Those of us on a gluten-free diet can say life is better now. We feel better without the symptoms we lived with before learning that gluten was causing our problems. Sometimes, there are regressions if we have accidental gluten exposure or are in the early stages of the diet and still trying to heal. We come from all walks of life, and once we learn to navigate our diet, we live comfortably.
A study that took place in France, published in March of 2022, backs this up. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/6/1210
Life on a gluten-free diet is good again!
STUDY RESULTS
Authors: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
COMPLIANCE WITH GLUTEN-FREE DIET IS ASSOCIATED
WITH BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE IN CELIAC DISEASE.
“The quality of life (QOL) of patients with celiac disease (CD) can be altered by both symptoms of the disease and by the restrictions of the gluten-free diet (GFD).
The objective was to determine the factors associated with better QOL in a large cohort of CD patients. A link to an online survey was sent to the members of the French Association of Gluten Intolerant People (AFDIAG). The French-Celiac Disease Questionnaire (F-CDQ), scoring from 0 to 100, was used to measure the QOL. Other data collected were sociodemographic characteristics, information on CD, purchasing and consumption habits of gluten-free products, and a self-assessment scale (ranging from 0 to 10) to determine
the compliance with the GFD.
Among the 907 CD patients who returned the questionnaire, 787 were analyzed (638 women (81%); median age: 49 years; 71% with self-assessed GFD compliance > 8). Their median F-CDQ was 73 (range: 59–82). In multivariate analysis, the main factors associated with a better quality of life were the long duration of the GFD, good compliance with the GFD, and the number of follow-up visits.
Compliance with and duration of the GFD are associated with a better quality of life in patients with CD. Taking this into consideration would offset its restrictive aspect and improve its adherence.”
What is Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease is an auto-immune disorder that involves “chronic inflammation of the small intestinal mucosa due to the ingestion of gluten proteins in genetically predisposed patients.” See the above link for the source of information.
Symptoms arising from the damage to the walls of the intestine create varied lesser to more aggravated symptoms. In some cases, the damage goes undetected for some time due to the lack of more aggressive symptoms and is sometimes referred to as Asymptomatic Gluten-Sensitivity.
The symptoms can be some or all of the following, and living without these symptoms is far better than continuing to eat gluten-containing foods.
Symptoms of Celiac and Gluten-Sensitivity.
People with Celiac may have several of these symptoms, only one, or alternating symptoms occasionally.
- General malaise and an upset mental state, brain fog, and chronic fatigue or sleepiness despite getting a full night’s sleep and/or becoming drowsy after eating.
- Abdominal pain.
- Swelling or puffiness of the body, weight fluctuations.
- Inability to gain weight or thrive.
- Inability to assimilate nutrients properly, vitamin deficiencies.
- Diarrhea or Constipation. Sometimes, with alternating bouts.
- Anemia.
- Joint pain.
- Skin rash, eczema, and itching.
- Headaches.
- Mood swings from depression to anger.
Life Changes
A gluten-free diet alters the life of a Celiac or Gluten-Sensitive person to a great extent. It is acknowledged that the diet can be socially limiting, restrictive in food choices, and somewhat costly and time-consuming to maintain.
We would not wish that anyone go through this, but on the other hand, in comparison to other things that could happen, the opportunity to deal with this only through a change in diet is comforting.
Because the symptoms can vary, it often takes a health professional experienced in Celiac to recognize the need for a test.
Sometimes, in families, the symptoms displayed by children, because they are often only periodic, are relegated to a general crankiness of disposition. Some periodic unexplained temporary unwell feelings tend to come and go. Gluten can mimic other conditions, including misbehavior. You can understand if someone is in pain inside, they may act out. Unfortunately, in previous times, Celiac was not considered unless someone was severely malnourished. This underlying discomfort inside can go almost undetected, even by the individual. A child can learn to cope with periodic malaise, thinking this is normal. A parent can misunderstand and think their child is just being temporarily difficult.
If a child or adult has an allergy, the symptoms are associated with eating the offending food. However, since gluten is in so many foods, the symptoms are not always connected for some time.
If there are unexplained symptoms over time, it is easy to do a gluten-free challenge and rule this out before more radical therapies are tried. In the past, strong medications have altered a person’s life and only muted the feelings or mental symptoms involved. Sometimes, a grandparent suffered for a lifetime and became known for their crotchety behavior.
A Gluten-Free Challenge
It should be noted that it may be difficult for anyone to consider giving up gluten. Often, everything else is tried first. We can all understand this. Who would want to give up ever having their favorite bread or cereal? For some teens, the thought of no more pizza can be a worse fate than death itself. The desire for Gluten-containing foods can act similarly to an addiction for some. Especially in the early stages, even if you know you are gluten-sensitive, you can easily convince yourself that eating only a little won’t matter.
But eating that little bit does do progressive damage to the villi in the intestines and, over time, can lead to worse symptoms.
The easiest thing to do is to go to your doctor and request a Celiac test. There are blood tests that can more easily diagnose Celiac. You may be gluten-sensitive if symptoms continue even after a negative blood test. There is no test for Gluten Sensitivity, but the damage to the intestine is similar and just as progressive over time.
To go on a gluten-free challenge, you must eliminate all gluten-containing foods for an entire month to six weeks. Gluten can remain in the intestine for a month. Usually, by the second week, some symptoms may have lessened.
Going on a gluten-free diet for life is better than doing progressive damage to one’s health through further disease complications.
There is life after Gluten!
As the study shows, Celiacs have a Better Quality of Life after going gluten-free. This goes for anyone with Gluten-Sensitivity as well. Having grown up eating a regular gluten-containing diet and learning to live with many of the symptoms, thinking that was just how I was. I can say I really enjoy being free of those things now! I am in good health. Enjoy life, and I know you can also do it!
Take charge of your life and Be Well.
Easy Gluten-Free Recipes to take on a camping trip in my Cookbook, Gluten-Free, You Can Do It.
Gluten-Free Fry Dough Recipe for Dough on a Stick over a campfire: Pizza and Bagel Mix #5 on page 270.
