Mmmm...Doesn't That Look Good

It is no secret that I love food. I am fascinated by its origins, its nutritional and healing properties, and its taste. I can try a dish, walk into my kitchen and recreate it almost perfectly. I live to develop recipes based on cuisines from all corners of the world, so much so that many people consider me to be a gourmet cook. I must admit, I like that idea. Yes, I will cater your party.

As a child, I was a very finicky eater. I would eat a bit of meat, and potatoes were fine. I used to take a bowl of rice and eat it one grain at a time, imagining I was sharing my bowl with all the starving children of the world. Friends' parents would offer me sweets, and I would decline. They were curious as to why, but I didn't know. I just didn't like breads that much.

There were exceptions. I could eat corn muffins like they were going out of style. Occasionally I would enjoy a bit of fruit cobbler. Sometimes my mom and dad would buy jelly donuts on a weekend morning, and I adored them, but these times were rare. Then I discovered Sara Lee Brownies, and my dislike for baked goods melted. I began eating the bongo bars (chocolate chip cookie bars) on the cafeteria platter, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and cheese and crackers...the list grew and grew.

i also developed exercise-induced asthma. I suffered, trying to run the cross country track at my school so the rest of the kids wouldn't pick on me, and wheezing, coughing and sputtering the rest of the day. My parents brought me to the doctor. He did tests. I was formally diagnosed with  exercise-induced asthma, and never thought that something besides exercise might be causing the problem.

There was hardly a day that went by that i didn't suffer from allergies, asthma or some form of upper-respiratory ailment. It got tothe point that teachers became the attendance police, informing my parents that, "Nobody could be sick that much." I was.

Throughout my life, I suffered from what we referred to in my family as a nervous stomach. I would bloat up three times my size after eating, feel gassy and sick, and often have "accidents."
I couldn't figure out if there was one causative ingredient because it seemed like I got sick no matter what.

Then I developed even further symptoms: joint pain, swelling, fatigue, skin irritations, a malar rash across my face. It seemed clear that the culprit was Systemic Lupus. Lupus, being potentially fatal, was no joke. My body was falling apart system by system, and it was scary. I had to do a lot of inner and outer-work in order to get better from my lowest point in dealing with the chronic auto-immune disease.

One thing I did was follow the suggestions of Dr. Andrew Weil. I tried to avoid meat, except for salmon, which he highy recommended consuming because of the omega-3 benefits. I munched on whole grains and tons of fresh fruits and veggies, and got sicker. The doctors and the health foodies alike thought I was crazy as a loon.

Finally, a dietician that specialized in complimentary medical thought suggested that I avoid wheat. She listed off the many grains that she felt I could still eat, and I followed her diet.  I began to feel better, but meal preparation took a lot of work. I went to the co-op, farmers' markets and Whole Foods to get the shopping done. I prepared almost everything from scratch, which took tons of time. I developed gluten-free gourmet recipes glore. I asked the dietician if she would provide the nutritional advice for a cookbook if I wrote the recipes, but she shied away. It didn't matter. I felt really good, better than in years.

Then, when I got laid off from my job, I became a teacher, and was going to school to earn my credential and working full-time. I gave up on the idea of going wheat-free because "I didn't eat that much wheat anyway," right? Hahaha! Every symptom of lupus returned, though I was clinically in remission. Once again, the doctors were waiting with the anti-depressants. They'd always ask, "Are you feeling down, depressed, stressed?" Silly question. No, I am overjoyed to have a chronic auto-immune disease, but I am not unduly depressed, Doc."

Finally, I got tired of waging war with my body. I had discovered a pod here on Gaia called Living Free. I joined so I would have support from friends. I went back to my doctor, who is really a PAC, but she's the most thorough practitioner I have ever met. I asked her for help. She said the magic words. "You probably have irritable bowel, and normally they tell you to increase the amount of fier you take in, but for some of us, wheat is the problem." So I did the brave thing, I cut out the wheat once again.

Just after I did this, I received an email linking gluten consumption to lupus symptoms, and wow!, did bells begin to ring in my head. While the mainstream medical community may be reticent to find a causative link between gluten and auto-immunity, there is enough evidence there to make a strong case that gluten from wheat and other grains may increase symptoms and disease activity.

Does that mean that if I stop eating wheat, I won't have lupus? Probably not. What it does mean is that I might fare better, feel better, and live a happier and much more fulfilling life because I won't be as sick as often. Maybe.

I encourage you - if you deal with auto-immunity or chronic pain or fatigue in any form, - to not listen to doctors who tell you that these conditions can not be improved by change in diet or taking supplements or engaging in alternative methods of healing, to not listen. It is an old way of thinking, and is not in the best interest of the patient.  Support research on dietary factors and auto-immunity, and find the therapies that work best for you. We are all different, and while there is no set prescription, your own body can tell you when you are doing what it likes. Just listen to what it has to say.

Also, read the post by ohmsmom Some Ingredients that you may want to Consider Leaving Out
and for Pete's sake, stay out of the middle of the grocery store as much as you possibly can. I will reassure you that whatever you think you'll be missing, you won't be. Need a recipe? Just ask. Cook fresh as you can. Your healthy body will thank you for it.