Let's talk gluten

For those of you who know me well, you know that in the past year I've made a pretty radical change to my diet. I've gone gluten-free. There is a lot of information floating around these days about 'gluten' and it's become the latest diet craze. While some people need to go gluten-free to improve their health (and in many cases get 'un-sick'), others just feel better not eating gluten. That being said, it is a big commitment to eliminate gluten from your life and if you are planning to take on that challenge you need knowledge to figure out how to do it in a healthy way. Just going 'gluten-free' doesn't mean you're eating to properly fuel your body. *Note: I'm not saying gluten-free is the way to go for everyone - I just think that the more information you have, the better equipped you are to get healthy*

I thought I'd share my story with you to show you how I decided to go 'gluten-free' and to tell you how it's changed my life. Five years ago I noticed that I wasn't feeling very well. I was eating fairly nutritiously, exercising and sleeping well but I was tired all the time, couldn't seem to keep off excess weight, my skin was dry and I felt lethargic and not very happy a lot of the time. After two years of pushing my doctor to test me for possible thyroid problems, I found out that I had hypothyroidism and was put on a thyroid supplement. While I felt better, many of my symptoms persisted.

Two years later (last summer) I was still struggling - some symptoms were getting worse and new ones were appearing. Weight was piling on, and despite making major changes to my exercise and nutrition regime I couldn't stop it. Bloating was so bad throughout my body that clothes I could wear in the morning couldn't fit my body in the evening - literally my torso expanded inches every day and it hurt to wear anything pressed against my skin - even socks. My joints ached. And worst of all, I had zero ability to concentrate on anything. It was worse on vacation when I wasn't working out as frequently and my eating habits were slightly more relaxed - my muscles literally hurt to the touch. It was depressing seeing my body literally falling apart despite my best attempts to 'make the right choices'. Doctors didn't know how to help me and left me grasping at straws at how to stop my body from deteriorating - I had elevated liver enzymes, a B12 deficiency and anemia (despite taking B12 and iron supplements) and I was apparantely a 'healthy' 28 year old. It didn't make sense.

After another 15lb weight gain in a matter of 10 days I decided enough was enough. I started researching and reading. I was running intervals on the treadmill at a gym in Sault Ste Marie reading my Kindle when I found a possible answer to my mystery. Gluten. All of my symptoms screamed Gluten Intolerance - the bloating, muscle soreness, 'brain fog', lethargy, depressed mood. All I had known before was that gluten could cause digestion issues -  and I didn't have those - but it turns out it could affect a lot more than that.

That day was the last day I had a diet consisting of gluten. Within 6 weeks, blood tests showed that my liver enzymes were normal, and my B12 and iron deficiencies had disappeared. My bloating was minimal and I couldn't believe how much easier it was to concentrate on my work. My muscles didn't hurt anymore and I just felt so much better.

People often ask me if I've gotten formal testing to see if I have a gluten intolerance. I haven't. The current testing requires you to eat gluten for a period of 2-3 weeks before you can get an intestinal biopsy to check for it and it's also not 100% conclusive. I'm not willing to go through that for something that isn't a 'sure thing'. The odd time gluten has slipped into something I've eaten and I feel exhausted and foggy for usually 2-3 days afterwards. The improvement in my mood, how my body feels and its ability to absorb the nutrients in my food is proof enough for me.

Gluten intolerance isn't necessarily something you notice from an early age. For some it's evident from childhood, but for others it can be triggered by an illness, infection or period of high emotional stress. For me, it 'hit' when I was in my mid-20s.

What I've learned from all of this is to pay attention to your body. See what it's telling you and push for answers. If I hadn't taken those steps who knows where I'd be today? It's a slow path back to health to correct the damage that gluten has caused for me, but literally month by month it gets better.

If any of this sounds like you, or you'd like to learn more, I highly recommend reading this article from the Precision Nutrition website:
http://www.precisionnutrition.com/all-about-gluten

If you have any questions or comments about how to go gluten-free in a healthy way, or you want to be directed to more information or a medical professional who can help you, email me at girardi.rachel@gmail.com or ask your questions on the facebook page 'Gastronomic Fitness'.