The Super Sensitive Celiac
I started this blog because I wanted to create a safe place for others who are also super sensitive to gluten. I wanted to share the information on gluten cross-contamination that I was researching online.
When you've been gluten free for a long time and still experiencing gluten symptoms, it can be really, really rough, so I wanted to share my personal experiences with that and let you know what I've discovered about living gluten free.
I am a Culinary Specialist (a professional cook), consultant, recipe addict and developer, blogger, and content writer with over 45 years of experience in low-carb, moderate-carb, and whole-foods diets.
I also have 10 to 15 years experience in Meniere's disease, celiac disease, personal growth, and gluten-free cooking.
I believe in personal responsibility, in owning the consequences for your choices, and that everyone has the power to bring a sense of order and purpose to their lives.
You have the power to change the future, to design your own purpose, and to take the necessary steps to play that out. What you lack might simply be the faith, courage, strength, and understanding to create an extraordinary life.
And that's where we come in.
Our aim is to inspire you to stop holding onto the past or waiting for the future to show up, and start living your dreams. Today. We are here to help you create a more fulfilling, higher quality life by living deliberately.
In the past few days, I have decided that since everything in my life is directly related to being a super-sensitive celiac, I need to take that fact under heavy consideration.
So here, at Super Sensitive Celiac, you'll be able to get the real information on what you need to know to avoid trace amounts of gluten residues, as well as get the support that you need to create a much safer and healthier lifestyle.
Whether you're a beginner or a super-sensitive celiac, that is not going to change.
Whether you're a beginner or a super-sensitive celiac, that is not going to change.
The truth about cross contamination with gluten is very hard to come by, so super sensitivity will continue to be our main focus and perspective here.
Hubby and I have been gluten-free since May of 2009, and I now enjoy more good days, than rough. Although, I still have far more bad days than I'm comfortable with, especially since I have a number of other health issues.
We thought that moving to Texas, where it was dryer, was going to take care of most of that, but it's been extremely wet and rainy since we got here, so the vertigo and other problems I have came roaring back.
When we started this journey to a healthier and safer lifestyle, there was no such thing as non-celiac gluten sensitivity. You either had celiac disease, or you did not.
Since we didn't have health insurance to pay for blood work and a biopsy, and we were already over our heads in medical debt, due to seeking a diagnosis for our health complaints, I decided to self-diagnose myself with celiac disease.
When we started this journey to a healthier and safer lifestyle, there was no such thing as non-celiac gluten sensitivity. You either had celiac disease, or you did not.
Since we didn't have health insurance to pay for blood work and a biopsy, and we were already over our heads in medical debt, due to seeking a diagnosis for our health complaints, I decided to self-diagnose myself with celiac disease.
You can read all about that here.
I chose to go gluten free without a medical diagnosis.
Yep. I'm one of those people that the media likes to gripe about!
At the time I did this, I was heavily involved in the low-carb community, the Atkins diet in particular, but I had to tweak that weight-loss diet to get it to work.
I chose to go gluten free without a medical diagnosis.
Yep. I'm one of those people that the media likes to gripe about!
At the time I did this, I was heavily involved in the low-carb community, the Atkins diet in particular, but I had to tweak that weight-loss diet to get it to work.
The weight-loss diet I followed in 2007 to 2008 was my own version of Kimkins, a popular low-fat low-carb diet back then, combined with The Rapid Fat Loss Plan put out by Lyle McDonald, which is a protein-sparing modified-fast (PSMF Diet).
Compared to all of the low-carb diets that are available today, I'd say that it was closer to Dr. Phinney's Keto Diet, than to Atkins.
Compared to all of the low-carb diets that are available today, I'd say that it was closer to Dr. Phinney's Keto Diet, than to Atkins.
However, measuring my blood ketones wasn't something I was interested in doing, so I did take a few wrong turns while trying to tweak what I was doing.
Overall, a low-fat low-carb diet worked very well for me.
I managed to shed over 100 pounds!
But I wasn't able to sustain the weight loss due to the mistaken notion that food sensitivities were to blame for me continuing to have gluten-like symptoms.
I started reacting to sugar substitutes and other low-carb foods, such as homegrown zucchini, and since my hunger and preoccupation with food went through the roof, I went off the diet and regained quite a bit of weight.
By this time, hubby had joined me in my gluten-free journey, so we could have a 100-percent gluten-free home.
