When I found out I had Celiac Disease, I was completely overwhelmed. I didn't even know what gluten was. Now I had to radically change my diet to exclude it. I am one year down the line, living gluten free. For anyone that is feeling overwhelmed, look no further to help ease the path
Celiac Disease is an auto -immune disease that is, the body mistakenly attacks its own tissues seeing them as a foreign substance. When a person with Celiac Disease eats any food containing gluten, the body reacts to those proteins found in the gluten and attacks the small finger like projections in the small intestines, called Villi, preventing absorption of vital nutrients.
The very idea of not being able to eat any Gluten is pretty scary for the first timer. You more than likely have all the following questions?
• What is gluten?
• What products contain gluten?
• What can I eat and what cannot I eat?
• What is off limits?
• What are the alternatives?
• Am I going to like the alternative foods?
• What shops sell gluten free things?
• Are there things I will never be able to eat again?
• Why happens when I eat out at other people?
• What do I eat at restaurants?
• What do I tell other people?
• Will I ever be able to eat Gluten again?
• How do I tell if something I am eating contains gluten?
• What do I look for on labels?
• Do all products name their allergens on their packaging?
• What do I eat for Breakfast/lunch/dinner?
• What about cake? How will I live without cake;do I have to?
Do not see it as a chore. Becoming Gluten free was such a blessing for me and I began to become better and better. I could never go back to how I was before, so living gluten free is so wonderful, I will never look back.
I found it very difficult at first, as there was not a lot of information out there, but the more I researched and experimented and my family helped and experimented, the more I learnt. Do not be overwhelmed. Read as much as you can and just experiment in the kitchen.
I began by clearing out my kitchen and starting from scratch. I began trying out different ingredients. I made some horrible dishes and then I made some wonderful dishes. I stuck a list on my fridge of all the things I must avoid and became very label conscious. I looked at every ingredient right down to the spices in my cupboard and only added healthy gluten free options. I began to taste food properly for the first time in my life, so cooking became a wonderful cathartic and incredibly pleasurable activity.
Now nothing frightens me. I know exactly what I cannot and cannot eat, but the journey getting there has also been wonderful.
I began my blog as a way of documenting my gluten free journey and sharing my recipes, hoping that other people could also learn and share with me.
After being sick and misdiagnosed for over 20 years, Yael finally found the cause of her constant pain, anemia, fatigue, fibromyalgia and digestive problems. When she was finally diagnosed with Celiac Disease everything changed. She was able to start her life again. There is not nearly enough awareness about this disease. So it starts here...
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