After many years of feeling nauseated and looking four months pregnant soon after eating most foods, I decided it was time to figure out what was wrong with my stomach. This past summer, I built up the courage to go to the gastroenterologist where I underwent multiple tests to find out what was making me sick. A few weeks later, my doctor broke the news: I had Celiac Disease. I’ve started to get the hang of this whole “no gluten” thing, but I’ve learned many things along the way. Being gluten-free has its fair share of struggles.
1. Eating dinner at a friend’s house
Often times, people will wonder why you aren't eating the food they've prepared; this can be awkward. Having to explain to people that it isn’t that you don’t like the food they’ve made, but that you just can’t have it. At this point, my friend’s and boyfriend’s parents know about my allergy, so they will make things they know I can eat. I still feel bad, because I hate to make people go out of their way to accommodate my needs.
2. When people say “I’m going to try going gluten-free!” even though they aren't allergic
I’ve said it many times, and I will continue to say it, cutting gluten out of your diet is not healthy if you don't need to! Many people don’t know that it can actually be bad for your heart. And it’s a no-brainer that cutting anything completely out of your diet isn’t healthy. Your diet needs balance. Trust me: if I could eat gluten, I would!
3. Having to explain what Celiac Disease is
No, I am not just intolerant to gluten - Celiac Disease is defined as a serious autoimmune disorder. If a person has Celiac Disease and they ingest gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley), damage will occur in the small intestine due to their body mounting an immune response. These attacks lead to damage to the villi that promote nutrient absorption. When the villi get damaged, nutrients cannot be absorbed properly into the body.
4. You can’t eat your favorite foods
I enviously watch my friends eat my favorite foods at my favorite restaurants. I miss eating Panera mac & cheese, Punch Pizza, and pasta from Olive Garden. Luckily there are many great gluten-free brands that are beginning to emerge and make great tasting food, but I still miss the things I can’t have.
5. Your friends making you pick the restaurant to eat at
First of all, I’m terrible at making decisions, so I don’t like choosing where we have to eat. But, my friends know that there is a limited amount of places that I can eat at without getting sick. With that being said, they make me choose where to eat.
6. You will randomly get sick
Even though you could have sworn you didn’t eat anything with gluten, you’re feeling sick anyway. This is so frustrating, and usually, I blame cross-contamination.
7. Getting mad at people who eat the gluten-free food when they don’t need to
I live in a sorority house where there is a special area designated for the gluten-free food. This food seems to dwindle away faster than I’m eating it. This usually means someone else is eating it, even though they’ve got a whole pantry full of things that they can have.
8. The awkwardness that occurs when someone asks you what happens when you eat gluten
Trust me… you don’t even want to know.
9. Most alcohol has gluten in it
Someone offers me a beer at a party? The unfortunate response is "no." Nope, sorry… Nothing personal, I just don’t want to get sick.
10. Not being able to trust anyone with food
Unless I’ve prepared it, I normally won’t eat it due to the fear of getting sick. Cross contamination is a real thing. Also, most people don’t realize how many things actually have gluten in them. So, they may think the dish is gluten-free but it might not be.
Being on a gluten-free diet can be one pain in the butt, but it’s well worth it. I’d rather give up certain foods than feeling the pain of getting sick.
