This is your brain on gluten

Our brains have glial cells that make up nearly half of the brain's mass, and are recognized for causing immune function reactions/inactions. In other words, when "poked" by stimulation, these cells are activated to send or transmit information from the brain to other parts of the body. If poked the wrong way, it's sending a bad message. If a person who is gluten intolerant, has a wheat allergy or suffers from Celiac Disease eats gluten... well then you are just pissing off your glials. Way to go.

When gluten is ingested, the glial cells are activated (and irritated) and this can snowball into what others have, for years, had no explanation for. Brain fog, lack of concentration, depression or poor mood swings. As well as many other psychiatric symptoms that seem to go hand-in-hand like moon-gazing lovers with the intestinal symptoms, even asthma or rashes and headaches. Fun, right?

Just say no.

Athletes & Gluten

Below this posting is a great article in Running Times that illustrates the benefits of being gluten free (even if you are not officially diagnosed) when you are a runner. This could go for triathletes and those in other sports who like to "carb up" before the big event.

A lot of times us runners think or attribute all our race "issues" to the adrenaline. But in fact the numbness, repeated bathroom breaks, asthma attacks and itchiness could be from loading up on pasta and bagels.

I've been gluten free for almost 11 years now and perform about ten races a year. I still get that adrenaline feeling before a race, and understand the jitters and excitement that go along with it. But if I am having more problems than I should, then I know I've done something wrong in my diet. Were those nuts roasted or raw? Was it a new shampoo or sunscreen that is not gluten free causing me to itch?

For those with Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance, these factors CAN and certainly will effect your performance so make your checklist days in advance to be sure you can perform at your best! People who have experienced these quirky physical race jitters may notice that a gluten free diet 1-2 weeks prior to race day will improve those symptoms and leave them clear to perform.

http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=11856&PageNum=&CategoryID=

It's important to note that if you are competing in events or you are an active athlete, that your body does need some source of carbohydrates to fuel that energy. Trial and error never hurt anybody as long as they substituted something in place of what they are eliminating. Rice and rice flours are good carb sources if you're looking for an alternative.

By the way, can someone get #26 a towel?

They think we're crazy!

Honest to Pete, y'all. If I had a nickel for every time a pediatrician, teacher, fellow mom or even family member looked at me like I had 4 heads, I'd be the bread winner in this family. Why would they do that (you're probably wondering because I'm so beautiful... oh stop). Because I explain to them, plead with them, inquire, request, beg, discuss (name it) our ongoing battles and journey with gluten. Sure, I think by now everyone can understand why I choose not to eat it. It will kill me. Understandable, totally maybe. But why on earth would I put my children, those precious, innocent girls through such a limited diet of deprivation!? Why? I might as well lock them up in a cold, damp dungeon and throw rice at them 3 times a day while cackling and poking their hungry bellies.

Listen to me, I prayed the second I got pregnant with the first child that I would never pass on my medical problems. I know the chances of Celiac Disease being sent down genetically and the continued mystery of where *I* got it haunts me as I am the only one in my family to be diagnosed and confirmed with it. Yet, I know I got it from someone! And no one in my family will go and get tested! (I think I just grew hair on my back typing that out. Maybe that's another side effect of Celiac... we turn into werewolves when we're angry, which might explain the increasing werewolf population in the US). So here I am, unaware of WHO sent down those CD genes to me; my mom? Dad? Both? And what siblings might have it? I could wager a strong bet on one of them. But I don't know! And I happen to be the only one in my family having children, which means I am passing on the genetic marker for this disease and I HAVE to investigate and stay in tune to this. I will follow it and haunt my kids until they are 50 if I have to.

I'll tell you what, though. Being overly cautious and suspicious is not crazy. I spent my entire life sick. In and out of hospitals, anxious, depressed, confused, out of energy, lacking sleep due to insomnia, missing school because I had at least 1 bad migraine a week not to mention infections that would spread and no one could tell me what was wrong other than I was weak or sensitive or whiney. I can't let that happen to my kids; they need to live a normal life. They should thrive in school, be with friends. My 5 year old is already have regular headaches and painful bowel movements as well as anxiety and trouble sleeping and the 2 year old has had chronic ear infections with 2 tube surgeries and 1 surgery to remove adenoids and has had a distended belly since she began solids.

Why would anyone question me as to my intentions in providing them a gluten free life? They do better on a gluten free diet? Whether they medically need it or not, they feel and look BETTER. Statistically, if they do not have Celiac Disease there is such a high risk and chance that they have at least a gluten intolerance (lower grade reaction) or wheat allergy simply because they came from me and I breastfed them.

