Better Off Gluten

You CAN do this!

12/29/2014

I get it, going gluten free seems so incredibly daunting, restricting, and overwhelming. I understand the thoughts that hold many people back from giving it a try. But, here's what I want you to know... YOU really CAN do this. I promise it doesn't take special powers or really even much will power (which I admittedly lack.) All the motivation you need will come when you start feeling better. And often all the deterrent you need comes when you mess up, eat gluten and end up feeling like crap. If you give it a SOLID try for 4-6 weeks and find you don't feel any better off gluten or worse when you reintroduce it, then you can go right back to eating it. At least then you will know. You can do this and may find you feel better off gluten!!

By "you" I don't mean everyone. I am only talking to those who are at the end of their rope trying to find a solution to what ails them which may be one or more of the things on THIS list.

The "do this" I am referring to is best explained in THIS previous blog post.

If you are curious about gluten intolerance I invite you to check out my website and previous blog posts. Comment below or message me with questions or if you just need some "been-there-done-that" encouragement and advice.

Disclaimer: I am not and do not claim to be a medical professional or expert. I do not intend for the information that I share to take the place of medical advice. If you have a medical condition you should seek the advice and care of a medical professional. Educate yourself and ask questions to find out if they recommend testing BEFORE you remove gluten from your diet.

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Could food affect your mood?

7/21/2014

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Depression and anxiety are more than just moods, for some they are very serious, even debilitating conditions. Many people take prescription drugs to battle depression or anxiety, while others struggle to find any relief at all.

I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder in 2008. I was not prescribed medication, but received therapy to learn coping strategies. I was told this was not uncommon in people like me with chronic disease. So I thought it was just something I had to learn to deal with, and I did... until a month or so after going off gluten in 2011. At first I just recall the relief I felt no longer waking in a panicked state in the middle of the night. After several months I could honestly say the anxiety was gone.

As I began to do more research about the effects of gluten, I found that this was not an isolated coincidence. There is a significant link between depression and anxiety and gluten intolerance / celiac disease. This was profound information to me that I wanted to share with everyone I knew who was struggling with these issues. Please don't just take my word for it or simply brush this off as nonsense or only ask your doctor and then ignore it if they say they don't know of any such link. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH! You owe it to yourself or those you love who are struggling and could maybe just possibly be better off gluten.

Like everything I share on this topic, it is worth it if I can encourage or inspire even one person to find a better quality of life. I appreciate the feedback I have privately received from so many of you regarding the changes you have personally experienced off gluten. Life is too short to suffer unnecessarily.

Disclaimer: I am not and do not claim to be a medical professional or expert. I do not intend for the information that I share to take the place of medical advice. If you have a medical condition you should seek the advice and care of a medical professional. Educate yourself and ask questions to find out if they recommend testing BEFORE you remove gluten from your diet.

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Thyroid/Gluten connection

5/19/2014

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I have been a bit absent with blog updates in the past month as I dealt with a personal health crisis. Thankfully, I am doing well following a complete thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine treatment to treat thyroid cancer (papillary thyroid carcinoma.) What does this have to do with gluten? Maybe nothing, but after some research I felt compelled to share the information I found which links the thyroid gland and gluten.

In all of my research about celiac disease, the connection to autoimmune diseases came up frequently. I will admit that considering my laundry list of other gluten related symptoms and ailments, I was surprised I had no autoimmune disease. Well as it turns out pathology from my thyroidectomy showed that in fact I did have the autoimmune thyroid disease, Hashimoto's. Interestingly, I had no symptoms of the disease.

When I dug into researching the thyroid gland, Hashimoto's disease and thyroid cancer, the connection to gluten I found was fascinating. Specifically, the link between autoimmune thyroid disease and celaic disease is well documented. If you have an autoimmune thyroid disease such as Hashimoto's or Grave's you should be screened for celiac disease. However even without a diagnosis of celiac, there are many who would argue a person with an autoimmune thyroid disease should avoid all gluten.

I don't pretend to understand the science end of things, but apparently the structure of the protein in gluten, gliadin, closely resembles that of the thyroid gland. If your immune system is looking to attack gluten it may also mistakenly go after your thyroid gland. Many experts agree that part of treating thyroid disease is to eliminate gluten. It may not reverse the damage done but could help prevent further damage or the onset of other autoimmune diseases. Also, the connection between undiagnosed/untreated celiac disease and thyroid cancer will hopefully warrant more studies in the future.

