Saturday, March 2

Gluten Free- a speech


Gluten Free: at The Pancake House



A speech on Gluten Free: [Some information came from my head others came from recent news articles, and some things I say are debatable in the world of science that is constantly changing]

Gluten free? A lot of people call it a fad diet, most people have no idea what it is…but for me? It is a necessary life style, one that I never will chance because I have celiac disease. Today I want to share with you three categories of surprising facts. If you take hold of these you will come away understanding what gluten is, why it is so harmful to many and the benefits of this lifestyle

FIRST THINGS FIRST. OH, the misconceptions about gluten! Gluten is not glue, or sugar, or dairy, or only white flour and the list goes on. It is to be exact, “a protein found in grains such as wheat, barley and rye,” which means that it is the main ingredient for bread, cake, cereal and pasta. What you probably didn’t know is that it is in…ALMOST EVERYTHING!
- Salad dressings, soups, most sauces, French fries, soy sauce, some vinegars, it coats most fried foods, contaminates most oats and is in many candies.
For those of us who can’t tolerate gluten…it is most likely for life and you can’t just “take a pill” to cure it.
I hope you want to learn about this because you will likely be brushing shoulders with us ‘odd ones’ wherever you go… Studies show that Celiac disease affects one in 100 people, totaling to nearly three million Americans.  This disease is often seen in a blood test but they haven’t found an absolutely accurate way to test if someone has Celiac. Gluten sensitivity on the other hand is much more common, approximately 20 million Americans are affected by it. This is usually discovered after a nutritionist advises someone experiencing certain symptoms to take a 30 day fast from gluten with NO cheating.
You probably are wondering, “WHY all of this trouble with gluten now?”  And there are those of you who are skeptics that still think it is just a “fad” diet…but studies are showing that Celiac disease and intolerance is actually increasing. Scientists suggest that there may be more celiac disease today because people eat more processed wheat than in decades past. The wheat used in all our cereals, breads, and baked goods contain a types of wheat that has been genetically created to have a higher gluten content BECAUSE Gluten helps dough rise and gives baked goods structure and texture.Our bodies weren’t made to digest so much gluten, let alone refined and processed gluten.

Now that I’ve cleared up a few misconceptions I want to inform you about the surprising facts of how harmful gluten is. If someone is gluten intolerant and/or suffers from celiac disease they may experience symptoms such as:
-weight loss, fatigue, hives, difficulty breathing, and digestive problems, it can induce headaches, dizziness, and brain fog where you’re just not thinking clearly, it even can cause bone pain, behavior changes, muscle cramps, depression and the LIST GOES ON.......
People with celiac disease who continue to consume gluten end up slowly starving themselves as their bodies aren’t receiving proper nutrition because their small intestines begin to shut down. The long-term effects of consuming gluten for those with celiac disease are: increased risk of cancers, anemia, low energy, and other health complications due to lack of  a strong immune system.The only known treatment for celiac disease is a gluten-free diet.
You may also be interested to know that untreated celiac disease in children has been linked to anemia, underdevelopment, and even autistic symptoms. Irritability and weight loss are the most common symptoms in children…This is something to keep a watchful eye out for!
Unfortunately a large part of the medical field has not jumped on board with the seriousness of intolerance to gluten and celiac disease which has resulted in many misdiagnoses.
It took one young lady 3 years of experiencing a lot of these horrible symptoms, she visited 75 different doctors around the States before she called a doctor she was listening to on the radio and within five minutes he told her she had Celiac Disease…after this, her doctor tested her for it and she tested positive.

I hope those surprising facts about the harm of gluten got your attention….and lastly, on a positive note I want to share with you the life changing benefits of this eating lifestyle, whether it be by choice or necessity.
Removing gluten can improve cholesterol levels and help heal digestive issues. Some gluten free products contain antioxidants that help sustain the body. Gluten is in most fast foods and processed foods, so by eating gluten-free, you end up staying clear of a lot of unhealthy food choice! You also end up preparing most of your own food at home by using fresh veggies, fruits, meats and alternative grains. This is SO beneficial because you know exactly what you're eating!
My mom spent many years with fatigue, brain foggy-ness, and many headaches. She never tested positive on any blood test to have celiac or an allergy to gluten but not long after she went off of gluten she saw a huge difference. Its been more than five years now and she has never looked back.

In conclusion, I hope you have learned something:
Whether it be you know better what to cook if a friend who’s gluten free comes over, (a “GF” friend for short)
OR possibly, as you’ve listened to me today you’ve been thinking that you have some of these symptoms  that in the past you have just blamed on a bad digestive system or eating unhealthy food.  I would encourage you to consider going off of gluten for 30 days. Remember YOU absolutely CAN'T CHEAT!
Some will try “gluten free” because right now it is a fad diet and if they have celiac disease like me or are gluten intolerant like my mom, they probably won’t change back to their old ways of eating, …it is THAT beneficial and going gluten free is here to stay…I hope you will take some of these amazing facts with you so that at the least, you can be more understanding when someone says they can’t have a piece of your birthday cake or at the most, you will pay closer attention to your body if it is crying out for help.. Thank you!

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