Disclaimer: This post may be too TMI for some – if you’d rather not read about bodily functions, don’t read any further.
I do not have a gluten allergy, nor do I suffer from celiac (at least that I know of…). My life, for as long as I can remember, has been plagued with stomach troubles. Ask my mom – there are many times that I could “vomit at the drop of a hat,” as she puts it. And she’s right. Cramps, bowel problems, gas, bloating, vomiting, you name it.
The first food group I gave up was dairy. Other than Greek yogurt, I avoid dairy. I’ve never been diagnosed as lactose intolerant, but the symptoms are all there, and I’d rather not deal with it. But giving up dairy didn’t put an end to my symptoms. The symptoms I have aren’t near as bad as when I did eat dairy, but they’re still there.
Now, I’m giving up gluten. I will admit – I haven’t done any research prior to making this decision. My best friend Jen gave up gluten a month ago and has had phenomenal results – no more tummy troubles, weight loss, inches lost. She says she’s never felt better. That intrigued me…
I started yesterday. I bought the book Wheat Belly (the same book that convinced Jen to go gluten free) and I’m already amazed at the statistics, the science, and the success behind going gluten free.
My other problem – acne. I’ve read in multiple places that wheat consumption can be linked to acne problems. I’m hoping that going gluten free will also aid in clearing up my skin – I’m not going to make any changes to my skin care routine for at least a month, to see if this helps with that also.
I can’t wait to continue with this journey/experiment and see where I end up. I would love to finally be free of stomach problems, and if this just so happens to help me reach my weight goal, even better!
Are you gluten free? Do you know anyone that is? What are your thoughts on this?
I am gluten free as well, have been for over a year now, with excellent results. I am not celiac, but I do have psoriasis, which is in some cases connected to wheat intolerance. I’ve also had a host of stomach troubles over the years. Going gluten free has helped immensely with both of these things.
Here is my issue with people going gluten free for weight loss. Giving up gluten WILL result in weight loss, but only if you give up gluten to eat foods that are naturally gluten free. Think lean mean, fruits and veggies, nuts, seeds, stuff like that. If you switch from eating regular bread and cookies to eating gluten free bread and cookies, you’re not going to lose any weight. Calories still count. I’m not saying you should never eat a gluten free brownie or other treat, it’s just that they need to be an occasional part of your diet, not an everyday thing.
I see a lot of people going gluten free because they think it’s the next “magic answer” to weight problems. Remember the low fat craze in the 90s? A naturally low fat diet will help you lose weight — again, think lean meat, fruit and veggies, etc. The problem came in when people started making low fat cake and cookies that just replaced the fat with sugar. Fat’s not the problem, the calories are.
Having said all that, I do think that a lot of people can and would benefit from a gluten free diet, as long as you’re doing it in the right way and for the right reasons. Once you get started with it, it’s a lot easier than you may think.
Good luck with it. I hope you have good results. I read Wheat Belly several months ago and it put me on the the path to Gluten Free.
Then I read the Paleo Diet and It Starts With Food and I have taken the plunge and am eating Paleo – really has made a difference for me in the way I feel.
I hope you find some answers too.