The purpose of this blog is not to serve as a source for specific research findings or for debate. It is simply to share my experience and what I have uncovered in hopes of propelling others to find an answer they or their doctors may be overlooking. Don't take my word for it - ask questions, do some research, advocate for yourself. You just may find that you are one of the people who could be better off gluten.

Have you been diagnosed with thyroid disease or thyroid cancer? Share your experience regarding your thyroid and gluten in the comments below.

Disclaimer: I am not and do not claim to be a medical professional or expert. I do not intend for the information that I share to take the place of medical advice. If you have a medical condition you should seek the advice and care of a medical professional. Educate yourself and ask questions to find out if they recommend testing BEFORE you remove gluten from your diet.

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Chronic sinus issues and gluten

4/14/2014

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Last week my seasonal allergies were terrible and it reminded me of how fortunate I am to no longer suffer with chronic sinus issues. Several decades ago I began to suffer with sinus headaches, infections, and issues. I saw some great specialists, tried multiple medications as well as chemical cauterization treatments - all to no avail. Never in a million years would I have imagined that my sinus issues could be linked to gluten... but they were.

This is not a connection that I conjured up based simply on my own experience. There is a lot of information out there on this topic and many many accounts of people who have found relief from chronic sinusitis. The thought is that an overactive immune response caused by negative reaction to gluten can increase sinus issues. Both gluten intolerance and milk allergy are linked to chronic sinus symptoms.

Interestingly, as a gluten free person, one of the reactions I get from accidentally ingesting gluten is sinus pressure, pain, and increased mucous production. It can be almost immediate after being glutened. A good reminder for me of what I am missing by being gluten free.

Again, I am not looking to diagnose anyone but rather create awareness for those who feel they may have exhausted all options for relief and just have to live with chronic sinus issues. Maybe you could be better off gluten.

Have you found a reduction in your sinus symptoms being off gluten? Share your experience in the comments below. Got questions for me? Leave them in the comments below or message me to start a conversation.

Disclaimer: I am not and do not claim to be a medical professional or expert. I do not intend for the information that I share to take the place of medical advice. If you have a medical condition you should seek the advice and care of a medical professional. Educate yourself and ask questions to find out if they recommend testing BEFORE you remove gluten from your diet.

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Gluten Free Anniversary!

4/10/2014

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Three years ago today my daughter and I embarked on life without gluten. It started as a last ditch effort to see if our child's significantly delayed growth rate and gastro issues would improve. Thankfully it worked not only for her, but also making an incredible difference in my life as well. (You can read our story here.)

Our daughter's pediatrician never advised us to do a gluten free trial. When we repeatedly asked about removing gluten we were told it would not make a difference because her tests were not positive for celiac disease. We decided to give it a try anyway and her doctor tracked her growth. He was admittedly surprised and very pleased by her improvements off gluten. He has since suggested this to other patients with unresolved issues who found that they were also better off gluten!

Once I realized how much of an impact this had in our lives, I felt disappointed that we spent so many years not knowing about this simple solution. I was compelled to spread the word to potentially help those who are unknowingly affected by gluten.

Here is a list of symptoms and issues that may be improved by eliminating gluten:
Migraines
Intestinal problems (diarrhea, IBS, constipation)
Lactose intolerance
Bloating/gassy
Reflux
Malabsorbtion
Vitamin & mineral deficiency
Anemia
Osteoporosis
Inflammatory reactions
Autoimmune diseases: Thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s & Grave’s), Crohn’s disease, Alopecia, Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s Syndrome, Addison’s disease, Vitiligo, etc.
Fatigue (regular persistent fatigue as well as chronic fatigue syndrome)
Chronic pain
Fibromyalgia
Depression
Anxiety
Diabetes
Dermatitis Herpetiformis
Infertility
Hives
Acne
Sinus issues
Erratic heart beat/shortness of breath
Cardiomyopathy
Multiple Sclerosis
Autism Spectrum Disorder
ADHD
Microscopic Colitis
Epilepsy
Ataxia
Neuropathy

Do you know someone with any of these things that are unresolved? Do your own research. Become your own advocate. Please feel free to send me your questions or connect you to information that I have found along my journey.

Disclaimer: I am not and do not claim to be a medical professional or expert. I do not intend for the information that I share to take the place of medical advice. If you have a medical condition you should seek the advice and care of a medical professional. Educate yourself and ask questions to find out if they recommend testing BEFORE you remove gluten from your diet.

