So today I have a great guest post from my good friend Melissa from The Crazy Celiac blog! May is also Celiac Awareness Month! She has written an amazing post about what Celiac disease is and how she is finally feeling better than she has in a long time! She is crazy talented in allergen friendly baking and cooking and am lucky to call her my friend! Enjoy!
Hello Everyone!! My name is Melissa and I'm a good friend of Hylarie's. We met about three years ago when our sons were in kindergarten together. She has been such an amazing friend, we share a lot of the same interests and we both have four children and husbands that work a lot. Its really nice to have a friend that I can talk to about anything. When I was diagnosed with Celiac disease last year she was right there willing to listen and help in anyway she could. Hylarie was nice enough to text me yesterday morning and asked if I'd like to do a guest post on her blog in honor of Celiac Awareness Month, of course I said yes! Thanks Hylarie for allowing me to share my story with your followers.
Happy Celiac Awareness Month to anyone living with or knows someone living with Celiac. As Hylarie stated in her post from yesterday, this is a busy month for spreading awareness. I am a huge supporter not just for Celiac, but for ALS awareness (one of my dear friends is living with ALS) and Mental Health Awareness (I have struggled with depression and social anxiety disorder since I was young). Thank you, Hylarie for helping spread awareness for these diseases.
First off I would like to explain what Celiac disease is. A lot of people think it's an allergy, but it's not. Celiac disease is an autoimmune digestive disease that damages the villi of the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. This means that the body is attacking itself every time a person with Celiac consumes gluten.
What is gluten? Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye and sometimes oats. If left untreated people with Celiac disease can develop other complications such as other autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis, thyroid disease, infertility and recurrent miscarriages, iron deficiency anemia and cancer.
There are over 300 symptoms of Celiac disease. One person might have diarrhea and abdominal pain, while another person has irritability or depression. Some people develop Celiac symptoms early in life and others are completely healthy until adulthood. Some people with Celiac disease have no signs or symptoms at all. These differences make a Celiac diagnosis very difficult. 83% of people living with Celiac are undiagnosed.
Diagnosing Celiac disease can be quite difficult because it often mimics other diseases, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn's disease, intestinal infections, lactose intolerance and depression. Blood tests are the first step in diagnosing Celiac disease. A doctor will order a panel of blood tests to check how your body responds to gluten. If you test positive, the doctor will usually order an endoscopy so they can biopsy the small intestine and check for villous atrophy.
I believe I've had Celiac since I was a child. I dealt with a lot of illnesses growing up. Colds,
influenza, strep, sinus infections, mouth sores, pitted teeth, enamel erosion and depression. Migraine headaches were another issue for me, I had them often, missing a lot of school because of how bad the headaches became. I also struggled with endometriosis and psoriasis starting in my teens and it lasted well into my twenties. I have always been pretty thin and struggled gaining weight for as long as I can remember. Looking back now, I believe that this was all caused from undiagnosed Celiac. I don't remember ever having stomach issues though. I was able to tolerate all foods pretty well so I'm sure that is why it was never on my doctors radar.
I started having stomach issues when I was pregnant with my fourth child. My OB brushed it off as just being pregnant and a mother of three young children. After months and months of doctor visits, blood tests, ultrasounds, being poked and prodded for what seemed to be an eternity, I was finally referred to a Gastroenterologist. After waiting a month I finally got an appointment. My GI did a simple blood test and within two weeks I had a diagnosis. My doctor said "Melissa, I believe we have found what is wrong with you!" I thought she was going to say I had cancer and I was dying, but she quietly said "We think you have Celiac disease." I had no idea what Celiac was, I had never in my life heard of this disease. I knew what gluten was, but had no idea that it could do this to your body. I was handed two pieces of paper, one explained what I could and couldn't eat and the other explained what Celiac was. That was it! I was on my own. I had to relearn everything I knew about food. I was so happy, not happy that I had a disease, but happy that I had an answer to what was wrong with me. I had been told for years that I was crazy, I needed therapy, "It's all in your head" or "We can't seem to find anything wrong with you."
After the happiness wore off, the reality set in. I started to cry and after reading about what was actually happening to me, I was scared to death. How was I going to do this? How was I going to eat this way? after a few hours of crying and feeling sorry for myself, I knew what had to be done. I knew if I wanted to feel better I had to go gluten free. So off I went! I cleaned out my entire kitchen and started over. I packed up all of my gluten filled foods and donated it all to friends and family, I bleached my silverware drawers and cabinets, threw away all of my pots and pans, cutting boards, plastic utensils and even my toaster. After that I went shopping! I bought new pans and few other items that I would need to start this new life. I then went to the health food store with my safe list in hand and stocked up on gluten free foods to replace the gluten filled ones. I was determined to get better.
I was adjusting well to my new gluten free life, no more headaches, my endometriosis and psoriasis weren't as severe and my stomach pains were gone. It was an amazing feeling. This lasted for seven months. Then all of a sudden my stomach issues returned, but this time it was worse. After dealing with it for a few weeks, I made an appointment with my GI. She did a few tests, but nothing was coming up, I was handed two prescriptions, one for depression and the other was for a sedative to help me relax. Feeling frustrated I decided to get a second opinion with another GI, it was a complete waste of time and money, he didn't find anything either. I was so tired of dealing with regular doctors that I decided to check out a natural medical clinic in Bozeman. From the moment I met my homeopath I just knew she was going to figure out what was wrong with me. She was amazing! I spent two hours with her and found out that I'm not only gluten intolerant, but I'm also intolerant to grains, nightshades and high fructose fruits. I was shocked! What the heck was I going to eat? I had successfully went gluten free, but this scared me. I needed to find someone to help me because I was clueless. My homeopath then referred me to a gluten free life coach. I was willing to try anything and talk to anyone that could help figure out what I could eat and how to heal my body. My life coach has helped me go from eating gluten free to eating Paleo. This way of eating has helped me in so many ways.
