I want to preface this post with the following. Going gluten free is not for everyone, but I truly believe that it was the best decision for me. And, I really went gluten free for a handful of reasons.
Gluten is a general term for some of the proteins found in grains including wheat, barley, semolina, and rye. Gluten is found in bread, pasta, dough, pastries, baked goods, cereals, salad dressings, fried foods and other foods and items. The nice thing is that you can get the gluten free version of many of these items, and they really are pretty good.
The below details the specific reasons why I went gluten free:
- Because I have MS
So, I went gluten free because gluten is very very inflammatory. MS is already an inflammatory disease of the brain and central nervous system; wherein which little inflammatory lesions grow on the brain and cervical and thoracic spine. Because of this, it is best for me to limit my intake of other inflammatory foods. I also suffer from heat burn every once in a while, and gluten exacerbates heart burn. We have been trying to get my Dad to become gluten free too because he has terrible heart burn that is almost debilitating sometimes. He takes medication for it, but the medication causes throat cancer, so we are really trying to get him to stop taking it. And, for me, not having gluten has really helped alleviate my heartburn. I even promised my sister I would become dairy free at some point also to further limit my exposure to inflammation.
2. Because I want to further limit inflammation
Also, another problem is that gluten is so heavily processed at this day and age. You can thank the FDA for that. But because of this, a lot of people are acquiring gluten sensitivities. And as a result, eating gluten can cause swollen or tightness of joints, arthritis type pain, heart burn, brain fog and fatigue, bloating, skin issues and other inflammatory responses. This is especially the case if you already have an autoimmune disease. Also, If you do have a gluten sensitivity and you continue to still eat gluten based products, it is possible that your intestinal wall can become inflamed (a/k/a you can have a leaky gut). A leaky gut is really hard to get rid of and some believe having a leaky gut can cause some autoimmune disorders including MS. A leaky gut also makes it so that you cannot properly absorb nutrients upon eating them. It’s a real problem, that you need be sensitive to and aware of.
I am pretty convinced that separate from having MS I have a gluten sensitivity. It could be that my gluten sensitivity caused my having MS or attributed to it or it could be that the sensitivity is separate from my having MS. After eating gluten (even good quality gluten like sourdough with no additives), I would feel bloated for hours and then have heart burn for a good amount of time.
3. Because most of the gluten latent products aren’t even that good for you
Most of the gluten free products are not very nutrient filled. They are actually generally the opposite of nutrient filled. It’s not like breads, pastries, baked goods, pastas, cereals and most salad dressings are good for you. It is better to limit intake of those items and substitute them with organic fruits and vegetables and organic grass fed and finished meats anyways. Also, if some medical website tries to tell you that you get a lot of nutrients and vitamins out of the bleached and enriched breads, they are kidding themselves. The main ingredient in enriched bread is refined, white flour, which is then bleached. To produce white flour, the outer layer of the bread is removed, and then, the innards are ground into flour. During this process, all of the nutrients of the bread are lost, so manufacturers artificially add back in those lost nutrients. But the nutrients added back in are not actually that equal to the ones lost. Also, no one should ever eat bleached bread, like never ever. Also, a lot of medical websites state that you should not become gluten free because you will miss out on these added nutrients and fiber, but unless you are eating actually whole wheat bread (and not that sugary crap most companies produce), you are not getting any fiber from your bread anyways. Separately, the best way to get fiber is fruits and vegetables, and the best way to get iron is grass fed and grass finished beef. I have a hunch that a lot of medical companies are pro gluten, because they are pro keeping you sick and in need of their help. You need to do what is right for you, and literally, the only real negative articles I have found about going gluten free are medical companies and related medical organizations. I find that suspicious—especially since no one is getting their daily vitamins from bread.
Important Notes
It is important to know that gluten stays in your system for three months after you eat it; it’s similar to when you eat a donut. So, if you decide that going gluten free is right for you, it will take a little bit of time for you to notice a difference in how you feel. So, you need to be patient with the results. You also need to read labels, because gluten is in a lot more stuff than you think.
I truly believe that becoming gluten free was the right choice for me. I no longer feel bloated on a regular basis, my heart burn is generally gone, and I believe that it has really lessened inflammatory activity within my body. It has changed my life for the better.
Also, since becoming gluten free, I have made it a hobby or project of mine to find or create gluten free recipes for some of my favorite foods, that are generally not gluten free, such as meatballs, crab cakes, chicken sandwiches, burritos, and pasta. As I come up with them, I put them up on this blog. It’s fun to find these recipes, and I have found Vegan Marios, which is an extremely high-quality vegan and gluten free bread making guru of bread, bagels, and cinnamon rolls to name a few gluten free foods. This company has made it so that I really don’t miss gluten. Just remember, that it is really important to eat the least processed foods that you can and just because the label says it’s gluten free, doesn’t mean it’s good for you. It may have added refined sugar or other poor ingredients. Make sure you read the labels and the best choices for your own health. You are responsible for your own health and well-being after all.
Always,
Taylor
