The short reason is due to several health issues in our family, going gluten-free has made a HUGE difference. We were gluten free a few years ago and enjoyed much better health. Both Peter and I lost about 50 pounds each. We felt better, had more energy and were able to enjoy the outdoor activities we love. This choice to be gluten and sugar-free was compromised when we had a young boy enter our home for a couple years. Looking back, we should have continued our lifestyle and introduced him to our way of eating. But...that didn't happen and sadly we have paid for it in our health.
Personally, here are a few of the changes I have had in my health since eliminating gluten and sugar:
*Restless leg syndrome- Within two night's of being gluten and sugar-free, my restless leg syndrome disappeared. Now I have been suffering my whole life with RLS. I have had nights that weren't as bad. The only other time it was gone was when we were gluten free previously. I know some of you are asking how I know it was the gluten's fault. Well, one night without thinking, we were at church and someone offered me some bread. Still being new to this and forgetting to check food outside our home, I had a couple bites. Then I realized it and quickly put it down. Those two bites were my downfall....that night, I couldn't sleep. I was up all night with RLS.
*Body aches and "hangover" feeling in the morning- Having never drunk alcohol, I have nothing to compare to except what I have heard. However, before eliminating gluten, I would wake up in the morning feeling like I could hardly pull myself out of bed. In fact, I always assumed I was a "night owl" and that was why I had a hard time getting up in the mornings. It was always worse after a dinner high in gluten, like pasta or pizza. My body would hurt horribly and my brain felt like it couldn't wake up. At times I would attempt a couple cups of coffee to help de-fog my brain. The difference was amazing from the first day of dropping the gluten and sugar. I literally popped out of bed, no body aches and my brain sharp and ready to get started on my day! I have learned that I can notice within hours if I have accidentally had sugar or gluten in something, my body starts hurting to the point I have to take some ibuprofen.
*Weight- When I was a kid, I was very slender. I know we ate a lot of pasta, bread, and other wheat products growing up. However, I was young and probably had a faster metabolism. Once I started having kids, my ability to stay slender left. No matter what diet I tried, nothing helped. And trust me, I have tried it all. Oh, I would lose 20 pounds, but then I would quit doing whatever that fad diet was and the weight would pour back on...with extra. Then, as most of you know, I had health problems that started a year ago and resulted in a hysterectomy. In that 6-9 month time period, I gained all the weight I had lost before. Ironically....being on a gluten-free diet. In the year we were gluten-free, I had lost about 50 pounds. And it wasn't a fad diet. It was simply eliminating gluten and sugar. Like before, within a week of going gluten free, I started shedding the weight.
The reasons for being gluten-free are not just for my health and benefit, my girls have done their own research and comparison of how they feel being gluten free the past couple weeks and here are some of their observations for themselves:
*Anxiety level going down
*Able to pop out of bed in the morning (It's true, I witnessed it!)
*Depression going away
* Fewer body aches and pains
* Fewer sugar cravings
*More desire for fruits and veggies
As most of you know, our two boys have some special needs. One, in particular, has a hyperkinetic disorder, an anxiety disorder, as well as some other needs. We eliminated sugar and food dyes soon after he joined our family and noticed a difference right away. A few weeks ago when we were researching what hyperkinetic disorder means, it was mentioned that gluten can have a very negative effect on children with this disorder. Their bodies cannot process the gluten properly and it makes symptoms worse. Within 24-48 hours, we noticed that our little guy has less anxiety in the day, able to focus a bit better and hold a conversation easier. He still has a long list of things that make him "unique", but we are noticing a change!
Reading about how damaging gluten is to kids with special needs is what spurred me to action. It sent me back remembering how different our lives were being gluten-free. I shared with Peter what I learned in regards to our son's needs and he said it made sense and we needed to go back to doing that again...for keeps.
So thus began our journey of changing our lifestyle for good and we aren't looking back!
Over the next year, I will be sharing recipes, challenges, and testimonies from our family on the gluten and sugar-free lifestyle.
I know people are thinking that now we can't have those yummy bread, pizzas, and pasta that we used to eat before. It's simply not true and you will discover that it's simply a matter of exchanging one thing for another!
Until next time...
Have a blessed day and embrace the craziness in your life!
Heidi
Numbers 6:24-26
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Heidi