OK, for the record, I do not adhere to a strict gluten free diet, but I have cut it drastically down, and here’s why…
One day while running, I was exhausted. Surely by now, after running consistently for months, I should be faster, stronger, and have more energy! So why was I still feeling this way? I began to research and eat “clean eating” and threw in “gluten free” as well. I began to implement these modifications into my diet.
Immediately, the first thing I noticed was the absence of cravings. Cravings were something I lived with daily and just thought it was a part of my psychological makeup. They literally disappeared within 24 hours of making the diet change.
Then, after just a few days, I noticed that I had a more balanced energy level. It wasn’t an energy spike, where I was bounding all around. I was just able to make it through the day without feeling like I needed caffeine or to lay down.
The third thing I noticed was a shift in irritability. I spent much of my life in a state of agitation, once again, just surrendering to the misnomer that it was a part of my genetic makeup. I would also attribute it to getting older and dealing with PMS when the agitation was especially high. After my change in diet, I would catch myself in a state of “well being”, and decreased tension.
After a few weeks into my new eating profile, we hosted an Italian potluck with friends. I ate pasta and a dessert that had a crust. The next day, it took everything I could to just get through the day. The exhaustion, irritation, and cravings were back full force. Fortunately, I was back to “well being” within three days.
I have never experienced the stomach issues that many people with gluten sensitivity or allergy experience, but I do believe that these other issues I mentioned are directly related to me eating gluten.