I've lived most of my life eating pasta or grilled cheese for nearly every meal. As a self proclaimed "carbatarian," I could never imagine living without bread. Until last week, when I found out that I have Celiac Disease, an autoimmune disease that causes extreme sensitivity to gluten, the protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and triticale. Immediately, I knew my life was changing forever.
The first major change I had to make was my diet. Obviously, I had to cut out gluten from my diet, because I couldn't keep eating something that was making me sick and could lead to more problems down the road. I was not at all prepared for how many of my favorite foods had gluten. There were the obvious ones, like bread and pasta, but I quickly discovered some odd ones too, like certain flavors of Powerade and Olive Garden's alfredo sauce. These were things I never would have thought about containing gluten, but when I read labels and nutrition information, the culprit was usually a modified starch. I'm learning to embrace eating more whole foods, like vegetables and fruits, that are naturally gluten free because it's much easier than reading labels constantly. I guess summer is a good time of year to make the change because I have access to all the fresh produce at the local farmstands.
The next big change to make was eliminating all contact with gluten, because even a single crumb of bread is enough to damage my intestines. I didn't realize how many things I would have to replace. I can't use the same toaster, collander, or plastic kitchen utensils as my gluten-eating family. The shampoo and conditioner I was using contained gluten, so I had to switch brands. I had to get a new toothbrush so that it wouldn't have any gluten I had previously had in my mouth stuck on the bristles. I even have to change one of my prescription medications because it contained gluten. I couldn't believe how many things I had to replace in such a short amount of time.
It definitely hasn't been an easy first week without gluten. I've messed up a few times and eaten something I shouldn't have because I didn't read a label closely enough. I almost cried when I went out to dinner and realized I couldn't eat breadsticks at Olive Garden anymore. If it wasn't for my awesome family, there's no way I could do this. My mom has been awesome, buying whatever products I need and cooking separate foods when I can't eat what the rest of my family is eating. Last night, my whole family ate coconut flour gnocchi that I tried making so that I wouldn't feel so alone. And when I look at how much better I feel right now, I wouldn't eat a slice of bread even if you paid me. I'm not in pain after I eat anymore and I feel like I have so much more energy. A truly gluten-free lifestyle is not for the faint-of-heart, but it is definitely possible. I'm sure it will only get easier with time, eventually becoming second nature, but for now, I'll be checking every label against my handy printout guide to avoiding gluten.
