Ok, I know. It seems like a fad. Everyone these days is going gluten free. You see it on tv, your new friend hasn't had gluten in 6 months, it's seems like just another fad diet for the crazies.
But wait- there's more.
Have you suffered for years with unexplained abdominal pain? Do you have to take a stool softener or laxative every night before bed time just to be sure you have a BM the next day, often times feeling that your stool was still hard and incomplete? Do you have bloating, gas, abdominal distention and discomfort most of the time, even when you don't overeat? Do you find it hard to avoid passing gas, and when you do, does it force you to leave the room and fumigate the premises? Are headaches a chronic problem for you? Migraines that pound into your head and make normal everyday functions nearly impossible?
Having these symptoms can make just living and socializing and working really hard to do. I am here to say that I had all of those symptoms. After reaching my 30's it seemed that my migraines were becoming more frequent, and even if migraines weren't a problem, daily headaches, chronic constipation, bloating and gas were my constant companions. So I finally broke down and went against the grain.
It's been less than a week and I have seen improvements that are hard to believe. No more stool softeners. No problem going number 2. Getting fewer headaches. I don't feel bloated or gassy. And I have more energy throughout the day. Being just a week, it's hard to say what the next several months will be like. But I am strongly encouraged that I am on to something. It's not all in my head.
Gluten sensitivity is real- and it comes with a lot of other symptoms than the ones I was having. If you've had GI problems for years and your doc's have told you that it's all in your mind. That it's all just stress- why not go Gluten Free at least for a few weeks. Then try it again and see if your symptoms repeat themselves.
It shouldn't be a controversy. Wheat is not the health food everyone thinks it is. You don't have to deprive yourself. There are many cereals and other grain products with fiber that are gluten free- like corn, rice, flax, quinoa, amaranth. Some people can have oats too. Also I found that I started eating more fresh fruits and veggies- and that's where you really want to get your fiber- not from the breakfast pastries in the package with 20% of your daily fiber intake. If you can, start to limit your bread and pasta intake. Then replace those calories with nuts, fruits, veggies, rice cakes, hummus, and cheeses if you can have dairy.
I'd love to know about your journey.
