Why I’ve gone Gluten-Free
Still confused or annoyed about the whole gluten thing?
I’m excited you’re here reading today. Today’s blog is particularly special and a bit of a different flavor as I’ve drawn on some expert resources in my holistic nutrition circle to help bring you clarity.
I’ve personally have a history of getting on and off the gluten-free bandwagon, sometimes having diligently committed to gluten-free living and other times just having gone gluten-free when it was convenient.
By really owning the principles I teach my private clients around pleasure and relaxation, I’ve been able to listen to my body more clearly without variables like stress or dieting (which make identifying food sensitivities seriously tricky). Overall, reducing or eliminating gluten from my diet has been great for my body (mainly gastrointestinal benefits). But don’t take my own experience as gospel. Explore on your own and listen to what’s true for your body…
I’m happy to have gluten-free expert and dear friend, Stephanie Laidlaw, help make sense of it all. I’ve drawn on her expertise personally and professionally and want to share a taste of her insight first-hand.
In today’s blog interview, Stephanie explores:
Common misconceptions about gluten allergies & Celiacs
The development of gluten sensitivities
Allergies versus intolerance
Tips for going gluten-free at home as well at out socially
Resources to amazing gluten-free recipes.
Sounds pretty good, right? Whether you’re curious if going gluten-free is right for you or simply looking for new healthy (and delicious!) fall recipes, check out the interview below. Feel free to skim through the questions that feel most relevant for you.
RFW: In your opinion, what do you think one of the largest mis-conceptions about gluten or a gluten-free diet?
Stephanie: Many people think when you say you eat “gluten-free” that is some type of sugar-free diet (maybe because of similar sounding glucose). I have also heard people confuse eating gluten-free to mean you can’t eat whole wheat bread, but you can have regular white bread. And beyond those misconceptions, many others think that eating gluten-free is just a fad diet and something that you can cheat on every now and then and it’s no big deal. But that is simply just not true. And, for many of us, eating gluten-free cannot be something you can cheat on or a “fun new fad”. It is a diet that must happen to keep away extreme digestion issues, seizures, and many more serious health issues*. Eating gluten-free is more than some fad diet. It is a way of life, a personal choice and for many a way to live beyond a much more serious diagnosis. *RFW Note: Stephanie had struggled with years of debilitating symptoms until discovering that she did in fact have Celiacs Disease.
RFW: Is it possible to develop celiac’s disease or gluten sensitivity over time?
Stephanie: I am not sure of the scientific answer to this question, or even if there is one that can be really determined at this point. There is a lot of research that needs to be done on this issue, but what I do know is based on personal experience. I developed a gluten issue in my early twenties when my life was full of a lot more stress, hormonal changes and food changes. These changes triggered many new s