My Life As a Gluten-Free Wife

We decided to make the switch to a gluten-free lifestyle almost 6 months ago, after a doctor suggested that eliminating gluten might alleviate Mary's fibromyalgia and joint pain. Within two weeks of removing gluten from her diet the joint pain stopped (and only flares up with the weather). I got on board a few days later to see if I noticed any health benefits, but mostly to support my wife.

I've read that going gluten-free can help with depression and mood swings.

In the past few months I can honestly say I've been a lot happier, but I left my old job right before altering my diet, so I can't be too sure what caused this change. In addition, I've lost some weight, but mostly because I can't pig out on cakes, cookies and other desserts as easily as I did in the past (we have found some amazing gluten-free recipes, which we will be sharing), and it definitely helps that I'm no longer surrounded by junk food at work.

Going gluten-free forces you to take a closer look at everything you consume.

You MUST read every label, as we've found out the hard way, and ask others what ingredients are used in the food they offer you. Since a vast majority of food has wheat or soy as an ingredient it limits what you can eat when you go out, which means you always have to be prepared.

Unlike most diets, where if you "cheat" you'll feel guilty and be disappointed when you step on the scale, if you "cheat" and eat products with gluten in it your body may punish you, literally. This may not happen to everyone, but Mary and I have both found that since a week or so after eliminating gluten from our diet, that whenever we reintroduced it, our bodies did not like it. Side effects ranged from mild headaches, fogginess, and mild stomach aches, to really bad stomach cramps and other not so fun stuff.

Even with all the restrictions, it is a lot easier to maintain a gluten-free lifestyle today than a few years ago.

There are so many gluten-free options available in grocery stores and many chain restaurants.  Yet, I still find that its best to prepare our own food.  In the last few months I've started cooking and baking more, which is something I usually avoided in the past. 

I cook most of our meals, which means we eat healthier and save more money.  I also bake desserts whenever we go to a party, so I know there is at least one thing I can eat when I am there.

Do I still want to eat food with gluten? Sometimes.  But I have made a commitment to this lifestyle and my wife, and I almost enjoy being a guinea pig to see what the long-term health benefits are. 

We'll keep you posted.

~Hayley