Gluten-free, Nightshade-free Observations on Day 23

Here's my observations on my GF/Nightshade-free(pretty much tomatoes and usually peppers) diet.

1. I do feel much better in the gut. I did have a night a few days ago that it was hard to sleep because my belly hurt and I had itching issues...this after eating a little more sugar than usual that day AND eating rice(which I still have had problems with for whatever reason). And two Saturdays ago, I had what was probably red peppers in a bratwurst and that wreaked havoc on my gut as well. But once I got over that, things are feeling better (not sure if it's the gluten absence or not, though, but I do know the nightshade absence is doing my body good).

2. I have been losing some weight. Or maybe it's just the lack of bloating and such. But my pants are not as tight. I wasn't overweight at all before this, but I had some weight still from the last pg and w/o nursing, it was hard trying to lose it. The only thing now is that I get cold more easily...

3. I don't notice that I have spent a lot more on groceries. I am skeptical of the highly processed Gluten-free stuff and am trying to eat only "real food". Today I have a hankering for something....carby. I found this site that has lots of great ideas to do Gluten-Free Easily.



For gut healing, I am using digestive enzymes, taking a probiotic/drinking kefir daily(Kefir is supposed to get into the gut better than yogurt cultures.), and trying to incorporate bone broth into my diet.

I think it's doing my gut a favor not sending the harsh (to me) grains through my already irritated gut. I'm one who, before I figured out the "grains are a problem" thing, had very little trouble with white flour stuff, but the whole grain stuff just did a number on me. I think with leaky gut, all that bran and such is just tearing into the gut and making it worse...leading to more/repeat food allergies. Just my theory. It has been scientifically proven, though, that a damaged gut makes one more prone to developing food allergies.

I'm still not sure gluten is a problem though. I don't have more energy or anything like that, that others who have gone Gluten-free have reported. I think maybe the grains were/are more of an irritant or something to the gut(as in...yes, allergy, but more than that), and maybe once my gut is feeling better, I could probably tolerate them better. At least occasionally.


I am going to continue on the GF/NF thing awhile longer before I intentionally trial the Gluten. My chiro says the benefits are supposed to really show themselves at 3 months of being gluten-free. We'll see. My chiro and I are wondering whether I might be able to tolerate nightshades once I have been gluten-free for 3 months...I think she is planning on muscle testing me at that point for the dreaded tomatoes to see where I stand then. She is sort of thinking that it might all be a gluten-based-damaged-gut thing....and when the gut is re-damaged is when my allergens pop up again(my theory there---I am the only one coming back with reoccuring allergies to treat...).

Our wedding anniversary is coming up, and although we went to Lehman's, we didn't go out for dinner. I am still trying to figure out how to do that Gluten-free. I'm craving some lo-mein(and General Tso's, but that is definitely out due to the nightshade factor...), but not sure if I can get a definitive answer at the Chinese restaurant as to whether they are gluten-free or not...most days it's  just easier to stay home...