helping to get the word out. Awareness is what it’s all about. The key to making our lives easier on this diet is to wake up the other 95% of people who don’t know why they are sick. Then there will be tens of millions of us, and our voice will be heard, and a cure will be found.
and thank you kevin for your sage advice. awareness is key…
There are some really tasty gluten free snacks coming to market in recent years. Blue Diamond (the almond people) make a gluten free crisp that are quite tasty and can be found on sale for as low as $1.99(couple of different versions–almond, pecan, ranch, cheddar).
thanks april. i am always on the lookout for new gluten-free snacks. i just hate that everything is so much more expensive than the wheat or barley products…
I’ve been wanting to go to Risoterria! I think it’s no too far from you, perhaps we can go sometime!
mos def. the risottos are great. some better than others. the desserts are hit and miss…
avoid soy in your diet too. soy and wheat are in over 80% of processed foods in stores and restaurants. hard to avoid. but when you do, you will see amazing results! I am proof of that. Had the same issues you mentioned and now i’m flatulence free (grin).