This is a lot harder than it seems. I can’t imagine how it must be for people diagnosed with Coeliac disease or a true gluten intolerance.
As always, the diet is easy to follow when you stock your own kitchen with gluten and lactose-free products. Eating out poses huge problems. I have also been thinking about people who have severe food allergies to peanuts or eggs and dairy. You have to be consistent in your food choices and dillegent. But this also gets very boring over time.
I want to be able to go to a restaurant or a picnic and say, ‘You know, I going to have ice-cream with that banana bread pudding!’ (I did yesterday!) Being limited in your food choices is no fun. Variety is the spice of life as they say, and here you’d need to plan ahead, read food labels and be aware of what is naturally gluten and lactose-free in order to adhere strictly to this diet.
I am begining to realise that the lactose actually has had more of an effect on me than the gluten. Anytime I have had lactose, my stomach goes bonkers. I also attribute the lack of severity to my seasonal allergies to the lack of lactose in my diet.
Here’s a quick update of gluten and lactose-free foods that I have tried this week. Whole Foods gluten free bread, give it a miss, I hated it.
I love the Glutino Yougurt Covered Pretzels, love them too much as a matter of fact. Are they lactose-free though? I’d better check that out.
I also discovered that tea actually comes gluten free! Who knew? That’s next on my list, gluten-free tea. Beer also come gluten free, just in case tea doesn’t do it for you.
The Udi’s Millet-Chia Bread, gluten free was tolerable, but only just. So I am back to my favorite, Udi’s Cinnamon Raison Bread, worth the money and delicious. Whole foods carry both types of bread.
I also wanted to mention that in addition to the Mineral Fusion line of skin care and hair products that I have been trying, and loving I might add, I have also discovered that Renpure makes shampoo and conditioner that are gluten free, paraben free and sulphate free. The Australian line is quite good, and when you use your Bed, Bath and Beyond $5 off or 20% coupons are also very reasonably priced. Give the Brazillian Keratin line a miss though, no matter how reasonably priced it is! I tried it once and returned the whole three bottles, shampoo, conditioner and the keratin treatment. My hair was frizzier than ever even after using this stuff; not worth the time, effort or money.
The skin, well it is pretty much the same. Not as bad on the jawline and chin area, but now I have breakouts on my forehead. However, nowhere near as bad as when I first started this diet. Let’s face it, I slip on this gluten and lactose-free eating plan about twice a week, possibly even more frequently without knowing that I am slipping. But here are the big milestones for me, it’s important to focus on the positive:
1. I drink my coffee black now.
2. My seasonal allergies are not as severe as they were this time last year.
3. The tummy bloat is defintiely a gluten/ lactose reaction. Good to know, right?
4. My pimples are due to circumstances beyond my control; hormones. I can see that pattern very clearly.
Here’s what the last seven days have looked like for me: