This is a picture of Jed and me with my running partner, Shauna whom you've all heard me talk about. We're getting ready for the Ogden Half marathon last Spring and I was 5 months pregnant.
Anyway, I had a relative of Jed give my email to a friend who's daughter was just diagnosed with Celiac's Disease (a reaction to Gluten). I sent her this email and wanted to share my life story with the bloggers!
"I've heard so much about Celiac's Disease in the past few years, it must be getting more and more common. I know it's because our American Diet strips our digestion of the natural enzymes it needs to digest foods. Unfortunately there's not a lot of public knowledge about it. I know there is a Salt Lake GF chapter support group but I've never gotten in touch with them. I have a friend in Heber that does a lot with GF support groups. I could ask her.
I started this whole process in 1995 when I discovered that I would get tightness in my chest when I ate peanut butter. Then a few years later I stopped eating soy products for the same reason. After my first pregnancy I went back on soy without any real reactions and ate fairly normal for several years and also gained a lot of weight. Then after we moved to Utah I started getting sick alot and had migraines and stomach aches and sinus infections. I got tested for seasonal allergies and then just on a whim got tested (skin) for food allergies. I tested positive for milk, wheat, soy, corn and oranges. At the time I was completely overwhelmed and decided to do nothing. Then as the months progressed and I was getting sicker more often and actually had sinus surgery that helped for only a few months, I decided to eliminate milk and wheat just to see what would happen. I was really motivated by this time and it wasn't very hard to do because I had made the decision. When I reintroduced wheat I was really stunned by how bad the reaction was. I was in pain and also felt like I had the flu. Then later I did dairy and had diarrea for about 3 hours almost instantly after eating it. Allergies run in my family, too. Anyway, I haven't gone totally off soy or corn. I just eat it in small amounts. I feel really well now and feel like what I'm doing is giving me great benefits.
As an adult it is challenging but I also know that I have no concept of how challenging it would be to change everything for a child. I do know from blogs and such that it's nearly impossible unless the gluten is completely out of the house. You probably know that. Here are some sites that I have used:
giftsofnature.net (Great gluten free flour combination that I use in pancakes, muffins, pie crust, banana bread, cookies) It is very expensive so I add 3 parts GF Flour and 1 part Brown rice flour. I used this a lot when I was pregnant recently and was more sensitive to taste and texture. It also enables you to use a regular recipie and only substitue the flour. Most recipies have a funny taste before baking but taste good after baked. You have to refrigerate anything you make after the first day or it turns gritty. I don't like using mixes because a lot of times they have turbinado sugar in them which is gritty. This site also has GF Oats which are outrageously expensive but worth it if you love oats like I do. There is also a company called Azure Standard that does organic food. You can order online but then have to pick up your food at a drop ship place in Salt Lake. I 've never picked up the food since my sister orders for me in Oregon and I just get it from her when I visit. It has a ton of resources for GF foods and it's not terribly expensive. The ordering forms online are at www.azurestandard.com There is a great GF hot cereal! I also love LaraBars.
I've been "coasting" for a while and doing mostly Brown rice pasta and just lots of rice and fruits and vegetables. I haven't gotten into the whole substituting kids food with GF foods. Hopefully some of this can help you manage.
If you have any questions, I can help or ask my sister who is really knowledgeable. As for eating out, like I said I know what you're going through. Some restaurants will bend over backwards for you. I love Z Tejas and Biaggi's at the Gateway, they're both really supportive of GF lifestyle. But I don't have to be so strict like with your daughter's case. I do know that McDonald's advertizes their french fries to be "gluten free"
Hope this helps. It's been good for me to reflect!
Lisa
8 comments:
Ugh! Allergies are awful. It seems like you would be missing out on all these "delicious" foods if you go without them, BUT you feel sooooo much better when you do!!! Kinda funny. My allergy revolves around Corn Syrup. Sleepy, lethargic, impaired judgment i know you'd say that anyway about me... just kidding. However I've noticed that unbearable tightness in my chest when I eat anything with soy in it. Sometimes it gets so bad that I have to take benadryl to mitigate the pain! Odd? It works. Tag has an allergy to soy and peanuts too.
*Poof* Allergies are gone... I wish it were that easy. :o) Allergies are a pain to deal with, and I don't even really have any allergies (well that I have tested positive for anyway). But trying to keep soy out of the house, and corn is a tough job.
Good job with the Gluten Free lifestyle!! It's hard to set my mind into GF mode when my dad comes over, I can't imagine having to do it all the time! You are amazing, and I am so glad that it has mad such a huge difference in your life.
Good job LIsa. I am so happy that you have enough experience now with your own changes that you can help others...and that they ask for the advice. Keep up the hard work! Love ya!
thanks so much for posting your story, it's as inspiring today as ever
It is with great humility that I say how proud I am of you, Lisa, and your courage and determination to take charge of your health. There will be endless positive consequences for you, your family and others who see your example. Keep up the good work!
hey lisa happy to find your blog you'll have to check out our blog now. you are so inspiring!
Thanks for sharing.I always wondered what your story was on turning to GF. I made brownies for Family Home Evening. I binged and ate half the pan. Yikes I am so sick today.
This comment is really reassuring for someone who feels crazy, being around the mental environment that says, "food is just food and doesn't have any real affect on your health" (ha, ha.)
Changing my diet (staying away from all sugar, any flour, preservatives and milk, except cheeses and yogurt and using only olive oil in a dark bottle or butter or animal fats, or coconut oil, to be short,) has given me a whole new mind and a whole new life, and I want to stick with it so my body can continue healing. I am thrilled to get some relief from such perpetual lethargy --mental and physical! I don't have much time to type this cuz I'm not at home on my computer but you get the idea. Every day, my heart literally bursts with joy to be on the diet I'm on..I've come such a long way from where I was before, I feel like crying, I'm so grateful! my diet is so delicious and satisfying. Never do I really ever feel a burden when it comes to food. I love vegetables! There are so many yummy ones! I rarely ever feel like I've run out of ideas for food, because veggies are delicious!
Post a Comment