Monday, March 17, 2014

Eating Gluten Free!

For a number of decades I have struggled with digestive challenges.  I was taking immodium 2 or 3 times a week just to keep things under control and had come to assume that I must just have a very sensitive system, nervous stomach, IBS, or something I would just have to live with.

My daughter, who is a nurse and the wife of a soon-to-be chiropractor, suggested I try giving up gluten because it inflames the bowels.  I thought, wheat?  Seriously?  I eat wheat all the time!  But as my symptoms seemed to be very gradually worsening I decided to give it a try.

After about 5 or 6 days my irritable system went normal.  It was so obvious.  I should not be eating wheat.  There have been some ups and downs since then but it is still very clear that gluten and I do not get along.  I have always loved pastas and breads.  Now, after not intentionally eating gluten for over 6 months, I do not desire those foods.  I know what they will do to me and my body has shut down any desire, I guess.  Who wants cramps and diarrhea?  For sometimes days at a time after even a single small gluten exposure?

I'm going to write more about this.  After reading Wheat Belly by William Davis and Grain Brain by David Perlmutter I am completely convinced that wheat (and all gluten) is not good for me, and not only just because of its effects on my digestion.  Dr. William Davis is a cardiologist and Dr. David Perlmutter is a neurologist.

I know that what they recommend is contrary to mainstream medicine.  But for me, the proof is in how I feel and my overall improved health.  More later!

3 comments:

Jean Heimann said...

Thanks for sharing this, Rosemary! I am not on a totally gluten-free diet, as I was in the past, but eat many other grains -- including brown rice, oats, kamut,etc. however, after reading this, I think I will return to a gluten-free diet.

I do know that wheat is hard on the digestive system and it also aggravates arthritis symptoms.

Mimi said...

I'm so glad cutting out gluten has worked - yay!

Rosemary said...

Thanks for your comments, Jean and Mimi! Yes, gluten seems to be problematic even for people with less obvious symptoms than those I had.