I Ate Myself Sick (Review)
“You have Celiac disease”. When my doctor told me that six months ago, I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know what to do, and I surely didn’t know what gluten was. How could I possibly live without bread (gasp)? What is a Celiac disease support group? And why do I need support?
After the shock of that day wore off, I dug in and started researching everything about this disease and living a gluten-free life. I spent countless hours on the internet learning all I could about this condition. My face became one with the computer screen for weeks. It seemed like wheat, rye or barley was in EVERYTHING. But aren’t these foods good for you? For most people, yes, but for someone with Celiac disease they cause “flattening” or “blunting” of the villi in your intestines. Think of your villi as small fingers that reach out and grab minerals and nutrients from the food you eat. When they are blunted, they cannot absorb the nutrients and you become malnourished, which can cause a host of problems with your health. Even the smallest amount of gluten (even a bread crumb) that is consumed can cause blunting. But the good news is, as soon as you make the change to a gluten-free diet, your villi start to heal themselves.
So with all my newfound knowledge I had to rethink everything I did now. I couldn’t just go to a restaurant and order anything off the menu. I had to be careful that what was put on my plate hadn’t come into contact with anything that could contaminate it. Have you ever had someone look at you like you’re from another planet? No? Then try explaining your dietary needs to a waiter or waitress that has no idea what gluten-free means. You’ll see what I mean.
Label reading has been my biggest challenge. I thought that if a food had wheat in it, it would say “wheat” on the label. That’s not always the case. I have a seven page printout of “forbidden” foods, some of which I can’t even pronounce. I think I use most of my monthly cell phone minutes by calling manufacturers from the grocery store to see if their product is gluten-free AND processed in a gluten-free facility. Such is the life of a Celiac.
Dealing with family members and friends has been a difficult challenge for me also. Some people don’t understand why I won’t just dig the pie filling out of the crust or pick the croutons out of my salad. Cross-contamination is a HUGE issue for Celiacs. The rest of my family still eat their “normal” food, as my husband calls it, so I’ve always got to be on my toes, constantly making sure that a bread crumb hasn’t fallen into my food, or the countertop was wiped off properly. And yes, I’ve had people roll their eyes at me and say, “It’s just a bread crumb.
It won’t hurt you”. To be honest, sometimes it’s exhausting trying to keep up with everything. My family has been wonderful. They help as much they can. My husband even bought a separate food cabinet so my food wouldn’t get contaminated by their “yucky” whole wheat flour.
Books about gluten-free living and Celiac disease have taken over my bookshelf and my home, but none have been as helpful and informative to me as The G-Free Diet by Elisabeth Hasselbeck. It’s the only book I’
ve read where I can actually relate to what the author is going through and the struggles she faces each day. It’s written in an easily understandable way. It covers complications from celiac disease, shopping for gluten-free food at your favorite grocery store, how to share your kitchen with “those gluten eaters”, eating out, gluten-free traveling and how to raise your kids on the G-Free Diet.
Eating shouldn’t be painful. It doesn’t have to be. When I first heard those words from my doctor six months ago, I had no idea it was the beginning of a wonderful new life for me. As overwhelmed as I was at first with the idea of having to cut so much out of my diet, the opposite has actually happened. I’ve added so much to it. So many healthy foods that I probably wouldn’t have tried if not for my diagnoses.
If you feel that a gluten-free diet could benefit you or someone you care about, I strongly suggest the G-Free Diet. For anyone that struggles with Celiac disease, gluten intolerance or wheat allergies, this book would be the perfect starting point.
(Reviewed Book: The G-Free Diet, by Elisabeth Hasselbeck, 9781599951881)
 Chris: I moved to Tennessee 11 years ago from Lehigh Acres, FL. I’ve been married to my wonderful husband for 21 years and I have two amazing teenagers. I enjoy scrapbooking and anything that has to do with health and nutrition. I love learning new things when it comes to my health and well being. |
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