Why Go Gluten Free?

As some readers might have seen, our last post garnered a bit of controversy about eating gluten free. I have eaten gluten free for the past 16 years out of necessity. I am Celiac which is an autoimmune disease in which my immune system reacts to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. There is no cure for this disease. There is no drugs to treat Celiac. The only way to manage the many symptoms is to strictly avoid gluten. 1 in 100 people in Canada have Celiac disease.

Eating gluten free for a person suffering from Celiac disease is not a choice but a necessity. I find those that chose to eat gluten free out of a desire to lose weight or other supposed health benefits misguided. Why anyone would want to pay over $6.00 for a loaf of bread unless they absolutely have to?  Having more people want to eat gluten free is a mixed blessing. It has made finding gluten free foods much easier than when I was first diagnosed, however, when I order in a restaurant, I emphasize that I am celiac, not just chose to eat gluten free. Cross contamination easily happens. A simple crumb from the butter which was used for wheat bread on my gluten free toast will “gluten” me. Symptoms of Celiac disease are not pleasant. As well, as the immediate symptoms that will confine me to a washroom for hours, I am in for a few days of debilitating exhaustion, “brain fog”, miserable aches and a stomach ache that I wouldn’t wish upon anyone. Imagine getting the flu each time you cheated on your diet!

After I was diagnosed, and started to eat gluten free, it took a few weeks for the stomach symptoms to calm down. It took two years for some of the other body symptoms to wane. I will always be at more risk for certain cancers, osteopososis, and a higher risk of other autoimmune diseases.

Celiac that is undiagnosed (which generally takes years) can cause anemia, loss of bone density, skin rash, mouth ulcers, headaches, nervous system injury, joint pain, increased risk of cancers, and failure to thrive in children. There is also relations to ADHD, learning disabilities and seizures.

If you suspect that you or your child might have Celiac disease, don’t immediately start eating gluten free. Go to your doctor for the tests and a proper diagnosis.

Having to eat gluten free means that I miss out on many things, including community and church dinners, potlucks and even invitations to friend’s homes. Holiday celebrations are a landmine of hazards. I pay more for food. I miss work from being “glutened”. For me, eating gluten free is not a fad, nor a dumb buzz word, but a life saver.