Stick to Your Gluten Free Diet

Maybe you're listening to this because you've been diagnosed with gluten intolerance or celiac disease. Or perhaps you suspect you might be gluten intolerant and want to improve your health by eliminating gluten from your diet.

Gluten is found in foods and drinks containing wheat, barley, or rye, and some people also need to avoid oats. This means cutting out products such as bread, pasta, biscuits, beers, and any sauces or condiments made with flour. It's worth consulting your doctor, reading a book about celiac disease, or researching reliable sources on the internet for more detailed information.

Understanding Gluten Intolerance and Celiac Disease

As you may know, the immune system of someone with celiac disease treats gluten as a threat, attacking the lining of the small intestine and, sometimes, other cells in the body. This damage makes it harder to absorb nutrients and can lead to other problems.

Symptoms of gluten intolerance may include:

• Digestive issues
• Bone weakness
• Fatigue
• Mouth ulcers
• Skin rashes
• Mood swings

Not everyone experiences the same symptoms or to the same degree of intensity. However, if left undiagnosed, celiac disease or gluten intolerance can predispose you to other serious, life-threatening conditions.

Adjusting to a Gluten-Free Lifestyle

When I was first diagnosed, it felt overwhelming to think about how careful I would need to be with my diet. However, I was so grateful to feel well again. To some extent, I was already prepared for the adjustment since my mother is also celiac.

Many gluten-intolerant people I've spoken to initially felt like their life was over. The idea of dining out or socializing seemed daunting, and the loss of many familiar foods was hard to accept. This stage of adjustment can feel like grieving.

Over time, though, acceptance sets in, and it's important to develop strategies to manage the condition.

Navigating a Gluten-Free World

Fortunately, eating a gluten-free diet gets easier every year. Many gluten-free food products are now available, and a growing number of restaurants offer gluten-free options. For restaurants that don't, I find it useful to have a pre-prepared explanation of my dietary needs.

For example, I provide free cards in over 40 languages on my website, www.celiactravel.com. These cards explain gluten-free requirements and can be given to restaurant staff. I usually speak privately with the waiter before the meal to explain my needs.

For social gatherings like friends' dinner parties, I often bring some of my own food. This approach ensures I don't unintentionally burden others or risk eating something that could make me ill.

Gluten-Free for Health

Interestingly, many people without celiac disease also choose to follow a gluten-free diet. They report greater energy and overall improved health.

Emerging research suggests the gluten molecule can be challenging for the human body to process, and as many as five out of six people show a measurable immunological reaction to gluten.

Advocates of the Paleolithic diet, for example, promote eating foods that humans evolved to thrive on, such as:

• Meat and fish
• Fruits and vegetables
• Nuts and berries

Grains, including gluten-containing ones, are a relatively recent addition to the human diet. Some suggest that humans haven't fully adapted to thrive on them. Whether celiac or not, many people report feeling fantastic after eliminating grains and embracing a more ancestral diet. For more information, check out www.marksdailyapple.com.

Shifting Your Perspective

This session is about adjusting your attitude toward a gluten-free diet. Instead of seeing it as a heavy burden, you can view it as an opportunity to become healthier, stronger, and more energetic than ever before.