on eating gluten-free.

I've said here before that I eat gluten free. I am gluten-intolerant. I get asked questions about this often and often I'm the one asking the questions myself. I know of at least 5 or 6 friends reading this who eat gluten free too. And almost everyone I mention my gluten intolerance to knows someone else who is gluten-free. Did you know 1 in 4 women is gluten intolerant? Most don't even know it. My life has changed big time since I changed my diet. I thought I'd bring this part of my life to the blog. Hopefully, I can encourage those who are trying to eat the same way by sharing my story and recipes, etc. I'm not the expert...I'm learning, k?

What is gluten?? Gluten exists inside of wheat and a couple other grains. It's actually the protein of the grain. Because gluten is sticky (Latin for glue!) it's also used in many things that don't make you think "wheat" at all. It's in processed foods. Evil, evil, processed foods. You know, things that come in packages. It's in ice cream (most, anyway). The gluten is part of what makes it all gooey and yum. It makes bagels so soft and chewy. Sometimes, because it's a protein, it's also added to foods that otherwise would be low in protein.

Why are people allergic? Hmmm, I'm sure I've read the answer to this before...but I can't remember the entire answer. Wheat, and thus the gluten inside, are tops on any list of common food allergens; up there with peanuts, milk, soy. In my case I may have become allergic due to over exposure. Yes. You can develop allergies to foods you have too much of. For many of us the only grain we are eating is wheat. Wheat, wheat, wheat and maybe a morsel of rice here or there. And as fore mentioned, wheat is so often in other foods that we aren't even aware when we are eating it. Now I know why they talk about a balanced diet. But who knew I'd like millet, sorghum, and steel cut oats so much?

How did I discover I was allergic? The short answer is I had symptoms, I had a blood test, and voila! I found out I had allergies. Here is the longer answer...

I came to this life-changing discovery thanks to a dazed man driving an old Corolla down Main Street almost 2 years ago. He rear-ended me. My neck began to hurt immediately and a friend Dru and I were having dinner with later that week referred me to his chiropractor. Perf! I showed up for my appointment and quickly learned this chiropractor was concerned with more than my neck. She was interested in my total health. She was wonderful...I've never received such amazing care. My first appointment with her was 2 hours long. She wanted to know everything about me. She very much wanted to see me relieved of other ailments that I in no way would have expected her to treat; things like the migraines I was having regularly, fatigue, and the fact that I hadn't been able to get pregnant. I used to think it was normal to go to bed feeling full, bloated, and crampy...ugh. She was certain these things were not normal. She would always say, "We're gonna get you pregnant". I thought that rather bold. And not very nice to get a girl's hopes up.

I learned through my visits with her what preventative care really means. I learned how significant diet is to our everyday health and well-feeling. When I consider how healthy I feel now and the baby I have I'm deeply grateful that I came to know all she taught me.

She eventually sent some of my blood off to a lab for food allergy testing where I found out I was a little allergic to many things and alot allergic to gluten.

Thus, my life began to change.

I quit eating gluten.

I lost 13 pounds that I didn't even lose when I was dieting and exercising 2 hours a day before my wedding.

I never had a migraine again.

Upon getting out of bed each morning I didn't feel like someone had strapped twice my weight in lead to my limbs.

My tummy didn't feel yucky.

Six weeks later I was pregnant...after 2 years, 9 months of trying.

Of course many of the symptoms are different. And the results too. And I guess I better say what I'm NOT saying. You may get migraines but I'm not saying that means you shouldn't eat gluten. Maybe you just need a new pillow. And for sure gluten isn't the cause of infertility. I don't even know for sure that it caused me to be infertile. So please, don't think I'm saying everyone needs to eat gluten free. I'm simply sharing what I've learned and what's helped me. Maybe things are similar for you, but probably not.

What do I eat?? The most delicious food ever! Whole food. Ingredients that look the way they looked when God first created them. I cook more, and I love it. I eat from ALL food groups. Really there is so much I can eat and I don't even crave bagels at all. I know exactly what I'll feel like after, and I don't like that feeling. I think I will save what I do eat for it's own post. I'd get too excited and go on and on.

Well, this brings me the the end of this post but the beginning of a whole new discussion I hope to share here more in the future. Thanks for listening while I document my journey. I hope this and future posts on the subject will encourage those who are on this road with me.