update on gluten-free

     Well, I say "gluten-free," but really I mean to compare/contrast eating gluten-free vs. when I had foods containing gluten, and there's no denying that I have a sensitivity.  I did almost a solid 2 weeks of sticking to gluten-free, and during that time I was absolutely without any arthritis, my energy level was at a constant throughout the day, and my skin was clear and non-itchy.  Then, about a week or so ago, I ordered us pizza (planned on getting myself the gluten-free crust but then decided to skip the added expense, plus I wanted to see what happened).  A couple of hours later when Jon and I were watching one of our shows I couldn't stop scratching.
     So, I was good the rest of the week, diligently making myself an omelet when the rest of the family had something containing gluten, making no-flour peanut butter cookies as my treat, feeling great.  Again, no joint pain, great energy level, clear and non-itchy skin, no bloating, etc., but then Saturday night Jon and I went to a tapas/wine bar for a date and I had some of the flatbread.  It was late in the day, and I really didn't notice feeling itchy or anything before going to bed, so I was thinking to myself maybe this had all been in my head.  Still, I was good at breakfast and lunch the next day, but then at dinner I had some cornbread and a piece of the apple pie I'd made, and by bedtime I had a very sore and stiff elbow.  One of my knees was feeling stiff and achy as I walked up and down the stairs, and I was so drowsy it was ridiculous.  Also, I slept terribly, and I have been sleeping great when doing gluten-free (another benefit I forgot to mention).
     It may be too early to say that there is a correlation between my eating and my symptoms, but to me it seems undeniable.  I am motivated once again to move back to a more paleo diet for my whole family (after agreeing to still make my waffle recipe once a week, which I won't eat, but Jon loves too much for me to paleo-ize it).  I made myself some paleo pancakes Saturday morning when I made waffles for my nephews and the rest of the family.  I put an egg, a banana, and 1 tbsp of almond flour in the food processor, then made a bunch of little pancakes.  First I did sugar-free syrup, then I decided they were better with a little honey.  I will continue to tweak that recipe a bit to make the pancakes turn out a little heartier, but there is potential.  I am fine with trying weird things, especially if I know it's healthier for me.  I think it depends on your relationship with food...if it's a huge source of pleasure for you and you have strong likes and dislikes, then making changes might come harder.  If you find eating healthy to be rewarding and enjoy experimenting then all of this is not only easy but fun!  My oldest has always given me the most resistance, been the least likely to be on board with trying out new and healthier variations on recipes, but just this morning he said he'd like to try gluten-free.  Ladies and gentlemen, I may have a convert!
     I'm not going to be 100% paleo, I can't afford it nor do I want to be back to being in the kitchen cooking three meals a day plus homemade snacks.  We'll be doing lots of Greek yogurt, and much more in the way of vegetables.  Not going to eliminate dairy as of yet, although I could easily switch to almond milk myself.  I would like to try to get everyone eating almond butter instead of peanut butter, need to find a crunchy version if it exists.  I just have to think that as good as I've felt doing gluten-free, maybe a few other changes will be all the better!
     Interestingly, since mentioning my experiment with eating gluten-free on Facebook, and consequently bringing up paleo again, I've had several friends ask about recipes.  I wanted to compile a list of my favorite recipes and/or websites, so here are a few:

• everydaypaleo.com
• Paleo Comfort Foods cookbook (find on Amazon)
• stiritup.me
• keepitsimplekeepitfresh.blogspot.com
• comfybelly.com (her banana bread is my fave)
• themeanestmomma.com (her chicken zoodle soup is a favorite around here)
• http://www.thewannabechef.net/2011/05/04/almond-flour-chocolate-chip-cookies/ (my favorite cookie recipe, I usually double)

I have already provided links to some different recipes in previous posts, please check them out.  There are so many fabulous paleo blogs now that you literally won't know where to begin, but have fun searching, I sure have!  Sometimes I've merely taken a family favorite recipe and tweaked it to make it lower carb, like substituting some sautéed cabbage instead of pasta or rice, or just skipping a starch altogether (except beans, we still do beans for now).  Add simple salad where you would have had rice or potatoes.  Do two vegetables instead.  Make vegetable-laden soups that are rich in flavor.  Anyway, I need to get to homeschooling this dreary Monday morning, I hope this has been helpful!

gluten-free

     Well, it has been ages since I've posted, but I thought I'd share what's going on with me diet-wise lately.  A couple of months ago we'd had a friend over for dinner, and he mentioned that his sister had gone wheat-free to help with her arthritis.  He said she claimed to be arthritis-free as a result, and given that I've had flare-ups of my own for several years this got my attention.  I began to pay more attention to my body (not to any hypochondriac extreme, mind you) and started noticing some things.  Then, I recently Googled gluten sensitivity and found that I sort of fit into that category, though I'm not too quick to jump on that bandwagon.  Still, perhaps, even if I am not truly gluten sensitive, some of what I've been experiencing might be due to how my body reacts to gluten.

