Celiac disease is a blessing!
Sorry this is sort of long, but I was sort of distraught by
eneyo 's post a few days ago. Ive never been completely distraught by having Celiac Disease. Once I got my head on straight about it, Ive seen it as a huge blessing in my life.
Before I was diagnosed, and even before my symptoms started I was obese, eating refined carbohydrates, preservatives, chemicals and non-food items like mcdonalds and taco bell. It was almost like i was addicted, and suffering bi-polar disorder as a result. I would get depressed, so i would eat starchy carbohydrates, sugars and unhealthy fats, and I would feel hyper and giddy, only to crash into depression a few hours later. My blood sugar was all out of whack, not to mention the fact that It was impossible for me to adhere to a sleeping schedule. I would wake up in the middle of the night in order to eat.
Let me count the ways Celiac has blessed me and my life:
The obvious reversal of all of my symptoms
being more in tune with what my body is telling me, and when its okay to stop eating
loosing 45lbs because of healthy eating decisions
actually being able to understand what is on ingredient labels and cutting out other unhealthy additives
expanding my culinary abilities and taking pride in my own cooking
saving money by not eating out
giving me peace of mind knowing that i am not supporting the corporate engine of the food industry (and the obesity epidemic)
being educated about how the digestive system works, nutrition, psychological health....
control over everything i eat and security knowing exactly whats inside my digestive tract
teaching others who are non CD about how avoiding gluten can help them
not having to ever worry about cheating on a diet - this is the one diet i know i will stick with for life!
eating healthier and tastier food than ive ever had in my life, and cooking it myself
eating the way our early ancestors did, the way our bodies were built to eat
taking responsibility for, and cherishing my body because now ive realized that it deserves it
the list could go on, and I encourage you to make your own...
Society tells us over and over again that food is our identity. Food is supposed to give us comfort, ease our pain, give us pleasure, but this is simply not true. Food cures us of only one thing: hunger. And its not even a cure, its a treatment. It is not a person, a friend or even something that has a tangible personality. We give it affection where no affection is due. Food is not a member of our family, and the absence of goldfish crackers, oreo cookies and beer will not kill us or destroy the quality of our lives. Giving up gluten is not giving up an old friend or a cherished memento. ITS JUST FOOD!
Yes its hard to say goodbye to those perceived old friends of saltines and pizza, but get over it! This disease has given us the opportunity to start a new mindset of healthfulness that will ultimately lead us to longer lives, stronger communities and greater knowledge about our world. It is our loved ones who give us comfort, ease our pain and give us pleasure. It is not aunt ruth's apple pie that we love dearly and look forward to, it is aunt ruth! When we are feeling depressed and craving our old eating habits, is it really the food we crave? Or is it a deeper, more underlying problem that we are trying to find solace from?
Not to pick on eneyo, but its probably not the food that is bothering her. If she would rather have cancer than eat healthy and be healthy, there might be something wrong. Being pregnant is very stressful, and some perspective might help her a lot. Its hard to not be scared and feel completely lost when strange hormones are controlling your body, not to mention the anxiety and responsibility of bringing another human being into this world. She should feel lucky that she now has the ability to be pregnant and have a child. If she wasnt diagnosed, she could have lost her reproductive ability, or developed cancer. And, eating a gluten free diet means she's eating a healthier diet, something her child will surely thank her for one day.
Am I the only one who has found Celiac Disease to be a blessing?
eneyo 's post a few days ago. Ive never been completely distraught by having Celiac Disease. Once I got my head on straight about it, Ive seen it as a huge blessing in my life.
Before I was diagnosed, and even before my symptoms started I was obese, eating refined carbohydrates, preservatives, chemicals and non-food items like mcdonalds and taco bell. It was almost like i was addicted, and suffering bi-polar disorder as a result. I would get depressed, so i would eat starchy carbohydrates, sugars and unhealthy fats, and I would feel hyper and giddy, only to crash into depression a few hours later. My blood sugar was all out of whack, not to mention the fact that It was impossible for me to adhere to a sleeping schedule. I would wake up in the middle of the night in order to eat.
Let me count the ways Celiac has blessed me and my life:
The obvious reversal of all of my symptoms
being more in tune with what my body is telling me, and when its okay to stop eating
loosing 45lbs because of healthy eating decisions
actually being able to understand what is on ingredient labels and cutting out other unhealthy additives
expanding my culinary abilities and taking pride in my own cooking
saving money by not eating out
giving me peace of mind knowing that i am not supporting the corporate engine of the food industry (and the obesity epidemic)
being educated about how the digestive system works, nutrition, psychological health....
control over everything i eat and security knowing exactly whats inside my digestive tract
teaching others who are non CD about how avoiding gluten can help them
not having to ever worry about cheating on a diet - this is the one diet i know i will stick with for life!
eating healthier and tastier food than ive ever had in my life, and cooking it myself
eating the way our early ancestors did, the way our bodies were built to eat
taking responsibility for, and cherishing my body because now ive realized that it deserves it
the list could go on, and I encourage you to make your own...
Society tells us over and over again that food is our identity. Food is supposed to give us comfort, ease our pain, give us pleasure, but this is simply not true. Food cures us of only one thing: hunger. And its not even a cure, its a treatment. It is not a person, a friend or even something that has a tangible personality. We give it affection where no affection is due. Food is not a member of our family, and the absence of goldfish crackers, oreo cookies and beer will not kill us or destroy the quality of our lives. Giving up gluten is not giving up an old friend or a cherished memento. ITS JUST FOOD!
Yes its hard to say goodbye to those perceived old friends of saltines and pizza, but get over it! This disease has given us the opportunity to start a new mindset of healthfulness that will ultimately lead us to longer lives, stronger communities and greater knowledge about our world. It is our loved ones who give us comfort, ease our pain and give us pleasure. It is not aunt ruth's apple pie that we love dearly and look forward to, it is aunt ruth! When we are feeling depressed and craving our old eating habits, is it really the food we crave? Or is it a deeper, more underlying problem that we are trying to find solace from?
Not to pick on eneyo, but its probably not the food that is bothering her. If she would rather have cancer than eat healthy and be healthy, there might be something wrong. Being pregnant is very stressful, and some perspective might help her a lot. Its hard to not be scared and feel completely lost when strange hormones are controlling your body, not to mention the anxiety and responsibility of bringing another human being into this world. She should feel lucky that she now has the ability to be pregnant and have a child. If she wasnt diagnosed, she could have lost her reproductive ability, or developed cancer. And, eating a gluten free diet means she's eating a healthier diet, something her child will surely thank her for one day.
Am I the only one who has found Celiac Disease to be a blessing?