We think he has dermatitis herpetiformis because his rash on his scalp and backside comes and goes depending on whether he's been glutened, or not. He also gets digestive issues when accidentally consuming gluten, but his symptoms are not as bad as mine and it takes more gluten residue for him to react than it does for me.
Shortly before moving to Texas, we discovered a dermatitis herpetiformis doctor in our area, but since we were leaving the state, hubby decided not to check into that option.
If you'd like to read my celiac disease story, it explains the path I took to arrive at a self-diagnosis.
After going gluten free, the digestive problems vanished, which was enough to convince me that I needed to stick with a gluten-free diet for life. However, I did continue to have symptoms, even on low carb, so I started chasing after additional food sensitivities in hopes of correcting whatever was wrong with me.
As a result of going dairy-free, corn-free, sugar-free, and then soy-free, our diet got more and more restricted until I was eating mostly chicken or turkey breast and vegetables.
Shortly before moving to Texas, we discovered a dermatitis herpetiformis doctor in our area, but since we were leaving the state, hubby decided not to check into that option.
If you'd like to read my celiac disease story, it explains the path I took to arrive at a self-diagnosis.
After going gluten free, the digestive problems vanished, which was enough to convince me that I needed to stick with a gluten-free diet for life. However, I did continue to have symptoms, even on low carb, so I started chasing after additional food sensitivities in hopes of correcting whatever was wrong with me.
As a result of going dairy-free, corn-free, sugar-free, and then soy-free, our diet got more and more restricted until I was eating mostly chicken or turkey breast and vegetables.
Since that extremely limited low-carb diet wasn't sustainable long-term, I finally gave up the chase and decided to focus on eliminating just the gluten.
I quit my job as a culinary specialist for a local boys home, which I dearly loved, stopped eating what other people cooked, and just before moving to Texas started L-Glutamine therapy to heal the leaky gut.
I quit my job as a culinary specialist for a local boys home, which I dearly loved, stopped eating what other people cooked, and just before moving to Texas started L-Glutamine therapy to heal the leaky gut.
Here's my experience with L-Glutamine therapy to heal the gut.
By tracking down most of the gluten contamination that was affecting our quality of life, along with the glutamine, I was able to return dairy, corn, and soy to our menu and haven't had a problem with them since.
By tracking down most of the gluten contamination that was affecting our quality of life, along with the glutamine, I was able to return dairy, corn, and soy to our menu and haven't had a problem with them since.
I've also managed to shed 50 pounds.
I'm totally convinced that the extra food sensitivities that celiacs are so commonly told to look into is mostly gluten contamination to a stronger degree.
When you cut out an entire food group, such as dairy, corn, wheat, or soy, you're going to cut down on a lot of gluten contamination within that food group at the same time; making it appear that the food group was to blame.
While there are people who are allergic to wheat and foods other than gluten, and leaky gut can trigger all sorts of weird food reactions, true food allergies are not as wide-spread as the gluten-free community believes they are.
More times than not, your problem is gluten.
Celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis are autoimmune disorders. They are not allergies. And since both of us went so long after symptoms started without being properly diagnosed, and treated, healing the gut has taken a very long time for us.
I'm totally convinced that the extra food sensitivities that celiacs are so commonly told to look into is mostly gluten contamination to a stronger degree.
When you cut out an entire food group, such as dairy, corn, wheat, or soy, you're going to cut down on a lot of gluten contamination within that food group at the same time; making it appear that the food group was to blame.
While there are people who are allergic to wheat and foods other than gluten, and leaky gut can trigger all sorts of weird food reactions, true food allergies are not as wide-spread as the gluten-free community believes they are.
More times than not, your problem is gluten.
Celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis are autoimmune disorders. They are not allergies. And since both of us went so long after symptoms started without being properly diagnosed, and treated, healing the gut has taken a very long time for us.
I even lost my interest in cooking for a while because I was feeling so bad all of the time.
And yes, it was pretty depressing to have to live that way.
It's been over 14 years now since we both went gluten free, and I still cannot eat foods that are high in fiber on a regular basis.
Ever since I stopped chasing after additional food sensitivities, rarely eat gluten-free whole grains or products with added fiber, and started concentrating on eliminating as much gluten residue from our lives as possible, I've been doing much better!
It's been over 14 years now since we both went gluten free, and I still cannot eat foods that are high in fiber on a regular basis.
