Dr. Sonya Hamilton
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Sonya's Blog

Gluten.. Friend and Foe

11/27/2014

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Gluten seems to be the big buzz word that is most certainly making its way to the most hated list of 2014. One thing that I have found however with this so-called “fad” is that people seem to forget that there are those out there who legitimately suffer from eating gluten, often in silence. Gluten-free is not necessarily healthier for you if you are not gluten intolerant, particularly if you buy the expensive and often calorie-laden products which replace gluten with other over-processed ingredients. However for those who have suffered with this uncomfortable allergy, gluten free is a way of life, which has now become a bit easier thanks to the mainstream market.

The key reason for this blog post, is that I myself have suffered from gluten intolerance for many years, but was only officially diagnosed 4 years ago. I wanted to take this blog post to discuss how it really feels to suffer from gluten intolerance, and what you can do about it.

My gluten intolerance has been with me mildly throughout my life (unbeknownst to me), but it came to rear its ugly head in my mid-20s. Often I dismissed my symptoms as simply stress-related or even something that ran in my family. Some of the early symptoms (which I now can attribute), included:

  • feeling overly tired after consuming gluten heavy meals, such as my morning bagel “food coma”
  • bloating of my belly, and inability to change it with a healthy lifestyle
  • embarrassing flatulence!
  • loose stools at least once a day
  • nausea after consuming beer, and other gluten heavy items
After speaking with my friend’s mom, who had recently solved her mystery allergies (surprise- it was gluten), I myself decided to investigate why I felt ill and bloated all the time. At first I thought it was perhaps soy, or yeast intolerance. I was diagnosed through a blood test with my naturopathic doctor, which assessed how my immune system markers responded to certain allergens. The day that the test came back was a huge surprise to me. The ND told me that I could no longer eat anything containing gluten, and shockingly I was also intolerant to dairy products. My world came crashing down around me, essentially most things I ate and enjoyed were now out of bounds. My most favourite snack at the time: brie and baguette…no more! Everything seemed so much more complicated to me, as I was facing a future of endless salads. I already had a very healthy diet, lunch often consisted of something like whole wheat pasta salad with yogurt and fruit. Believe it or not, there was a time when no one really knew what gluten was… it was still like that when I was diagnosed. I was handed a list of very expensive health-food brands that would help me out and was told to keep close watch on food labels from that point forward. Thankfully I did my research and avoided many of these replacement products which were expensive, not necessarily healthy, and on the most part- gross!

After my initial shock, I decided to take my diet very seriously and I embarked on a gluten free no tolerance diet for almost half a year. In that “detox” time, any time I accidentally ingested gluten my symptoms returned back with a vengeance. Something else I learned in that time after much research, gluten and dairy intolerances are often linked in the same person, and can be missed if you try to do your own elimination diet. Working with a nutrition professional (ND, DC, RD) is key in making sure you catch what ails you. Also, thankfully due to my chiropractic education and nutrition classes I learned the important benefits of supplements for people with digestive problems. From my personal experience the use of Omega 3, and probiotics have helped me recover from years of intestinal neglect. Following my complete abstinence from gluten, I was able to comfortably add some back into my diet without pain. This of course isn’t possible for everyone and should be explored carefully with the advice of your health and wellness team.

Unlike many people these days who bemoan the gluten-free lifestyle, I am so thankful to be able to order delicious baked goods that will not cause me an afternoon of pain without having to endure the nasty textures of the oldschool gluten free ‘goods’. I think we still have a long way to go with regards to gluten intolerance awareness, as discussing the symptoms still seem taboo to most – the dialogue has started at least! Pay attention to your belly and what it is telling you, and do not be afraid to see if going gluten-free helps you out!

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about living with gluten intolerance – chiropractors are educated in nutrition and nutritional supplementation- drhamilton@bloorwesthealthcentre.ca

Always discuss diet and lifestyle changes with your healthcare team, especially if you are considering eliminating certain foods as you may become predisposed to certain nutritional deficiencies.

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Welcome!

11/24/2014

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Welcome to my new website!

I am excited to be providing care to the Bloor West community of Toronto. To book an appointment or connect with me please visit the “Contact” section of my site.
-Sonya

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Dr. Sonya Hamilton
DrSonyaHamilton@gmail.com
905-997-6875- Mississauga


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  • Home
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