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Why try?

3/24/2014

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Why try? Well, if you are suffering from symptoms that are linked to gluten intolerance and have exhausted medical treatment to no avail then why NOT try to see if you are better off gluten?? There is no way to know if you are affected by gluten unless you do a proper gluten free trial (check out this post.)

Many people think they could not possibly be affected by gluten because they eat gluten all the time and their symptoms are not brought on or increased when they eat it. However, there is rarely a correlation between eating gluten and any specific symptoms/reactions for a person with consistent gluten in their diet. There is no test for gluten intolerance so unfortunately it is not easy to know. Awareness of gluten intolerance is still not widespread within the medical community so you may not want to wait for a suggestion from your doctor to give it a try (read more about this here.)

I so want other people who are suffering to find a solution. Did you give it a try and find you were better off gluten? If so, please share in the comments below.

Disclaimer: I am not and do not claim to be a medical professional or expert. I do not intend for the information that I share to take the place of medical advice. If you have a medical condition you should seek the advice and care of a medical professional. Educate yourself and ask questions to find out if they recommend testing BEFORE you remove gluten from your diet.

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Dairy Free Favorites

3/17/2014

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I have mentioned several times about the connection between dairy intolerance and gluten intolerance. Many people decide to either eliminate or cut back on dairy when doing a gluten free trial.
So I thought that I would share some of my favorite dairy free/gluten free products. We have found a few substitutes that we really love and have kept as part of our staple foods even though we are now able to tolerate some dairy. My daughter especially prefers to splurge on real dairy in things like ice cream, pizza, and whipped cream.

-Earth Balance buttery spread: I use the soy free and my daughter uses the original. Both are a great substitute for butter or margarine.
-Daiya Cheese Shreds: This stuff is awesome melted in recipes! We use the cheddar in quesadillas and nachos and the mozzarella in lasagne and pizza. I will be honest that I do not care for it unmelted though.
-SO Delicious Coconut Milk Creamer: Contrary to the name this does not taste like coconut. It is a great alternative to cream instead of the chemical based "non-dairy" creamers. This brand also carries some great frozen "ice cream" products!
-Rice Milk: I use rice milk as a substitute for regular milk in most of my cooking and baking and find it works great.
-Almond Milk: This makes a great alternative to milk for drinking or in cereal. And, there is a dark chocolate version that my daughter loves!

Do you have dairy free/gluten free products that you have tried and loved? Please share in the comments below!

Disclaimer: I am not and do not claim to be a medical professional or expert. I do not intend for the information that I share to take the place of medical advice. If you have a medical condition you should seek the advice and care of a medical professional. Educate yourself and ask questions to find out if they recommend testing BEFORE you remove gluten from your diet.

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Disclaimer

3/10/2014

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As I have stated on the home page of my website: "I wanted to create a place where people could learn the possible benefits of eliminating gluten from their diet, how to determine if they are sensitive to gluten, and share the knowledge that I wish I had known when I started on this journey."

Since many people view my individual blog posts and not the entire content of my website, I feel the need to add the following disclaimer to all future blog posts: I am not and do not claim to be a medical professional or expert. I certainly do not intend for the information that I share to take the place of medical advice. If you have a medical condition you should seek the advice and care of a medical professional. Educate yourself and ask questions to find out if they recommend testing BEFORE you remove gluten from your diet.

That said, once you have been tested and given a diagnosis or ruled out known medical causes then you may wish to explore if you would be better off gluten. There is no test for gluten intolerance so unless you test positive for celiac disease it is unlikely that you will be advised and educated by a medical professional to attempt a gluten free trial.

My daughter is a perfect example of no medical diagnosis and no solution. For over 8 years, she was put through many tests - all were negative. Never once did her pediatrician, numerous specialists or dieticians ever recommend that she try eliminating gluten. Even after we would ask about taking her off gluten we were told that it was not necessary because she had tested negative for celiac disease.

I personally suffered for over 20 years with many symptoms and conditions that were relieved after going off gluten. However, eliminating gluten was never suggested to me by any medical professional. I am thankful every day that I did my own research and decided to try a gluten free trial for me and my daughter without continuing to wait for permission to do so.

I understand that some people perceive sharing this type of information as portraying oneself as an expert giving out "medical" advice. Please understand my intention and motivation is simply to share my story and my research in an effort to help others. More and more people are becoming aware of gluten related issues, although many people simply will not attempt to see if they are better off gluten unless it is prescribed by a doctor. I am hoping that over time stories like mine will help to change that.

