How I got here.
Years ago I was desperate for answers. My body-mind-spirit was skidding down hill fast. The symptoms, dear one, you don't want to know about. Suffice it to say that Pepto Bismol was my true companion.
What I knew?
That a diagnosis of "Most likely IBS" with a dash of lactose intolerance was getting me nowhere. I wasn't feeling better eating more wheat germ and whole grains for fiber, like the doc instructed. "Try lessening your stress" was not exactly helpful (Can you relate?!). In fact, I only felt worse. Lactose enzymes did absolutely nothing. And the bread, bran and pasta I was told to consume seemed to trigger more pain.
My intuition told me gluten might be a culprit after my first cousin was diagnosed with celiac disease in her late thirties.
When I searched my unholy collection of symptoms on the Internet I discovered I was not alone. Gluten is a tricky issue for roughly three million Americans. And having a family member diagnosed with celiac disease upped my odds considerably.
I called my nurse practitioner (she was easier to talk to than the doc) and asked if gluten might be the illusive enemy we were searching for. "Maybe..." was her one word answer. I thought I heard her yawning. I asked if we could try a gluten-free trial to see if my symptoms abated. "See you in two weeks," she answered.
That was 24 years ago.
The day I went gluten-free.
And I knew within 48 hours, I was on to something.
By the third day sans gluten, I was (amazingly!) symptom free and already envisioning a life without commode hugging pain. The difference I felt in my body was dramatic and immediate- and I wanted more of it. I consider myself lucky that I have obvious and attention-getting symptoms (to even the tiniest amount of gluten protein). The GI symptoms made my decision to go gluten-free an easy one.
There were inadvertent bumps along the way to living totally gluten-free. I neglected to check on an herbal tea once and was "glutened" by roasted barley. Lip balm did not register on my gluten radar at first; it was four weeks before I checked my lip balm label (lurking in the fine print: wheat germ oil and wheat bran). Not thinking, I still used my beloved old bread board (saturated with wheat flour proteins).
There's a definite learning curve when it comes to living gluten free.
The good news is: it gets easier. Much easier. And as energy levels return, and life expands beyond planning rest room strategies and swigging Pepto Bismol for breakfast, you begin to comprehend just how awful you felt for so long. And how many odd and mysterious symptoms you took for granted as "normal". How many insidious ways gluten affects and triggers the body's autoimmune system (digestive, nutritional (low B 12), skin/rashes (aka dermatitis herpetiformis), visual (I had autoimmune cataracts by age 45) neural, mood issues.
Gluten- the elastic protein in wheat, rye, spelt and barley- can also cause impaired agility, balance and gait, lessen vitamin, mineral and protein absorption, diminish lactose, fructose and fat digestion, and whittle away bone integrity. Not to mention, energy and stamina. It can even trigger depression, migraines, brain lesions and seizures in certain individuals.
Scary stuff.
The last twenty-plus years have been a long arc of realignment and adjustment- living gluten-free is traveling in unknown territory (and in the beginning, without much of a road map and very little support; though that particular aspect is rapidly changing thanks to the Internet, the fabulous work of the NFCA, and the recent flourishing of dedicated research centers devoted to understanding and curing celiac disease).
As awareness grows, gluten-free flours and products are becoming more widely available, and more diverse (back in 2001 I felt lucky- even ecstatic- just to find a bag of rice flour). GF life is good- and getting better. Despite the faddish misinformation and social ridicule (thank you gluten-free celebrities for sprinkling social media with your nutty misinformation like so much inane glitter), after a while you get used to the gluten-free punchlines on TV talk shows, and waitstaff eye rolling (is it wrong to silently wish them all a sudden bout of dermatitis herpetiformis?).
These last twenty-four years gluten-free have been a slow but steady climb toward healing and regaining strength, clarity, and stamina. I've come a long way. And I've developed quite a knack for gluten-free cooking and baking (just before my diagnosis, I had published my first cookbook, Recipes from a Vegetarian Goddess- which helped me in so many ways to cope).
So this year, in honor of my upcoming Gluten-Free Anniversary #24, I just might have a slice of Flourless Chocolate Cake for breakfast.
