This page will now be revived and quickly morph into a medium for me to direct my gluten-free woes. I do hope to channel the good on top of what can be some bad moments as a Coeliac.
Jump back to a year ago when, post-appendicitis, I was diagnosed with a wheat/gluten intolerance, which my doctor advised could lead to more serious complications down the road. I then made the decision to embark on a gluten-free existence.
Sigh.
This was initially disheartening on many levels. Firstly, it just downright didn't feel fair. I have always had a very healthy relationship with food; brunch and second dinner (yes, you read that right – I tend to have late nights) being my favourite meals of the day, I'm always willing to try new things, and I am not particularly fussy about what I’m served when someone else is in charge. The exception to the latter being raisins, which are quite possibly the bane of my existence, and my disdain for which I am not ashamed of expressing. I've always eaten relatively healthy too; not having a sweet tooth, I tend towards more savoury snacks and what sugar I do get is mostly from fruit.
Secondly, being half German and recreationally passionate about beer, and half Italian with fond memories of hours spent in the kitchen with family making home-made pasta, a gluten-free diet was a very foreign concept to me. But after a few months doing my best at avoiding gluten with the occasional slip-up (sometimes intentional, though more often not), I have noticed a difference in my energy levels, and my bloodwork has never been better. In short, gluten inhibits the absorption of certain minerals and nutrients from both food and supplements by damaging the lining of the intestines, which is why most Coealiacs tend to be low in the likes of vitamin B12 and iron, and prone to anemia.
Over the last few months, I have been even more rigorous with the diet and, as much contempt as I still harbour for the condition, I daresay, I’m beginning to feel normal about it. The vast array of information available, selection of food at grocery stores/restaurants, and having a good support network in terms of both cooking partners and supportive friends/family members have helped a great deal. I aim to share what I find, because it has been a lot of trial and error figuring out what my body can handle, hits and misses in the kitchen, the process of restocking my own food cupboard, as well as dealing with the horror that food (of all things!) was wreaking such havoc on my emotions. I just wish, selfishly, I had channelled some of my initial frustration but at least now you shouldn’t have to sift through much of that rage.
