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A year ago today, I embarked on an experiment that I only thought would last a month. I gave up wheat as both an experiment for myself, but also so I could recommend wheat-free diets to my acupuncture patients when appropriate.
The only wheat I eat now is sprouted wheat in the form of Ezekiel bread and it doesn't seem to bother me. Sometimes I can tell when I've had wheat by accident because the symptoms come back: I get mood swings, an upset stomach with cramps, bloating and acne. Sometimes I'm not as careful as I should be about checking ingredients.
Now eating wheat-free has become a way of life for me. And I think I have a much better quality of life now than I did a year ago. Now I can tell that culprit when I get acne is cow's milk (it was much worse with wheat) and I can limit that accordingly.
Most of the time, I actually eat gluten-free foods because they have become so readily available. I get excited when I see my favorite brands like Pamela's or Cherrybrook Kitchen on the shelf of my local store. And Kinnikkinnick cinnamon donuts are to die for.
Personally, I'm not concerned that I have Celiac's Disease because I don't seem to have bad reactions to other grains like barley or spelt, although I haven't been tested for it. But it's certainly made me more aware of people who do have Celiac's. I also make sure when I prescribe herbs and other products to my patients I know what the ingredients are.
Is it hard being Italian-American and wheat-free? Yes. However, there are lots of pasta alternatives out there from expensive gourmet pastas made in Italy to your basic Thai rice stick that you can find for a few bucks. I introduced my family to one rice pasta and they couldn't tell the difference. I miss pizza, but there are rice-based pizza crusts available. I can even make my own spelt crust or polenta "pizza".
The highest form of wheat-free love is when my husband makes me pancakes with some combination of rice, spelt and, more recently, sorghum flours.
I'll be honest: eating wheat-free is not easy. It takes a little more thought when going out to eat and a little more planning when going shopping and a lot of label-reading. But if you have any of the symptoms I described, or any of the symptoms described at:
http://www.celiaccentral.org/Do_I_Have_Celiac_/13/
you might want to take a closer look at your diet and talk to your doctor.
The only wheat I eat now is sprouted wheat in the form of Ezekiel bread and it doesn't seem to bother me. Sometimes I can tell when I've had wheat by accident because the symptoms come back: I get mood swings, an upset stomach with cramps, bloating and acne. Sometimes I'm not as careful as I should be about checking ingredients.
Now eating wheat-free has become a way of life for me. And I think I have a much better quality of life now than I did a year ago. Now I can tell that culprit when I get acne is cow's milk (it was much worse with wheat) and I can limit that accordingly.
Most of the time, I actually eat gluten-free foods because they have become so readily available. I get excited when I see my favorite brands like Pamela's or Cherrybrook Kitchen on the shelf of my local store. And Kinnikkinnick cinnamon donuts are to die for.
Personally, I'm not concerned that I have Celiac's Disease because I don't seem to have bad reactions to other grains like barley or spelt, although I haven't been tested for it. But it's certainly made me more aware of people who do have Celiac's. I also make sure when I prescribe herbs and other products to my patients I know what the ingredients are.
Is it hard being Italian-American and wheat-free? Yes. However, there are lots of pasta alternatives out there from expensive gourmet pastas made in Italy to your basic Thai rice stick that you can find for a few bucks. I introduced my family to one rice pasta and they couldn't tell the difference. I miss pizza, but there are rice-based pizza crusts available. I can even make my own spelt crust or polenta "pizza".
The highest form of wheat-free love is when my husband makes me pancakes with some combination of rice, spelt and, more recently, sorghum flours.
I'll be honest: eating wheat-free is not easy. It takes a little more thought when going out to eat and a little more planning when going shopping and a lot of label-reading. But if you have any of the symptoms I described, or any of the symptoms described at:
http://www.celiaccentral.org/Do_I_Have_Celiac_/13/
you might want to take a closer look at your diet and talk to your doctor.
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