I'm no stranger to digestive issues. I had issues as a child, but back then my parents would never have thought I had food allergies, let alone take me to the doctor to test for them. When I went back to school to become a Nutritionist, I did everything I could to heal my gut, including cleanses, probiotics, and supplements.
It helped me a lot at the time, but after I had kids, I fell of the bandwagon and ate anything I wanted to-including foods that didn't make me feel great, like gluten and dairy.
Then about ten years ago, I was speaking with a fellow nutritionist and I was telling her about my symptoms. She told me that I should try going off wheat (gluten specifically) and dairy for a few weeks to see if I noticed a difference. I listened to her and from that day on, I eliminated both gluten and dairy from my diet.
Read 6 easy tips for avoiding gluten
I felt a difference immediately. Within the first few days the gas and bloating reduced to a minimum and I didn't have that "cloudy" feeling in my head anymore (it was especially bad after I had a sandwich for lunch).
If you suspect you have a food intolerance or sensitivity, try eliminating one offending food from your diet that you suspect could be creating challenges for you. Be sure to keep a food journal, and make sure you have a specific column for mental health since food and mood are interconnected.
A good rule of thumb is to give yourself at least four weeks to see if you notice a difference. If you do, then keep going. If you don’t, perhaps you need to experiment with eliminating another offending food. Keep trying this until you have figured out which food or foods are causing the issue(s). Another option is you could go to your doctor and ask for an allergy blood test. This is a more costly option but a good one if you feel you need immediate answers.
Read about baking with dairy alternatives
Although there is always an adjustment period anytime we change our regular eating routine, try and stick with it because you will feel better for it.
I’d love to hear if you are experiencing any digestives issues, and if you are, what you are doing to fix it.