I wish that I were a scientist and could explain it all in graphs, charts and everyone would say "OH!" and that figures. I would never make my family eat gluten free simply to be mean or deprive them. But I see a clear, tangible difference in both of my kids when I do. Sometimes I feel that my husband would benefit from a gluten free lifestyle but I know he would NEVER do it. It took him 8 years to agree to having a gluten free house! He is very supportive but the man loves his carbs.

Hopefully people will begin to understand that this isn't a "fad" and respect those who eat gluten free just like you would a vegetarian or vegan. Whether it's because you have to due to Celiac Disease or because you choose to; we're not crazy for taking a journey into better health.

Gluten Free is the New Sexy

When I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease back in 2001, I had already been down a long road to reach that diagnosis. I had medical records that would break your back if you tried to carry them. But since I was around 7 years old, no one could figure out my issue other than "weak immune system" or hypochondriac or "whiney". By the time I was in my teens, even I bought into the notion that all my suffering could be in my head and felt I had to invent reasons why I hurt a certain way or felt a certain way, because the most obvious answer was usually discredited and I instinctly began to overlook the obvious as well. At that point, I just seemed crazier than I was before. Feeling faint in church and not being able to stand a long time would turn into me claiming I had a possible sprained ankle? What the heck else could it be? Why couldn't I stand in church? But my ankle didn't really hurt. Something was wrong though but how do you tell your parents (your very religious and devout Lutheran parents), who already think you're crazy, that for no apparent reason you cannot stand in church without feeling sick or faint? Ludicrous. It just became normal for me to feel so many ways and go through certain things, that I wouldn't even mention 90% of my problems to doctors for fear of sounding nuts. If I got mono or an ear infection (again!), fine. But constant rashes, painful periods, migraines, fatigue, depression, hair loss, horrible acne, weight loss, weight gain, bloating and gas, joint pain, and silly things like my hands or toes tingling out of nowhere, hearing going in and out, spasms in my eye, dry mouth etc. I'd already learned not to complain or mention stupid stuff like that, but what the hell was it? Does it happen to everyone else? Is that shit normal? But I just shrugged oh well and moved on until something major happened; like in 2001. I had an auto accident and my car rolled over several times. Afterwards I just could not recover at all. I lost so much weight and had a ton of GI problems. One doctor accused me of making myself throw up; which wasn't a far fetch because I did have a history of anxiety and eating disorders (another common link to CD). I finally asked to see a doctor who specializes in tummies (I had to ASK) and at that point my life changed. He took one look and ordered an endoscopy and I've been gluten free for 10-1/2 years due to Celiac Disease.

Back then the medical community or society as a whole did not know much about Celiac and even the specialist who diagnosed me gave me zero guidance other than "google it online and don't eat wheat". Those were his instructions! Literally! My mother and I did so much research and luckily had websites to guide us, but in 2001 there were few gluten free product options. Bread fell apart when you picked it up and it tasted like cardboard and nothing was labeled. It took me a good 4 years to reduce my cravings and temptations. I was even told by a doctor in Washington DC that I had Crohn's because I just was not getting better and my large intestine was so damaged. Turns out I DO NOT have Crohn's Disease, but further research (now) is showing that Celiac, when left untreated for a long time after it 'erupts') can go into the large intestine, whereas before, and still, it is known as a disease of the small intestine). When I was diagnosed with Crohn's, I was told to follow the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, which I did... and never felt better in my life. I've been on/off it since and swear by it.

Nowadays, Gluten Free is the new sexy. 1 out of every 133 people in the United States is said to have this disease but only 5% are diagnosed. It takes an average of 11 years to diagnose CD, and most tests are inaccurate. This is why we are hearing a lot about wheat allergies and gluten intolerance because people are coming back with negative test results but feel better on a gluten free diet. In 10 years, the products and awareness has increased dramatically which is good for me! But at the same time, it's getting negative feedback from naysayers who think that gluten free is some "fad". This is a dangerous line of thinking and judgement, as this is how I've been "poisoned" in restaurants a few times. Gluten free? "Oh, that condescending hippie thinks she's above everyone else so she can force us to cater to her special diet. Whatever". It's not a "diet". It's my TREATMENT. And it has made me incredibly sick when wait staff and cooks have this attitude.

I am proud of society as a group for getting educated about gluten and how it can effect you entirely. I am proud of parents who have figured out that a gluten free diet has improved their ADD children's behavior and social life, and I'm proud of those who choose to live a gluten free lifestyle because they are so aware and focused with their bodies enough to know how it effects them. They stand up and say "No, I do not have celiac disease, but I know that I am more focused and energized when I am gluten free"... that is amazing that a person can be that internally instinctual about their health, and nothing is wrong with that! And I am proud of the Celiac community for organizing so much awareness in the last decade.

It's damn sexy!