Ever since I stopped chasing after additional food sensitivities, rarely eat gluten-free whole grains or products with added fiber, and started concentrating on eliminating as much gluten residue from our lives as possible, I've been doing much better!
Lately, I've started to cook again, and I am currently trying to pull myself back up out of the depression and anxiety that being on a very restrictive weight-loss diet brings. I'm trying to overcome the effects of having two huge vertigo attacks and other emotional and health concerns that may, or may not, be related to gluten.
This is the perspective that the Super Sensitive Celiac offers its visitors.
If you want to avoid the potential for turning into a super-sensitive celiac and want real down-to-earth advice for getting rid of as much gluten residue in your life as you can, then we can help you do that, too.
This is the perspective that the Super Sensitive Celiac offers its visitors.
Here is What You Get if You Decide to Join Us:
Whether you're a celiac beginner, you think you might be super sensitive to gluten, or you're the caretaker or partner of someone who is, and you're struggling to adapt to what's happening to you or your loved ones, we can show you how to turn the upheaval of a celiac disease diagnosis into something that's manageable and livable.If you want to avoid the potential for turning into a super-sensitive celiac and want real down-to-earth advice for getting rid of as much gluten residue in your life as you can, then we can help you do that, too.
While generic advice is great for those new to celiac disease, a lot of pain and suffering can be avoided if you understand from the very beginning the degree to which cross contamination affects your life.
If you're looking for information on celiac disease or non-celiac gluten-sensitivity, any of their associated conditions, or need a safe place where you can voice your frustrations at having to go the extra-mile to keep yourself or loved one safe, you are definitely welcome here.
We don't care what type of gluten problem you have or if you have an official diagnosis, or not.
While super sensitivity is our lifestyle, it's not the only thing that we are passionate about.
So here you will get:
- the latest scientific research on celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, or weight-loss topics
- news, concerns, and hot topics that affect those with gluten issues or dieting concerns
- opinion pieces on what's going on in the news
- what super sensitivity is and how to avoid cross-contamination
- practical advice for living gluten free, low carb, or low calorie every single day
- simple strategies for celiac, keto, or weight-loss beginners
- how to avoid turning into a super-sensitive celiac
- the best resources for making your celiac or keto lifestyle easier
- product information you need to know about
- useful techniques for handling family, work, or holidays
- weight-loss tips and advice to help you carve off those extra pounds
- nutritional insights to help you avoid weight gain
- mindful eating tips for those who don't want to diet
- personal experiences with gluten-free weight loss
- associated health conditions that I personally have experience with
- tricks to assist you in handling the emotional upheaval of being a celiac
- shopping advice on how to make a gluten-free diet affordable
- information on conditions associated with celiac disease
- how to live comfortably without dairy, soy, corn, or other dietary restrictions
- ideas on living well despite the extreme restrictive lifestyle
- personal development topics
The aim of the Super Sensitive Celiac is to share an abundance of information, tips, ideas, and advice on every possible topic that affects, or can affect, a super-sensitive celiac.
Life doesn't just revolve around food.
But we don't stop there.
Unlike other blogs and forums that dish out only generic advice for the average person with gluten intolerance or celiac disease, our focus is on the real and valid concerns, strategies, and nutritional insights that other celiac bloggers overlook or consider over-the-top.
In our personal experience, you can get glutened touching a doorknob, a kitchen towel, television remote control, or going to the grocery store and getting too close to the bakery or flour aisle.
While you will also find posts that offer lots of assistance to those who are brand new to a gluten-free diet or not as sensitive as we are, we don't just pretend to be super sensitive to gluten here. We are the real deal.
But we don't stop there.
Unlike other blogs and forums that dish out only generic advice for the average person with gluten intolerance or celiac disease, our focus is on the real and valid concerns, strategies, and nutritional insights that other celiac bloggers overlook or consider over-the-top.
In our personal experience, you can get glutened touching a doorknob, a kitchen towel, television remote control, or going to the grocery store and getting too close to the bakery or flour aisle.
While you will also find posts that offer lots of assistance to those who are brand new to a gluten-free diet or not as sensitive as we are, we don't just pretend to be super sensitive to gluten here. We are the real deal.
How to Contact Me
Keeping in touch is extremely important to me, so if you have questions, concerns, suggestions for a topic you would like me to blog about, or just want to chat, please leave a comment below any blog post or email me at:Lavender.Rose27@yahoo.com
I answer every comment and email I get, so please send me an email if you have a need that has not been addressed on the site.
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