Please join the discussion and share your comments below!

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Lactose / Gluten Link

3/3/2014

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Over the course of several years, my daughter had developed an increasing intolerance to dairy. It was one of the reasons that we finally pursued the gluten-free diet since I had read a lot about the link between gluten and lactose. It is extremely common for the damage caused by gluten to impact the body's ability to digest the lactose in dairy. Once off of gluten for about six months, my daughter was slowly able to increase the amount of dairy she could tolerate. Now, almost three years off gluten, she can enjoy moderate amounts of dairy without issues.

I have had a long standing love/hate relationship with dairy. As a child, I would sit at the table long after dinner struggling to finish my glass of milk. My first job was at an ice cream shop where it became less appealing due to the havoc it wreaked on me. My reactions to dairy were more than just digestive - also causing skin breakouts and triggering migraines. Finally 10 years ago it was determined that I had an allergy to milk casein. I had positive blood, skin, and clinical results to indicate this was an actual allergy and not simply lactose intolerance. This was confirmed again two years ago after more food allergy testing. I was given the news that unlike my daughter, I would not be regaining my ability to eat dairy. Of course the appeal especially of cheese became too great and I began to cheat here and there with dairy. I found that I too seemed to be tolerating it more and more.

There are A LOT of people who suffer from negative reactions to dairy and have either been diagnosed or just consider themselves lactose intolerant. Believing that this is just how they have to live. They may pop some pills to aid their digestion or just suffer through the repercussions of that irresistible pizza or ice cream. Or they cut out dairy all together to avoid the consequences. And those solutions may work for some people. However, my concern is for those whose issues with dairy possibly stem from damage caused by gluten. For these individuals there may be more at stake than just the negative effects of being lactose intolerant. Those affected by gluten often have a number of symptoms and disorders caused by their reaction to it - some can become quite serious. So it may be worth investigating if your lactose intolerance symptoms are the result of gluten intolerance or celiac disease.

I recently returned to the allergist and my results baffled them. All tests now show no indication of milk casein allergy! Apparently it is very unusual for adults to out grow such food allergies. I am just excited that I can finally enjoy some cheese and ice cream (in moderation) without the consequences!

Share your experience with the link between gluten and lactose in the comments below!

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Seriously?!

2/24/2014

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Ok, so this is where I realize that some people will start to roll their eyes and think, yep she is a weirdo fanatic. However, for those of you who are actually TRYING to be better off gluten this will come as possibly surprising, but welcome information.

You feel you are doing a great job avoiding gluten, but notice symptoms that gluten may have slipped by your lips without you being aware. You are baffled. This is a common feeling among those who are attempting to be gluten-free. In fact, in many cases even miniscule traces of gluten can prevent those with significant intolerance from ever feeling the full positive effects. This can be discouraging and cause people to bail on their gluten-free trial before ever really knowing if it would help them.

Here are places where gluten may lurk that you may never suspect or check:
Ice cream
Tea
Medicine/Vitamins
Lip gloss/stick
Communion wafers
Soda
Liquor
Drink mixes
Tooth floss
Envelopes/Stamps
Play dough
Dog treats

Now, I am not suggesting that ALL of these have gluten. In fact in the case of many examples it may be rare for these items to contain gluten but the possibility means you should always check or avoid unless you are sure. My daughter or I have been glutened by all of the above. No, we did not eat the play dough or dog treats, but handling these items and then touching your mouth or eating something else can be all it takes to react. That stuff you lick on a stamp or envelope to make it sticky - yep, that likely has gluten. Those sticky lip glosses or anything else you put on your lips - that can have gluten in it too, and the source is often very difficult to assess from the ingredients which are not usually easy to find. Tea can contain gluten in an herbal blend or even in what they use to seal the tea bags!

Just stay aware and track your reactions and you are likely to pinpoint the hidden gluten source. When in doubt search the internet! You are likely not the first to question a particular item and with a little research you can typically find a credible answer.

So where is the craziest place that you have found gluten hidden? Please share in the comments below!

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You CAN do this!

Could food affect your mood?

Thyroid/Gluten connection

Chronic sinus issues and gluten

Gluten Free Anniversary!

Why try?

Dairy Free Favorites

Disclaimer

Lactose / Gluten Link

Seriously?!

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