The Health Food Kick

For most of the summer, I've been on a health food kick. My mother was diagnosed with Celiac's Disease in early June, and since then, everything about food I was used to had suddenly changed. There was a real chance that I also have this disease.

It all sounded so simple - just stop eating gluten, and all of the symptoms disappear. But, I'm a compulsive researcher, so I had to read everything I could find on the disease. Someone with Celiac's disease is so sensitive to gluten, that a fraction of a teaspoon can harm their system. My mom was at a point where she could barely swallow any food. Gluten is found in many foods including breads, pastas, certain sauces, dressings, beer, soy sauce, and many other things. This condition remains undiagnosed in many people - between 1 in 133 and 1 in 84 have Celiac's, while many more may have a gluten allergy, intolerance, or sensitivity. If someone in your family has Celiac's, it puts you at a 1 in 22 chance in having it.

I have had many health issues over the years which have kept me from living a pain-free life. General fatigue, joint pain, and tendonitis have unintentionally kept me from seeking out projects, practicing, and just having fun in general. Much would be explained if I have Celiac's. I have gone through all the testing and am waiting for results. As of now, they haven't found anything, but I've taken matters into my own hands.

I stopped eating gluten to see how I'd feel, and I felt a huge increase in energy and my migraines have disappeared. I'm hoping that in a matter of months all of my aches and pains will clear up. I've gone another step further and have eliminated even more things from my diet including dairy, sugar, any non-organic fruits/vegetables/meats, nuts, beans, white rice, and many other things. I will slowly reintroduce things while noting their effects on me. It's been rough to say the least, but I need to know if I have any other food allergies. So far my digestion and general health has been much improved.

I am hoping that anyone who thinks they have a food-related condition (or just feels crappy for no good reason) will contact me to take advantage of the fact that I've done a ton of research on nutrition, the most common food allergies, and Celiac's disease. Did you know that 3 in 4 people are lactose intolerant? I'm trying to get word out there about this stuff, especially gluten intolerance. (I have a nice 20 page PDF on the subject that I can send to you.) Just know that there may be a way to find out if you have unexplained medical things.