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This blog is another opportunity to feel grateful. Thank you, dear Universe, for continuing to bless me with recovery and good health.
Before my rare diagnosis, I hardly had any idea of what a gluten-free diet was all about. Perhaps because I never paid attention to such complex terminologies.
I was good at choosing my food and ate everything under the sun until…
In 2016, when I was diagnosed with a rare disease called Isaacs’ Syndrome. Isaacs’ is a neuromuscular health condition that stems from muscle hyperactivity. In the process, I also discovered that I had Lyme disease. Lyme is a bacterial illness transmitted through ticks.
Glaucoma also accompanied me. Glaucoma is an eye-related disease that damages the optic nerves. And Membranous Glomerulonephritis is a progressive kidney disease. I faced tremendous issues with my gut, stomach acid, and digestive enzymes. During my journey, I also developed Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Diabetes. Besides Frozen Shoulder, Eczema, and high Blood Pressure.
The purpose of this post is to share my experience and insights on how a gluten-free diet has positively impacted my health.
At times, individuals with certain medical conditions need to avoid this protein type. Also, the reaction may differ in severity depending on the health condition.
I went through immense discomfort post-diagnosis. My body suffered from alien symptoms related to Neurology, Gastroenterology, and Ophthalmology.
The repercussions of my diagnosis were severe. Among others, I also developed complications related to my alimentary canal. I had a long list of symptoms, including deficiencies, diarrhea, indigestion, and inflammation.
I faced severe pain throughout my body. I even had difficulties in walking or sitting for short durations. My arms, shoulders, chest, and calves were the most affected areas. I encountered weakness, muscle loss, muscle twitches, stiffness, and fasciculation. Besides, I went through fatigue, mood swings, and weight loss. I had acute indigestion and bloating of the stomach.
Proper treatment was difficult due to intertwined symptoms. My doctors were often unsure of what they were treating.
Still, there is a lack of awareness, and finding research on the subject is challenging. There is no permanent cure for Isaac’s Syndrome.
A gluten-free diet was one way to manage symptoms related to my autoimmune disorders. Doctors especially emphasized Isaacs’ Syndrome and Membranous Glomerulonephritis. Though there is no proven research. However, among the other ambiguities, even this was a recommendation made on a trial-and-error basis.
Understanding a Gluten-Free Diet
My journey became about understanding my limitations in almost every sphere of life… It was then that my doctors recommended going Gluten-Free as a management tool for my symptoms.
A gluten-free diet is a way to eat that excludes gluten.
Gluten is a protein found in barley, wheat, and rye. Typically, going gluten-free means avoiding traditional breads, cereals, baked goods, and processed foods. These might contain hidden gluten.
Today, many healthy people choose this diet for potential health and lifestyle reasons. However, it is always recommended to balance a gluten-free diet to avoid nutritional gaps.
The world of what and how we eat is extremely mysterious
I am raised in India, a country known for its diversity. Among others, diversities also includes dietary practices.
I always preferred natural and refined food which was cooked daily. Most of my meals included a combination of pulses, cereals, vegetables, and spices. I was fond of wheat and breads.
My body didn’t have much complains in the pre-diagnosis days. However, the similar routine, which was once considered normal, disturbed me post-diagnosis.
I was asked to avoid the following foods that contain Gluten:
- Processed foods
- Grains with gluten, like Barley, Wheat, and Rye
- Wheat-based products
- Sauces
- Canned Soups
- Breaded foods
- Alcohol made from wheat or barley
- Check labels before consuming foods like: Snacks, Oats, Supplements
I was instead asked to check these Gluten-Free Alternatives:
- Rice
- Corn
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Dairy
- Nuts
- Gluten-free breads
- Amaranth
- Sago
- Millets like Ragi, Jowar, Pearl Millet
- Besan Chilla
- Upma
- Poha
I was advised to check ingredient lists, especially for less obvious products. Understanding cross-contamination in food and reading labels was essential.
The Connection Between Gluten and My Autoimmune Diseases
In several autoimmune diseases, the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s tissues. And the gluten found in various foods, like barley, wheat, rye, etc., can act as a trigger.
Here’s why a gluten-free diet mattered:
In controlling symptoms associated with Isaacs’ Syndrome –
Isaacs’ Syndrome is a rare autoimmune, dysfunctional neurological disorder. It is characterized by continuous muscle fiber activity.
There is no direct, widely established link between gluten and Isaacs’ Syndrome. However, my doctors recommended that a gluten-free diet would support symptom improvement.
With time, I realized that a gluten-free diet was helpful because:
- My Isaacs’ diagnosis overlapped with other health conditions
- Since Isaacs’ involved autoimmune mechanisms. Reducing gluten helped ease symptoms
- My Leaky gut influenced neurological symptoms; therefore, a gluten-free diet helped restore gut health
- Reduced Inflammation. My blood reports confirmed the changed parameters.
- Improved My Cognitive Function: My doctors thought that removing gluten could help my mental clarity
- A gluten-free diet helped diarrhea, which further supported fatigue, weakness, cramps, and fasciculations
Avoiding gluten is an individual choice. It depends on the individual’s symptoms and should be guided by a healthcare dietician or professional.
I maintained a weekly sample of my meal plan:
Consuming a healthy and instructed diet was my goal. My plan was based on including lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and whole grains. It was a great way to keep me and my family on track.
The plan was quite simple, nutrition-rich, and goal-specific, and made things quite easy.
Overcoming Challenges and Adapting to a Gluten-Free Life
Adapting to a gluten-free diet wasn’t easy at all. Adding a Gluten-free diet as a part of my lifestyle came with many challenges:
- Nutritional deficiencies included Vit D& B12, Calcium, Fiber and Iron. I was given natural supplements to support these deficiencies.
- Wheat is the main source of gluten. Many food items were excluded from my diet plan.
- The lack of gluten labelling on food items made my choice difficult.
- My food became limited at grocery stores: contamination of food with gluten was a big concern.
- While preparing commercial food items, gluten is added as fillers or stabilizing agents. Even at times, I could not pick anything of my choice to eat for a change of taste.
- I felt too tight with this particular way of eating
- It was overwhelming to follow a fixed prescription detailing what to eat and what not to.
My successful tips for implementing a gluten-free diet
- Go slowly to any change. I took steps to make dietary changes rather than making a drastic change overnight
- Consulting a dietitian helped in maintaining a balanced diet and avoiding nutritional deficiencies
- Making a list of gluten-free foods helped me be more creative with my taste buds
- I strictly got into the habit of reading food labels to identify gluten-free foods
- I explored gluten-free grains
- Though it wasn’t easy, however, with time I found gluten-free substitutes
- While traveling, I preferred eating more vegetables and fruits.
To Conclude
In my experience, it was a wise decision to go gluten-free can manage autoimmune diseases.
The ways a gluten-free diet benefited my health were many. It improved cognitive function and clarity, reduced inflammation and pain. It also enhanced my energy levels and reduced fatigue. My overall digestive health got better, and increased overall well-being.
I encourage my readers to consider the potential benefits of a gluten-free lifestyle. It could have various benefits for your health conditions. However, it’s wise to consult a healthcare professional before making any dietary changes.
A professional would know the best solution for your health-specific needs.
DISCLAIMER
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not represent any kind of medical advice.
