This September will mark my two year anniversary being completely gluten-free! Since my nutritionist, Karen Raden, first suggested I go on a gluten-free diet, I have never felt better. Prior to going gluten-free, I spent about a year and a half getting sick to my stomach after nearly every meal. And if that wasn't the case, I sat (or more likely lay) in excruciating pain for several hours with my stomach churning, while it tried to break down the food I just ate. I had constant, never ending acid reflux that sometimes last as long as 4 days before subsiding. I remember begging my mom to take me to the hospital once because my acid reflux was so painful. I hadn't slept in days because it was too difficult to breathe if I wasn't sitting up straight. And, I was always tired. I would get home from school at 4 PM, do homework, and then shove some food down my throat before I passed out, usually around 9 PM.
My primary care doctor, along with several well-respected specialists, diagnosed me with IBS. They attributed my stomach problems to environmental and self-induced stress. I was an "A" student and a classic over-achiever, the oldest of divorced parents, and involved in many extra-curriculars. I took weekly singing lessons, saw an acting coach, and was involved with three Chicago-area theater companies, while also researching and applying to colleges in my spare time. The doctors said I fit the "classic" IBS diagnosis. I was advised to eliminate a long list of foods from my diet including: any heavy cream sauces, all spicy foods, red meat, anything with high-fructose corn syrup, all dairy including yogurt and butter, tuna, and red meat.
This left me with a very limited list of things that I could eat. My meals consisted of plain bread, rice, chicken, bagels, oatmeal, Luna Bars, turkey sandwiches, salads, Lou Malnati's deep dish pizza with the cheese scraped off, and Chipotle burrito bowls. Karen was the first person to introduce the idea that a gluten intolerance or Celiac's Disease might be the cause of all my digestive troubles.
Now, two years later, I can say that I have never felt better! I rarely, if ever, get a stomach ache after a meal and I can finally enjoy food once again! During the past two years, there has been tons of increased awareness about Celiac's Disease and gluten intolerance throughout the United States, which has caused many food companies to pour lots of resources into the development of delicious gluten free foods! My favorite new discovery is Udi's Gluten Free White Sandwich Bread. I swear it tastes better than any bread I've ever had in my entire life (including the ones that use real wheat flour!!!). It doesn't need to be frozen, like most gluten-free breads, and it has about 70 calories per slice!!!! Even my mom loves it, and she is just about the pickiest person I know when it comes to her morning toast.
You can find Udi's at most Whole Foods and many regular grocery stores in New York City and the Chicago-land area :)
xx, E
