fbpx

Gluten-Free Living During the Holidays

Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest

Being gluten-free during the holidays proved complicated; however, I quickly realized the importance of avoiding it! 

 In medical school, I decided to eliminate gluten from my diet. It wasn’t too hard as I was in a very supportive environment and lived in a progressive city with numerous stores offering an assortment of gluten-free food items. I began in September and avoided all grains until the December holidays. Once the term ended, my husband and I travelled to Canada to spend the holidays with my family. The moment I arrived, I indulged in all baked goods.

🥕Interestingly🥕

I didn’t notice anything different in my health until my husband pointed out that I hadn’t blown my nose for months and now was. I became more aware of how I was feeling: I was yawning more than usual and was drinking an extra cup of coffee. This awareness became a pivotal shift in my approach with patients deciding to do food allergy and sensitivity tests. I now give them the following options:  

  1. Spend significant money on a lab food sensitivity test.
  2. Try a food-elimination diet. 

Having a piece of paper that shows your sensitivities is excellent, yet doing an elimination diet can be profound. Most people decide on the elimination diet. They stop eating all grains ( except for rice) for at least two weeks ( 6 is ideal) and then have a “party day,” eating grains all day long and observing how they feel for 24 to 72 hours ( symptoms include: stuffiness, headache, fatigue, irritability, digestive upsets). Most people are shocked to see the results – like I was. The elimination diet gives the best picture of how your body reacts to foods.

Being gluten-free

I have been tested over and over for celiac disease (an autoimmune digestive disease that damages the small intestine, thus creating a less-than-optimal absorption of nutrients from food but I always end up with normal labs; however, I know my body does not digest wheat/gluten properly. It’s essential to be aware of how your body feels.

ps learn more about the digestive system by reading, The Lucky Escape!

Gluten free cookiesMama Knows Gluten-free has fabulous holiday recipes, including these cookies. There are so many websites and books to help support gluten-free living. It may seem daunting and tasteless; however, it is pretty simple and just as delicious! Much has changed since the time I went off gluten foods.

Happy Holidays,

dr. heather

More to explore

quote form deepak chopra

Nourishing Your Body For Health

Nourishing your body for health prevention, is important as the weather is changing, and we begin to have drier skin, stuffy noses,

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *