Staff Writer
Feeling
bloated or fatigued? Do you suffer from frequent digestive pains and problems?
You may suffer from a food allergy. Having a food allergy means eating certain
foods can create adverse reactions for the consumer. For those who can’t
tolerate certain foods, finding and preparing food can be a challenge. Also,
foods that are designed for those with intolerances can be expensive and hard
to find. Though many may not be willing to change their diet, staying away from
these foods can be beneficial to those who don’t suffer from allergy pains too.
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| Imagine not being able to eat half these foods. |
For those of us who can consume
gluten and wheat, not much thought has to go into shopping and preparing food. For
those who are affected by Celiac Disease, however, in a world where almost
every category has some trace of wheat or gluten, finding food can be a bit of
a hassle. By definition, Celiac Disease is caused by a reaction to gliadin, a gluten protein found in wheat. This means if a person with Celiac
consumes wheat, they will deal with symptoms such as diarrhea, anemia, and
fatigue. In order to avoid these ailments, those with Celiac must find
substitutes for wheat and gluten. Rice, brown rice, corn and others are used to
make gluten-free noodles, breads, and other goodies. There is a stereotype about
these foods a lot of the time. Most people who have not tried them, or tried a
certain brand, have labeled all of them as bland and boring. Thankfully, companies
like Udi’s have been helping to turn those stereotypes around with delicious
breads and other goods. In fact, removing wheat and gluten from one’s diet can be
beneficial. Since most of the food we consumed has wheat and gluten, it will be
challenging to completely go wheat and gluten free. No more cakes, breads, and
calorie-rich noodles means you can fill that void with more nutritious foods
like vegetables, fruits, and lean meats. It would be a difficult transition,
but those who switch often express a sudden increase in energy.
Another
challenging condition is lactose intolerance. Being lactose intolerant means
dairy products can create some not-so-pleasant side effects. These include, but
are not limited to, gas, bloating and nausea. Luckily, there are tasty
substitutions for dairy that will make sure those who can’t tolerate lactose
won’t suffer from side effects. Foods like rice, soy, coconut, and almonds are
used to make authentic yogurts, milks, and ice creams. For example, companies
like Tofutti and SO Delicious Dairy Free have created scrumptious and authentic
non-dairy treats. It is apparent there are downsides to eating dairy if you
can’t tolerate it, but are there benefits for going dairy free? Dreena Burton, a
blogger who is familiar with dairy-free diets, has been a vegan for over 20
years. She created a list called “13 Reasons to Stop Eating Dairy” and it makes
some compelling points. The most valid point she makes is that humans aren’t
biologically engineered to consume the milk of a cow. We are not cows. We are
the only species that drinks the milk of another species. She claims that after
she removed dairy from her diet, it was life changing. At twenty, she felt
sluggish and suffered from joint pain. After her diet change, her pains and
problems disappeared. She’s not the only one; thousands of others claim
removing dairy was very beneficial to their lifestyle.
Living
with food allergies can be hard, but making the switch can have many benefits,
like increased energy. Even for those who aren’t suffering from allergies,
removing wheat and diary from one’s diet can be beneficial.
