I’ve had stomach problems for as long as I can remember so a few years ago I decided that I had to figure out what was wrong with me. I went to the allergist and had myself tested for everything but all the results said I was fine. I was extremely frustrated and I knew that my body was trying to tell me something.
After much research, I found a website called foodintol.com, where you can test yourself for the four main allergies: sugar, gluten, dairy and yeast. I downloaded all the material and got started with gluten since I suspected that to be the worst culprit. The system devised to check for these allergies involves journaling everything that is consumed along with the symptoms. After the first two days of normal eating, the suspected allergen is completely removed from the diet for a full week while still documenting everything from mood levels to physical and psychological symptoms. Then, the allergen is reintroduced for one single serving. After this step it was crystal clear that I indeed had a serious gluten intolerance. My stomach was a mess, the rashes on my skin came back, I was cranky and my energy felt depleted. Ever since then, I gave it up. Luckily now there are many gluten-free options and if I still feel like having pancakes and cake, they make them with rice or almond flour.
For this week’s challenge try giving up the white stuff or attempt to try the gluten-free products that resemble your favorite things. They’re actually quite tasty and much easier on the body. So what exactly is gluten? Anything that is a derivative of wheat, rye, and barley. Here are a few products that are made with gluten: cake, bread, pasta, soy sauce, some soups, sauces, breaded foods, beer, and much more. Most of these foods have very little nutritional value and they often bloat the body and stress the digestive system. You might have a gluten intolerance If you experience a lot gas, constipation, IBS, foggy brain, low energy, mood swings, loose stools, skin problems and more of the pleasant symptoms. See how you feel without it and you might notice a happier disposition. For more information on the main allergens, read this article.
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