Healthy Chicks

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As many of you know, I follow a (mostly) gluten free diet because I tend to be sensitive to wheat and gluten-containing products. By mostly, I mean that I eat gluten free 90% of the time, but do allow myself Ezekiel bread as the gluten in this bread is easier to digest, as well as the occasional cheat (i.e. a Christmas cookie or freshly baked North End Italian bread while waiting for dinner).

Since I’ve cut gluten out for the most part for almost three years now, I’ve noticed many positive changes, number one being that my digestion has improved tremendously. In college, I used to have terrible stomach pains, constant bloat, and unexplained inability to lose weight no matter what my lifestyle/diet/exercise regime. Now, I can happily say the bloat is pretty much gone, and I feel OK eating just a little piece of bread or a brownie here and there because I don’t go overboard re: stomach issues.

But now I’m left with a pretty BIG problem. I had gone to the doctors this week to get tested for Celiac disease, an autoimmune disease that is caused by the intake of gluten (the protein found in many wheat products) which leads to damage to the small intestine, and an inability to absorb certain nutrients. I had wanted to get tested for a while because while I know I am sensitive to gluten (and have some sort of intolerance), Celiac disease is a whole different issue. There are a variety of symptoms, and some people may never even have physical symptoms. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for the disease, other than cutting out gluten 100%. Not even a crumb, a lick, a bite.

So here’s where my problem comes in: The doctor said that since I had cut out gluten for so long* (for the most part), I could not be tested as the blood test would yield a false negative result even if I did have the disease. So my two options are:

*Note: If you suspect you may have Celiac disease, before cutting out gluten on your own, I would talk to a doctor first to see if you can get tested so you won’t have to go through the craziness I now have to. Always consult with your doctor first.

A.) Cut gluten out completely as if I had the disease, and just never know. However, if taking this option, I’d need to be extra careful at restaurants, watch out for cross-contamination and literally NO CHEATING whatsoever. I’d also never know if I carry the gene, which could pose problems in the future for my kids getting tested.

B.) A “gluten challenge” – Add gluten back into my diet for two to three months, eating it as much as a “regular person,” so the doctor said. This means I could potentially harm my body for a short period, go through some discomfort, but at least I’d know the truth and get an accurate diagnosis.

I went with option B, as I don’t think I could go through life not knowing if I had something. Also, I think for me I’d need that reassurance of an accurate diagnosis to make me be more careful with my food choices, and to hold me accountable. The good news is, if I don’t in fact have Celiac disease and it in fact really is just a gluten intolerance, I may be able to add small amounts of whole wheat products back into my lifestyle gradually, pending they don’t bother my stomach.

So far, it’s been three days back on the wheat, and I’ve been feeling OK. No terrible bloating or issues thus far (fingers crossed). I’ve been super careful with my food choices however, being sure to keep them as REAL as possible meaning whole grains and natural sources only. Just ’cause I have the doctor’s order to go ahead and eat wheat again doesn’t mean I’m going to stuff my face with pizza and beer every day ( hehe!) Lucky me: I don’t even like beer. Wish me luck!

If you’d like to read more about the differences between Celiac disease, wheat allergies, and gluten intolerance, check out this article here from the American Celiac Disease Alliance, which explains it wonderfully! Check out some of my favorite gluten free recipes here.

Do any of you have food allergies or sensitivities? Did you go through any struggles in finding an accurate diagnosis? Have you learned to live with your allergy/sensitivity/ intolerance with healthy substitutions? Please share your experience here!

XoXo,