MY PERSONAL TESTIMONY HOW GLUTEN RUINED MY LIFE
As a child and throughout my teen years, I struggled with mysterious abdominal and joint pain and rashes. It was not until my early 20s that I discovered that I was severely gluten intolerant. I removed gluten from my diet during a time when no one knew what gluten was and gluten-free menus and products did not exist. It was a challenging time, but I was finally rewarded with improved health. I committed to the gluten-free lifestyle and never looked back. I have been gluten-free for 15 years!
EATING GLUTEN-FREE IS NOT THAT BAD
Don’t despair. Starting to eat gluten-free is not a death sentence. While the loss of gluten containing foods may at first feel daunting, you will soon find that eating gluten-free is not that difficult. Nowadays, gluten-free options are readily available, and menus and food products are marked with easy to find “gluten-free” labels.
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Focus on gluten-free foods versus focusing on what foods contain gluten
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Beware of the hidden gluten that can be almost everywhere
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Just because foods are gluten-free does not mean they are healthy
Shopping for Gluten-Free Foods
When grocery shopping, it is easier to carry a list of gluten-free items as opposed to a list of gluten containing foods. Since gluten is found in many products, a gluten-containing food list tends to be expansive and overwhelming. Becoming gluten-free does not mean only shopping the gluten-free isle. The nutritional focus should be on proteins, healthy fats, fruits and vegetables. One helpful suggestion is to focus on the following simple items:
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Vegetables
- Turkey
- Olive Oil
- Fruits
- Beef
- Coconut Oil
- Potatoes
- Pork
- Avocado Oil
- Rice
It is important to know that gluten can be found in many sauces, salad dressings and soy sauce (beware of sushi places) as it is often used as a thickener. Gluten can also be found in beverages such as beer and in medications and supplements as a filler. We do not need a gluten-free label on chicken breasts, avocadoes, or strawberries. When you focus on consuming a healthy gluten-free diet, it means that you will select a protein, a vegetable and rice or potato instead of eating only bread or pasta. Gluten-free cookies, cakes and pastries should be reserved for special occasions.
