On an entirely different note, I would like to sing the praises about my gluten free diet. It was not begun as a weight loss diet, however that has been one of the many benefits. I began it because I stumbled on an article written by the guy who invented the south beach diet. He claimed that many of his clients did not want to move on from the initial phase of the diet which excluded wheat products and sugar because they felt so much better. On further study he found that about 15% of us are gluten intolerant.
More than 55 diseases have been linked to gluten, the protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. It’s estimated that 99% of the people who have either gluten intolerance or celiac disease are never diagnosed.
If you have any of the following symptoms it could be a sign that you have gluten intolerance:
1. Digestive issues such as gas, bloating, diarrhea and even constipation. I see the constipation particularly in children after eating gluten.
2. Keratosis Pilaris, (also known as ‘chicken skin’ on the back of your arms). This tends be as a result of a fatty acid deficiency and vitamin A deficiency secondary to fat-malabsorption caused by gluten damaging the gut.
3. Fatigue, brain fog or feeling tired after eating a meal that contains gluten.
4. Diagnosis of an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Ulcerative colitis, Lupus, Psoriasis, Scleroderma or Multiple sclerosis.
5. Neurologic symptoms such as dizziness or feeling of being off balance.
6. Hormone imbalances such as PMS, PCOS or unexplained infertility.
8. Diagnosis of chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia. These diagnoses simply indicate your conventional doctor cannot pin point the cause of your fatigue or pain.
9. Inflammation, swelling or pain in your joints such as fingers, knees or hips.
10. Mood issues such as anxiety, depression, mood swings and ADD.
Anyway, after giving it a trial, I am off gluten forever. I feel great, problems gone and am now a "gluten free evangelist". My wife bumped into an old acquaintance at the the beach who recently discovered his intolerance and says it "changed his life".
1 comment:
I'm super happy that you are doing well going gluten free - you certainly look great. I have a couple of the problems you listed that MIGHT be related. I know my mother always tells me she loses 5 pounds right away every time she stops eating wheat for more than a week. Guess I'll have to give it a try. It couldn't hurt.
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