What DO I eat?

If you've read the previous posts, you'll know that gluten is derived from wheat, barley or rye so people like me should avoid eating bread, pastries, pastas, cookies, cakes, etc. (technically most things baked). It might seem a bit difficult but many people go on carb-free diets so it should be simple, right? Not quite.

You see, gluten is actually a hidden component in many of our everyday lives. Toothpaste for example, some brands contain gluten. Processed meats (like burgers and sausages), packaged soups, soy sauce; all those contain gluten. And I'm just giving you examples here! Some brands of lipstick and lipgloss have gluten in them too, the sticky back of stamps has gluten as well (I'm not sure why!).

Now you'd probably wonder...even if these things have gluten, they must be in traces so it shouldn't hurt if she swallows a little bit of that. How much harm can it do? Let me tell you, my immune system (well anybody with CD's immune system really) doesn't care if it is traces or if I've eaten a whole loaf of gluten-laden bread. It will still react and attack my gut, and I won't be feeling well for a while until my system gets over being glutenized (my friend came up with the term!). So really, it's not worth it taking chances.

What I DO eat are foods that are gluten free such as fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh meats that I get cut and prepared the way I want them as well as gluten-free products made out of corn or rice instead of the usual wheat. There are gluten-free pastas and pizzas and breads and cookies , etc. But these aren't generally found in your local supermarket. I have to go to specialized food markets and hypermarkets to find what I'm looking for. When I first started I called it the hunt for gluten-free food.

I will admit, it wasn't easy. For every 20 kinds of regular glutenized foods I find 1 or 2 that are gluten free. I HAVE to read labels everytime I go food-shopping because I am still in the process of acclamating myself to what foods contain gluten versus what don't. For instance I thought all rice-crackers were safe, I mean they ARE made of rice! But boy was I mistaken...my accidental brush-up with gluten happened last week while I was having my evening cracker snack. Something was off, I wasn' feeling very good after I'd finished eating. I decided to check the ingredients on the package, and lo-and-behold! Wheat germ! So no, not everything made out of rice is gluten-free. I have learned to look at the labels. It either has to say gluten-free product or I have to decipher all the ingredients to make sure that there are no traces of gluten whatsoever. It's a bit of a trying process but it becomes second nature with time and the more you shop the more you know what brands are safe for consumption. But still every once in a while I will have to check the ingredients on my "safe foods" because the manufacturer can change the ingredients without my knowledge and the product might have to be placed on my black-list.

So that's about my food shopping. What about eating outside? I will be honest. The first week after my diagnosis was a nightmare. I work from 8am to 6pm and live alone. A lot of the times I don't have time to cook, also most of my socialization with friends takes place in restaurants and coffee shops, which in this part of the world still have not heard the word gluten and do not cater for CD patients. I was starving that first week, too scared to eat anything, too paranoid to order the simplest of things. But then I went on and researched my options online and now I can make educated choices about what to put on my plate. Mind you, going to fast food restaurants or food-courts in malls limit my choices to almost 1 or 2 (that being the 2 types of 'green' salads they have on the menu, and that too without the sauce). My friends have been supportive about that (Cheers to you guys, and girls!). When food is in the plans (which is 95% of the time) I am asked about my preferences: Where do you want to eat? What can you eat there? Do you prefer we go somewhere else? I know it sounds silly, but just the fact that they care this way and listen to what I have to say is touching beyond words. The first time it happened I swear I got tears in my eyes. It's not easy having CD but it becomes WAY more easier when you've got friends like mine.

I still tend to keep it safe. I eat grilled meats (with minimal dressing), salads (a bigger variety), vegetables, potatoes, fish. It's a huge variety, to me anyway. I go from being limited to one or two "safe-ish" options in a fast food joint to at least 10 or 15 things that I can eat and enjoy. I still have to be a bit picky (I hate that) and ask that whatever is cooked has been made in a clean pot or pan (dangers of cross-contamination). If the restaurant is good andnot so crowded that day, and if you make it clear what you're doing is due to health reasons and not because you're some kind of diva they will generally accomodate you.

So here is my thought for the day. If you have CD, be careful about what you eat, even the traces can hurt you. Oh and remember that some drugs do contain gluten so the next time you're in the hospital or clinic make sure you tell the nurse/doctor that you are gluten intolerant and don't be surprised if they ask you " Come again?", especially if it's a nurse. Just explain patiently that you are allergic to gluten or wheat and to make sure that goes into your file so the doctor does not give you drugs that contain the dreaded component. When you get your drugs ask the pharmacist if they contain gluten, if he/she don't know call the manufacturer. I know it's a hassle but as I said it becomes second nature after a while. Make educated food choices and do not succumb to peer pressure when they tell you "it's just a little bit" or "a bit won't hurt you" because it will!
To you who are able to glutenize yourselves without harm please be mindful of your friends if they aren't like you. Do not try to push them into eating something they aren't sure is safe for them, because if it's bad they'll be the ones feeling it, not you!

And please have some patience with us, we know we're picky and believe me it exhausts us too!