Over the last few months, I made yet another commitment to myself to improve my quality of life. Not that there was anything wrong with it before, but my philosophy is you always can do better.
So, I stopped eating dairy and gluten. No, I don’t have food allergies or Celiac’s Disease, but I do believe that what you eat affects the way you look and feel, whether you’re considered healthy or not.
Just because you haven’t been diagnosed with a food allergy doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider eliminating certain foods from your diet.
Some people may notice fatigue, joint stiffness, insomnia, gas, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome and a host of other symptoms connected to certain foods. Foods may not agree with your body due to an intolerance or sensitivity NOT due to an allergy.
Note how you feel after you eat particular foods and keep a journal so that you can record specific symptoms. For example, I’ve never been a huge consumer of dairy but would partake in yogurt, an occasional serving of ice cream and cheese (once a week). I noticed that my upper abdomen area appeared bloated, but I’m not lactose intolerant, so I figured it was something I was eating.
And as it turned out, dairy was the root of my problem. I had increased my consumption of plain Greek yogurt in an attempt to get protein and have a healthy low fat breakfast or afternoon snack. Well, as soon as I eliminated dairy from my diet, I noticed a change in my stomach/abdomen region in about two weeks.
I went from having what appeared to be a weightlifter’s gut to my usual flat stomach that I had before increasing my yogurt intake. I even lost a few pounds. If you eat a lot of dairy, several servings a day, you could see considerable weight loss after you remove it from your diet.
After that experience, I decided to follow my doctor’s advice and eliminate gluten. Gluten is a protein that binds to starch and is found in wheat flour products like breads, crackers and pasta. It’s also added to products like ketchup, ice cream and potato chips to name a few. Products that are gluten free are clearly marked as such on the packaging.
Regardless of your decision to alter your eating habits, you should at least be aware of what you’re eating. An ingredient by itself may be harmless, but when it exists unnaturally in almost everything you consume, it can cause problems. Some additives are present for taste and appearance, not out of necessity.
To determine if you are suffering from food allergies versus having an intolerance or sensitivity to certain foods, visit your doctor and request a food allergy test.
To learn more about food allergies and sensitivities, check out these resources:
The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network
USDA: Allergies and Food Sensitivities
Overview of allergies
Doubt is cast on many reports of food allergies
Definition and symptoms
Dairy Allergies
I am a certified Crossfit Kettlebell instructor, triathlete and former trained dancer. I am not a nutritionist or a doctor. Information I share is based on my own research and experience. Before beginning a diet or fitness routine you should consult your physician or a health professional. For question and comments about this blog, contact me at akiia.james@abc11mail.com.
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