Why It’s More Than Gluten. 19 Reasons Why You Might Not Be Feeling Well.

What I Learned

In 2002, after being sick for over a year, I found a doctor that was able to give me real answers. Since a lot of my symptoms were GI related he recommended a stool test. The results showed gluten, dairy, soy and egg intolerance. I definitely felt better after removing those foods and supplementing with nutrients that I had lost from all the GI distress and leaky gut. But I never completely had freedom from stomach pain, itching, post nasal drip and fluid in my ears. I kept praying and researching until I realized that there were other foods that I was sensitive to. The main thing was sugar.

Many of the gluten free foods on the market are full of added sugar to make gluten-free taste better. I also used a lot of sugar in my cooking. Another sensitivity that I noticed was  grains. After removing them from my diet I no longer experienced the cramping I had been feeling on a daily basis. I couldn’t exercise without severe cramping until I stopped eating grains. Legumes, including peanut butter, also became evident as a sensitivity. Interestingly, most of those foods are not on the Paleo plan. I’m not strictly Paleo and I’m not an advocate of everyone eating Paleo. Our bodies are all so different and we have different needs. It’s best not to get caught up in the latest fad. We just need to learn what works best for us, individually. Stay away from food sensitivities and eat a whole foods diet.

19 gluten associated cross reactive foods

Last year I learned that there are 19 gluten associated cross reactive foods. They are:

• Dairy


• Chocolate


• Sesame


• Buckwheat


• Eggs


• Hemp


• Soy


• Sorghum,


• Millet


• Spelt

• Amaranth


• Quinoa


• Coffee


• Rice


• Whey


• Oats


• Teff


• Tapioca


• Yeast

Thankfully, I’m not sensitive to all those foods, but most of them. If you’ve gone off gluten but you’re still struggling with GI distress, fatigue, or other symptoms, it might be that you need to try an elimination diet or have a lab test done to determine if you have other food sensitivities. One test for this is called the Array #4. It could make your life so much better!

For more information on this check out Dr. Perlmutter’s site.

Don’t be discouraged. You’re not alone. Learn what’s best for you to thrive, and be blessed!