What’s up guys?! Sorry for my delayed posts these days…life’s been getting the best of me; which I suppose isn’t such a bad thing!
Most of you probably do not know that I have recently gone gluten free. I have been adhering to a gluten free diet for 38 days now, but who’s counting?
So why did I decide to try out a gluten free lifestyle?
Obviously, “gluten free” is a major buzzword these days. Everyone’s talking about it, everyone’s doing it. But aside from all of the buzz, a few people that I know personally have benefitted from going gf themselves. Whether it involves weight loss, energy improvement, etc. I had heard nothing but promising stories of how lives have improved when gluten was removed. Inspired by these stories, I decided to give it a try–hoping for a few noticeable changes to surmount, most notably: increased daily energy, weight loss, & bloat reduction. If these changes were to occur, I would most certainly be happy to remain gf for life!
Have these changes occured?
To put it bluntly, no. I am still bloated, I have not lost a noticeable amount of weight, and I am still sleepy as ever throughout the day. What the heck, right?! I do not have celiac disease, and do not seem to be even the slightest bit intolerant to this grain. Even though these issues did not resolve, I am still grateful to not have this allergy. So at least there’s that.
The Plus Side
Unfortunately my body has not changed as a result of going gf (at least not yet! It’s been 38 days, and perhaps it takes longer to see changes). I do plan on being gf for at least another 2 more months—so stay tuned for the updates. However, despite the fact that these improvements did not occur, one major improvement did! MY DIET! Holy goodness–my daily diet has improved substantially since removing gluten. Gone are the days of superfluous bread intake, pasta gorging, and pastry/donut consumption. This girl now eat fruits, veggies, rice, meats, nuts like never before. I have adapted to eating natural foods much more often, since it is easy for me to tell that those items do not contain gluten–natural foods include berries, sugar snap peas, mangos, salads, roasted veggies, etc. I do not eat nearly as many processed foods, since SO many items contain gluten. If I get hungry for snack-type items, I choose applesauce squeezers, light kettle corn, or plantain chips from Trader Joes. I feel 100% sustained by my new diet, and do not really feel like I’m missing out on much at all. Grocery stores and restaurants make it easier than ever to buy/order gf items. And GF PANCAKES are bomb.com. Luckily, even my sweet tooth gets satisfied in a gf way. GF brownie mixes are everywhere, and even many ice-cream flavors are A-okay! I also love me some frozen chocolate covered bananas (Diana’s bananas from Sprouts are killin’ the game)! Yeah, I don’t really get to enjoy Chinese food or Italian food much anymore, but I sure can go beast mode on the Mexican food! Corn tortillas are all good, and rice, beans, and meat are acceptable as well. LOAD WITH GUAC always…
I can honestly say that I am so proud of the recent changes in my diet, and would be interested in sustaining a 75% gf diet in the future beyond this personal experiment–[I enjoy the brown bread at Cheesecake Factory too much to give it up for life].
And even if you don’t have celiac disease, the gluten-free lifestyle does have some benefits. For instance, gluten causes inflammation in your stomach. The proteins in wheat happen to be gut irritants, and cause an inflammatory response as a result. Immune cells are stimulated in your digestive system, whether you have celiac disease or not. Why is this bad? It can contribute to increased intestinal permeability, an essential factor in the development of autoimmune diseases. Gluten can also cause GI problems in people without celiacs as well. In some people, gluten can even cause “brain fog” and fatigue. And last but not least, gluten can cause skin breakouts! — speaking of which, I could definitely argue that my face complexion has improved since eliminating gluten! Win!
So do I recommend a gluten-free diet?
Not necessarily. The gluten-free lifestyle is definitely not for everyone. It takes a great deal of effort, as well as devotion. Some people do not have the time, or do not want to spend the extra money, in order to ensure that their meals are gluten-free. I don’t blame them, as it really is a lifestyle and it’s much more difficult than eating meals mindlessly. Do I recommend going gluten-free if you’re looking for a healthier diet? Absolutely. The gluten restriction makes it next to near impossible to eat like crap. You can’t just run and grab a donut on the way to work. You can’t just purchase a croissant from Starbucks to go along with your latte. You can’t just share a pizza when you go out with friends. How about a beer? No. That’s loaded with gluten as well. It all takes thought, but it’s worth it if you’re looking for a way to cut calories/fat/etc.
If you’re gluten-free, have celiac disease, or are going to try giving up gluten as your own personal experiment, then let me know what you think! No two experiences will be the same, so I am curious how others’ minds & bodies will handle the change.
That’s it for now!
xx allie
alexandria noelle 