Series: Going Gluten-free Part 1: Symptoms

[caption id="attachment_545" align="aligncenter" width="200"] The first step in diagnosis is listening to your body.[/caption]

About three years ago, I was in rough shape. I had an avalanche of symptoms, but no doctor was able to pinpoint the source of my suffering for quite some time. After getting down to about 94 pounds, my diagnosis finally came after I did an elimination diet and brought the findings to my doctor (who was little to no help after giving my official diagnosis). Having gone through this journey of healing, I can tell you firsthand how important getting a diagnosis is. If it feels like World War 3 just broke out in your stomach and you're dealing with slews of other seemingly unexplainable symptoms, you might be Gluten Intolerant or have Celiac Disease.

Gluten is the protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and usually oats due to cross contamination in the farming fields. When someone who has Celiac Disease ingests even the smallest amount of gluten, mayhem occurs and the body responds by attacking itself with an auto-immune response. Gluten wipes out the villi in the small intestine creating lots of problems for adequate digestion, absorption, and balance of flora in the gut. Gluten has even been shown to affect the skin, brain, cardiovascular system, and nervous system. Below are the most common symptoms I have seen regarding gluten intolerance and CD.

I’m sad to say that I’ve correctly told  6 acquaintances I was sure they had Celiac Disease or Gluten Intolerance before a medical professional did. Though it is getting better, the average amount of time it takes for a correct diagnosis is about 10 years. Mine was 20 years. If you think you have Celiac Disease or Gluten Intolerance, don’t be discouraged if a doctor is unwilling to test you for it. Keep looking until you find a doctor with knowledge on the subject and start keeping a food diary. As much as I don’t like the idea of self diagnosis having had to do it twice for myself (life threatening soy allergy and celiac disease/gluten intolerance) sometimes it is a necessary measure as the medical community is falling short in these areas. For a list of diseases and conditions associated with Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance, click here. A;so see my Resources page for more links and information.

When dealing with symptoms, attitude is key. Remember that the pain is temporary and you will get better. There are tons of great gluten-free foods out there for the picking and eating. The hardest part is behind you. I'll be shouting out my favorite gluten-free products in the next post along with how to get through the diagnosis.

What do you think? Have you experienced any of the above symptoms? Do you have a diagnosis story? Share it below! I'd love to hear from you. Also feel free to send me an email at sprinklesandallergies@gmail.com

(I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice. Please consult with your health care professional to determine what is the best course of action for you. And of course, listen to your body!)

Basic Detox, Candida Elimination, Diet and Lifestyle

This is the "part-2" post of my detox and candida elimination plan. These diet tips and lifestyle changes are from my personal experience. I am not a medical professional and this should not be regarded as medical advice. Please see my previous post on Detox, and Candida albicans overgrowth here.

Whenever starting any kind of detox plan, it's best to increase water consumption in order to help rid the body of toxins and reduce die-off symptoms. Focus on all the great foods you can eat instead of what you can't.

One of the most important things to remember: Cut out Sugar! That being said, here is my personal list of foods to avoid, and foods to eat.

Foods to avoid:

• Sugar

• Gluten (wheat, barley, rye)

• Oats

• White Rice (opt for brown rice)

• Most fruit and fruit juices

• White Potatoes and other starchy root veggies such as beets and parsnips. Corn is also very starchy and is best avoided.

• Alcohol (changes to sugar quickly in the body)

• Yeast (some people do okay with inactive nutritional yeast that you may find in cheese replacement products. I've done okay with it).

• Vinegars and fermented products (some do okay with apple cider vinegar, but be sure to source it. I used Bragg's apple cider vinegar which is made on their shared equipment with soy and had a massive reaction. They have a product called "Liquid Aminos" which is basically straight up soy).

• Farmed Fish (buy wild sockeye salmon if possible).

• Citric acid, food additives, colorings, chemicals used in food production, and MSG.

• Coffee

• Soda (regular and diet)

• Cashews and Peanuts, due to higher mold content

• Soy and all soy derivatives (soy oil, soy lecithin).

• Legumes - I avoid these since they are in the soy family, but mostly just avoid all beans due to the high starch content.

• Most cooking oils (I use coconut oil and olive oil instead of canola, peanut, vegetable, or corn oils).

• Cut out all processed foods if possible.

• Dried Fruit --avoid like the plague! Very sugar laden.

Notes to remember: Avoid all dried fruit, as the sugars are more concentrated. Avoid all fruit juices, unless your are juicing tomatoes yourself or adding lemon juice to your hot water to start the day. I like to juice tomatoes, carrots, and celery with a dash of salt, pepper and cayenne for flavor.

Experiment with high sugar food replacements such as pureeing cauliflower and adding some coconut butter and garlic instead of your run of the mill sugar heavy mashed potatoes.

Foods to load up on:

• -Lean meats (grassfed, not grainfed). See my post on sourcing your meat here and your fish here. Most commercial pork, chicken, eggs, and lamb were all raised on a soy-fed or grainfed diet. Non-soy fed meats cost more, but it's a price I'm willing and have to pay in order to stay healthy with minimal allergic reactions.

• Soy free eggs (see previous post here).

• Avocado

• Berries, in moderation

• Brown Rice

• Quinoa

• Buckwheat

• All vegetables except for potatoes and other starchy veggies listed in the above section

• Brown Rice Pasta

• I do okay with spaghetti squash, acorn squash, and butternut squash in moderation.

• Sweet potatoes in moderation were fine for me, but may not be okay for everyone.

• Nuts and Seeds (Sunflower seeds, chia seeds, and almonds all agreed with me great).

It may take some time to feel and see results, but once you do it will all be well worth the effort. My energy doubled after a few month long detox and I look/feel a lot healthier. The key is to stick with it. If you are experiencing die-off symptoms (cold/flu/fever like symptoms), you are going in the right direction!

Many people stop at the sign of detox symptoms because they are feeling a bit sick, but don't stop unless the die-off is too severe. Just cut back on the diet a little if it is too much. Then once you have the detox symptoms more manageable, increase your arsenal again.

The following post(s) will contain various favorite recipes of mine that are okay on the Detox or Candida Elimination Diet, one being Quinoa Tabbouleh. Wishing you good energies and luck =)

Feel free to comment below or start a support discussion. Email me with questions or comments as well if that is a better method for you, at: soyfreeglutenfreehaven@gmail.com