Friday 28 February 2014

About Me: Im Coeliac and what that means

About me: Im coeliac,

Right, so this is not going to be anything heavy but a brief explanation.

Not many people know but I am Coeliac. This is an illness that affects mainly the stomach and intestines. This illness is an allergy to Wheat and/or Gluten. Such as you would find in cakes, bread and pizzas.

I found out when I was 16 that I had this illness after many years going backwards and forwards to the doctors with stomach issues.
Oh the fondness of going to school wearing a size 10 trousers knowing in by bag was either a size 16 or maternity trousers ready for the afternoon. I used to literally swell up and look around 6 months pregnant at school.

After the diagnosis it appeared to be quite simple of how to stop the illness. Or so you would think. Cut out the things that contain wheat. Well there are more than you think, start with the obviously yummy foods, cakes, pizza and sandwiches. But then you get to Gravy, Vinegar and frozen chips that you wouldn't think of. You then become one of those people in the supermarket spending 30 minutes on each isle reading the back of the packets.

10 years ago being coeliac or wheat intolerant wasn't heard of. There were no free from sections in supermarkets and I had to get my food on prescription. Also because it was on prescription it was generally nasty. One good thing about more people having this illness now, or even choosing to go on a wheat free diet, is that now there are many more products on the shelves.
Yes not everything is great, and the bread is nasty but its a million miles from before.
Im guessing I'm spoilt as I had 16 years of yummy fluffy cakes and bread. Not the bread I have now which is stodgy, and has a sandy texture.

Well where am I now, I generally know the products, how to cook them and which to avoid. I do sometimes have a ‘naughty’ meal but I have to sum up in my mind if it will be worth the consequences. I have to be honest, my downfall is usually chocolate fudge cake.
I do get very bored of going out for a meal and always having a salad no dressing, or a jacket potato.

Over the next year I would like to find out more about new products that I have not used as I would love to be able to be 100% wheat and gluten free all of the time. But there are just so many products that just are not there or not up to scratch.

Anyone out there that has a great recipe or product that you have found I would love to know!


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