What I knew?
That a diagnosis of "Most likely IBS" with a dash of lactose intolerance was getting me nowhere. I wasn't feeling better eating more wheat germ and whole grains for fiber, like the doc instructed. "Try lessening your stress" was not exactly helpful (Can you relate?!). In fact, I only felt worse. Lactose enzymes did absolutely nothing. And the bread, bran and pasta I was told to consume seemed to trigger more pain.
My intuition told me gluten might be a culprit after my first cousin was diagnosed with celiac disease in her late thirties.
When I searched my unholy collection of symptoms on the Internet I discovered I was not alone. Gluten is a tricky issue for roughly three million Americans. And having a family member diagnosed with celiac disease upped my odds considerably.
I called my nurse practitioner (she was easier to talk to than the doc) and asked if gluten might be the illusive enemy we were searching for. "Maybe..." was her one word answer. I thought I heard her yawning. I asked if we could try a gluten-free trial to see if my symptoms abated. "See you in two weeks," she answered.
That was 24 years ago.
The day I went gluten-free.
And I knew within 48 hours, I was on to something.
By the third day sans gluten, I was (amazingly!) symptom free and already envisioning a life without commode hugging pain. The difference I felt in my body was dramatic and immediate- and I wanted more of it. I consider myself lucky that I have obvious and attention-getting symptoms (to even the tiniest amount of gluten protein). The GI symptoms made my decision to go gluten-free an easy one.
There were inadvertent bumps along the way to living totally gluten-free. I neglected to check on an herbal tea once and was "glutened" by roasted barley. Lip balm did not register on my gluten radar at first; it was four weeks before I checked my lip balm label (lurking in the fine print: wheat germ oil and wheat bran). Not thinking, I still used my beloved old bread board (saturated with wheat flour proteins).
There's a definite learning curve when it comes to living gluten free.
The good news is: it gets easier. Much easier. And as energy levels return, and life expands beyond planning rest room strategies and swigging Pepto Bismol for breakfast, you begin to comprehend just how awful you felt for so long. And how many odd and mysterious symptoms you took for granted as "normal". How many insidious ways gluten affects and triggers the body's autoimmune system (digestive, nutritional (low B 12), skin/rashes (aka dermatitis herpetiformis), visual (I had autoimmune cataracts by age 45) neural, mood issues.
Gluten- the elastic protein in wheat, rye, spelt and barley- can also cause impaired agility, balance and gait, lessen vitamin, mineral and protein absorption, diminish lactose, fructose and fat digestion, and whittle away bone integrity. Not to mention, energy and stamina. It can even trigger depression, migraines, brain lesions and seizures in certain individuals.
Scary stuff.
The last twenty-plus years have been a long arc of realignment and adjustment- living gluten-free is traveling in unknown territory (and in the beginning, without much of a road map and very little support; though that particular aspect is rapidly changing thanks to the Internet, the fabulous work of the NFCA, and the recent flourishing of dedicated research centers devoted to understanding and curing celiac disease).
As awareness grows, gluten-free flours and products are becoming more widely available, and more diverse (back in 2001 I felt lucky- even ecstatic- just to find a bag of rice flour). GF life is good- and getting better. Despite the faddish misinformation and social ridicule (thank you gluten-free celebrities for sprinkling social media with your nutty misinformation like so much inane glitter), after a while you get used to the gluten-free punchlines on TV talk shows, and waitstaff eye rolling (is it wrong to silently wish them all a sudden bout of dermatitis herpetiformis?).
These last twenty-four years gluten-free have been a slow but steady climb toward healing and regaining strength, clarity, and stamina. I've come a long way. And I've developed quite a knack for gluten-free cooking and baking (just before my diagnosis, I had published my first cookbook, Recipes from a Vegetarian Goddess- which helped me in so many ways to cope).
So this year, in honor of my upcoming Gluten-Free Anniversary #24, I just might have a slice of Flourless Chocolate Cake for breakfast.
Thank you for stopping by- and remember- make today delicious!
Karina Allrich
Gluten-Free Goddess
©2022-2025 All rights reserved.
Gluten-Free Goddess
©2022-2025 All rights reserved.
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