 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:
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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