Gluten Free....Is It Just A Fad?

The latest and greatest in medical news seems to change weekly.  We are told of recent studies that suggest new ways of dieting or exercising.  Eat this, not that.  Supplement with these, avoid those.  Exercise this way, not that.  It's certainly confusing as we are left with more questions than answers on what to do to be healthy. 

Listening to your body is the best advice I can give.  What works for one, may not work for another.  But how does one listen to the body and how does that work?  Those belly aches, heartburn, constipation, diarrhea, or excessive gas pains is your body's way of telling you it's not happy.  In fact, any digestive pain is likely related to the foods you've consumed.  Many times, it's due to a sensitivity.  Unfortunately, we tend to medicate when there is pain rather than think that our body is speaking to us about the damage we are causing.  When we continue to feed our body foods it doesn't like, inflammation occurs and chronic pain is the result.  As a matter of fact, chronic inflammation has been know to be the root cause of a number of diseases.  

Celiac disease is a true gluten allergy.  A blood test can be performed to test for the allergy, but false negatives are possible.  The most accurate way to determine Celiac disease is a biopsy of the small intestine.  While this will determine true Celiac disease, it will not show a gluten sensitivity.  Many of us are sensitive to gluten, but not the actual ramifications that go along with true Celiac.  Symptoms can include, chronic constipation, diarrhea, brain fog, stomach upset.  What happens is the cilia in the gut are damaged because the body overreacts to the protein in gluten.  The villi in the gut are damaged and the nutrients in the food cannot be properly absorbed.  As a result, diarrhea, ulcers and severe pain occur with true Celiac.  Because of the lack of absorption of nutrients, this can also lead to malnourishment.  Those with Celiac disease need to be careful as even contamination with a wheat product can be life threatening.  

In my own personal experience, I have found that consuming wheat products gives me brain fog. I didn't notice it at first.  It wasn't until I stopped eating bread products for a while that I noticed I felt better.  When I would consume bread or pasta, I noticed a difference.  Sadly, the way I felt was normal and didn't know I could have felt better.  It seems once someone has an autoimmune disorder, the body is vulnerable to other autoimmune diagnoses.  Personally, I want to be mindful and proactive in my own health to set myself up for success.  Research has shown that there is 100% correlation with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and gluten sensitivity.  Since I have Hashimoto's and after learning this information, I have tried to abstain from gluten.  I do feel better.  I am not a forever, always or never person.  I want to live and enjoy life, so occasionally, I'll have something that has gluten in it.  I will feel the effects pretty quickly; my stomach will hurt, and I'll get brain fog.  Knowing this, it has become much easier to say no to these foods.  I just don't feel good and it's not worth it to me.  There are plenty of other choices in foods that bring me pleasure without pain.

The gluten-free market has exploded, and while I applaud the efforts from the manufactures, it should not be viewed as an open table of foods to consume.  They are still processed foods and the flours they contain will still spike insulin levels.  Remember the fat-free craze?  People were consuming an abundance of foods thinking they weren't going to get fat and gained an enormous amount of weight.  I don't like to use the word "moderation" because that looks different to everyone.  It's not specific enough.  As I've said over and over...just eat real food.  Listen to what your body is saying.  We were designed to live well, but that requires a listening ear.  What is your body saying to you?  

I don't think that "gluten free" is a fad.  It's very real to many people who suffer with the effects of it's consumption.  I was heart broken when I learned the effects of bread on my own body.  Not only do I love sugar, I really love bread...and still do!  We all have choices in life.  My goal is to live better longer and that may require sacrificing some foods that really aren't as pleasurable as they once were.  

Health bite:  Stop and listen....is gluten hurting you?

Medication For Life

About 16 years ago, I was diagnosed with hypothyroid disease.  It began when I noticed some weight gain I just couldn’t seem to lose. My gynecologist told me that it was because I had three children and I was getting older. Even though that was true, I had a gut feeling there was something more. Always go with your gut! Reluctantly and thankfully, she ordered a thyroid test.

A few days later, a nurse from the office called to tell me I should see my primary doctor immediately. I ask why? I didn’t even have a primary doctor. I only went to the OBGYN because I had become pregnant. I didn’t get sick or thought I needed a primary doctor. The nurse tried to explain that my numbers were very, very high and that I should not wait to see my doctor.

Of course, this scared the crap out of me! Was I going to die? Oh my goodness, I have three small children! What would happen to them? I’m not ready to die! Remember, this was before WebMD or the Internet in general. It was the old fashion phone calls to people who had no idea what I had either. After a series of doctors, specialists and a MRI, I was placed on medication and have been on it ever since…..until now.

About six months ago, I attended a continuing education class about thyroid disease. The information opened my eyes to the complexity of this problem. When the speaker asked if we had ourselves or knew someone with thyroid disease, to please raise their hands, every hand went up! This was not a rare disease. So what’s going on?

Hashimoto’s thyroid disease is the most common thyroid disorder, affecting about 85% of those diagnosed. It is an autoimmune condition, meaning that our own body attacks itself killing off what we need for balance. It’s a process that can go on for years, undetected, until one fateful day we exhibit symptoms.

I was told I would be always need to take medication. During this stage of my life, 16 years ago, I took those words as truth. Since then, I have become an obstinate patient, meaning, I question everyone and everything. No one knows my body better than me. I live with myself 24/7. It’s my home and I’ve decided to clean house!

Did you know that there is a 100% correlation between gluten sensitivity and thyroid disease? Hashimoto’s thyroid disease is an inflammatory disease. We are learning more and more that chronic inflammation is the root of many diseases we face. While acute inflammation is good for healing when we have an injury, chronic inflammation is often the underlying cause of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Choosing an anti-inflammatory way of eating can help repair and perhaps reverse disease. I have chosen to give up gluten and sugar. These two substances are inflammatory agents and in combination really cause an inflammatory storm.

It is not easy. Anyone who knew me a couple of years ago would have said I thought sugar was a food group. The struggle is real, but I have chosen to heal my body. My goal is to have a blood test without my medication and my levels are normal.  I told my doctor I wanted to go off my medication, and I was willing to do whatever it took to heal my body. He told me he never had anyone say that before. That's too bad!

Please don’t go off your medication without the advice from your doctor. It’s important to find a specialist who is willing to work with you. I believe that our body is capable of repairing itself over time. I’ve had this disease for over 15 years, so healing it in a few months is not rational. It will take time and hard work. 

health bite: Is it time to clean your house?