The symptoms:

• bloating- it's always annoyed me that even though I've kept a healthy weight and done a good abdominal workout for as long as I can remember, I almost always look like I'm about 8-10 weeks pregnant, unless I fast a meal or two and suck in.  It's not so much a paunch as it is just, well, bloated.
• joint aches and pains- often worse around the time my cycle begins, from the extra fluid, I'm assuming. Many times it has necessitated taking Aleve, and sometimes I've attributed improved symptoms to doing martial arts (more on that in a minute).  This includes knees, sometimes an elbow, and my finger joints.
• mid-afternoon fatigue- it wouldn't matter if I'd slept 9 hours the night before, I would feel inexplicably sleepy, like I couldn't fully function, and caffeine did nothing for this kind of tired.
• rashes- mainly on my abdomen and chest, this almost seemed like acne, but I don't suffer from acne at this point in my life.  Also, it's very itchy, which acne isn't normally itchy like this.  Hydrocortisone cream would relieve the itchiness, but the bumps remained.  I switched to free and clear detergent and dryer sheets with no improvement.

     So, for the past 2 weeks or so I've been almost completely gluten-free, save for a smidgeon of pasta I had the other night in some lasagna (I use the noodles very sparingly, the thin oven-ready kind), a casserole that had flour in it 2 nights ago (my itching cranked up again after that), and a couple of thin mint Girl Scout cookies.  For breakfast I've had either oatmeal (I realize oatmeal technically isn't gluten-free unless it says "gluten-free"), an omelet, fried eggs, or I made a pan of this gluten-free banana bread.  For lunch I've been eating Chobani with walnuts or almonds stirred in, and for dinner I've been using recipes without gluten (I need to compile a list here on this website).  Here's what I've observed relative to the above-mentioned symptoms:

• bloating- took several days into this but here, day one of my period, I woke up with a flat stomach.
• joint aches and pains- I have none, despite the fact that I haven't done martial arts for a month!
• mid-afternoon fatigue- I also have none.
• rashes- gradually fading, following the flare-up after the casserole with flour in it.

     My conclusion, based on my experiment on myself, is that I feel remarkably better when I don't consume gluten, or if I only consume it sparingly (which leads me to believe I don't have a true sensitivity, certainly not in the same league as celiac disease).  I have a child with type 1 diabetes that benefits when I steer clear of gluten-laden recipes, mainly because of the carbs, but I have to wonder if there isn't more to that.  I might add that I've not switched to expensive gluten-free breads and pastas, which can actually contain tons of processed and carb-heavy flours, albeit wheat-free.  I've simply eliminated that type of food from my diet (breads and pastas).  Now, I have been doing some potatoes and brown basmati rice, which isn't paleo, but listen to this:  since I've backed off on the paleo and found what feels like a balance for my family, Zach's hemoglobin A1c has actually dropped.  Three months ago he was 5.8, and last Tuesday he was 5.5 (he's not been out of the upper 6's or low 7's since his diagnosis almost six years ago).  That's considered normal, folks, more or less (might alert a physician to watch a non-diabetic as pre-diabetic, but still!).  And my child has been able to enjoy eating like a "normal" kid...not like his typical American peers, because we steer clear of that way of eating on principle (visit a Wal-mart and have a gander at your fellow shoppers and you'll understand why).  I think that one of the most helpful practices I've implemented in the last six months is to have Zach do the elliptical machine for 20-30 minutes a day, usually right after he's had a breakfast I wouldn't have allowed when we were eating strictly paleo (a half of a bagel with a fried egg, or chocolate Cheerios with a spoonful of peanut butter- I always throw in protein with carbs).  I don't let him eat like that every day, often I do bacon and scrambled eggs, but I have been trying to cut back on our bacon consumption.  Sounds like I'm a tiger mom when it comes to exercise?  Not hardly...the child does the elliptical while wearing a headset/microphone while playing his cousins online on the PS3, he's very talented.  You have to see it to believe it, but he truly does it, and his cousins know why he sounds out of breath when he's playing with them!
     I will be continuing this experiment with eating gluten-free, and will keep you posted on the ongoing results.  Happy Valentine's Day to you all!