What is Paleo? Paleo is also referred as the caveman diet. I basically eat meat, fish, veggies, nuts, eggs and fruit. No grains, beans, dairy, refined sugars or processed food. The Paleo diet has also been known to help people suffering from other autoimmune diseases and food related issues. I have been eating this way for two months now and I'm finally feeling better. I'm gaining weight and my stomach is healing. I can instantly tell when I have had something with grains or too much sugar. I can no longer eat out at restaurants because of my multiple food intolerances and also the worry of being glutened., I have noticed that my gluten intolerance has become quite severe and leaves me feeling ill for a few days if I accidentally ingest it. When I go to BBQ's I usually pack my own food or eat before I go. I do have a few family members that don't understand and probably never will, but I have made myself very clear that I eat this way to stay healthy and they need to respect my decisions. Most of my friends and family understand and don't ask too many questions anymore.
Living with an autoimmune disease isn't easy, it is one of the most challenging things I have ever had to deal with, but as crazy as it sounds, I am thankful that I have been diagnosed and I'm finally feeling the best I have ever felt. I am eating the best I have ever eaten, I'm cooking, baking and teaching others how to eat better. If it wasn't for my diagnosis, I believe my oldest daughter, who also has a hard time digesting gluten, would still be sick.
I have recently started selling my gluten free baked goods to people here in Helena. I also have a Facebook page where I share recipes and Celiac information to help others dealing with gluten related issues. In the last couple of months I have helped quite a few people go gluten free and a lot of my family members are going in and getting tested for Celiac . I am working with my life coach on a business plan so I can start my own bakery and life coaching business. I want other people to know that just because you have this disease doesn't mean that you have to give up everything you love, you just have to find new things to love.
If you think you have Celiac, you need to get tested. Celiac is also hereditary so if you have a family member with Celiac disease, you should probably get tested as well. Here is a great infograph of the many symptoms of Celiac. Make sure to contact your doctor before going gluten free, it is important that you stay on a gluten containing diet for your blood test and/or biopsy to be accurate.
I'm also sharing two of my favorite recipes that are quite easy to make and taste amazing. You would never know that they are gluten, dairy and egg free.
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Gluten-free Vegan Oatmeal Cream Pies
Oatmeal Cookies
Makes 2 dozen
Wet Ingredients:
1/4 c. non-hydrogenated shortening
1/4 c. vegan butter
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 Tbsp. flaxseed meal + 2 Tbsp. water - thickened for 5 minutes
2 tsp. molasses
Dry Ingredients:
1 c. Cara's gluten free flour blend (recipe below)
1 1/4 c. rolled oats
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
In a large bowl, cream together the vegan butter, shortening, and sugar together with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Beat in the flaxseed meal "egg" and molasses. In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Pour 1/3 of the flour mix into the creamed sugar mix and stir with a wooden spoon. Repeat until completely blended in. Roll 1 heaping tablespoon of cookie dough into a ball and place onto the baking sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes and allow to cool slightly before transferring to a wire rack.
For the Cream Filling:
1 1/2 c. Dandies vegan marshmallows
1 Tbsp. vegan butter
3 Tbsp. powdered sugar
In a small saucepan, melt the marshmallows and butter together over low heat. Add the powdered sugar and stir in until combined. Quickly spoon onto one cookie and then sandwich together with another cookie.
Makes 12 oatmeal Creme pies
Cara's Gluten free flour blend
2 c. brown rice flour
2 c. Sorghum flour
1 c. potato starch
1 c. arrowroot powder
The Recipe is from one of my favorite gluten free bloggers over at Fork and Beans. |
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Paleo Korean Chicken Bulgogi
Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast...
1/3 cup coconut aminos
2 1/2 Tb. coconut sugar
2 Tb. sesame oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tb. fresh grated ginger
1 bunch green onions, chopped, whites and greens separated
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1 tsp. sriracha
1 Tb. toasted sesame seeds
Directions:
1. Cut up chicken, I like mine to be slightly frozen, its easier to cut. Place in a large bowl and top with: coconut aminos, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, onion whites, pepper and sriracha. Toss to coat and allow the chicken to thaw and marinade for 45-60 minutes.
2. Heat large skillet to high heat. Use tongs to transfer half of the chicken to the hot skillet. Spread the chicken pieces around the skillet and allow them to sear on one side before using the tongs to move them around and caramelize on all sides. Once the juices have evaporated and the chicken has a nice brown color, remove from skillet, it should take about 6-8 minutes
3. Cover the cooked chicken to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining chicken, and throw out the left over marinade. Serve warm, sprinkled with the reserved green onion tops and sesame seeds. |
Thanks again Hylarie for giving me the opportunity to share my story with all of you. I really hope this post helped you better understand Celiac disease and the importance of someone having to eat gluten free. If you have Celiac or a gluten related illness please feel free to check out my blog at
www.thecrazyceliac.blogspot.com or check out my Facebook page here
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Crazy-Celiac/704623799577176?ref=stream
