Is There a Link Between Wheat Allergy and Obesity?

Gluten Free New Zealand > Gluten Free Symptoms > Wheat Allergy And Obesity.

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This is a question asked by so many people, and there are a number of mixed thoughts on the subject matter. When considering the fact I could be allergic to gluten, I often overlooked it, as I assumed people who are allergic would be skinny (due to the upset tummy's, and side effects... and at the time this was defiantly not me).

For This Article I am using myself as a case study... well former case study!

2004 vs 2007 To you left Lucy the Overweight Gluten Eater (80+kgs),
To your right, Lucy the Healthy Weight Gluten Free Kiwi!(70 kgs)

My Experience With Being Overweight and Allergic To Gluten

Since my University years I have struggled with weight, And I know people talk about the "freshman 10" (the ten kg's you put on when you go to university, from all the hall food and take aways) But surely putting on around 15kg's since I moved to Dunedin to study was a bit excessive. As a student I lived on the usual staple foods, Carbohydrates and a lot of them. Essentially Toast and Pasta were two of my main food groups... along with packet sauces, burgers and pizza... No wonder I was weighing over 80kg's and I am only 5"6.

At this time I had a range of health complains, and often after a big meal, I would find my stomach felt like someone had put a balloon in it, and inflated it to the size of a large watermelon, leaving me bloated and uncomfortable. So go with this bloating, tummy cramps, and gas, I also had Skin Infections, Eczema, Depression, Asthma, Brittle Hair and Nails, Fatigue, Mood Swings, Low Energy, and got more colds then I ever remember getting in my life, and I also contracted Glandular Fever. All of these things made me nearly stop exercising.

Now What Does This Have To Do With Gluten You Ask?

Well now looking back, my weight issues, and symptoms read like a whats what of gluten intolerance. I realize the foods I were eating were no only making me fat, but also making me appear larger then I was due to bloating. The symptoms were contributing to my low energy levels, which is why I struggled to exercise. This went on for the 3 years I was at university...

Making a Change... Or Trying To!

Well as you can imagine, after having so many colds, skin infections, and ecezma worse then when I was a baby, I knew something was up. So on one of my many trips to my Dr at Student Health, I asked her to an allergy test on me or to refer me to a dermatologist, As I would like to find out what was causing them so I could avoid them in the future, in order to prevent my ecezma. To Which My Dr basically told me, I would have eczema for the rest of my life, its incurable, Deal with it! (Not in those words but you get the gist).

As you can imagine this was no the kind of advice I was looking for, and so I continued, eating and doing all of the things I usually would, and so my ecezma and general bad health continued.

Making a Change... For Real This Time

It was not until after my University years, after going home to visit my parents when I had my break through! After winging and complain, and observation of my general appearance and well being my dad suggested to me it could be food allergies causing my issues ( He has recently come back from post graduate course in Nutritional And Environmental Medicine, at the Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine. (ACNEM)). He thought I could be intolerant to either gluten or dairy, I was interested straight away, and as he read me a list of the symptoms, I discovered This was a defiantly possibility!

Dr Rodney Fords Book: Going Gluten Free, How To Get Started. Lists the following Gluten Sensitivity Symptoms

Bloating and Gas troubles
Diarrhea or Constipation
Gastric reflux or Heartburn
Tired, Exhausted, Lethargic
Uncomfortable Tummy
Eating Problems
Lack of Energy
Not Growing Well
Unhappy With Your Weight
Weakness
Chronic Iron Deficiency
Dermatitis, Eczema or Bad Skin
Infertility

Runny Nose and Sinus Problems
Osteoporosis, Bones and Joint Pains
Feel Depressed And Moody
Find it Hard To Think Clearly
Headaches or Migraines
Poor Sleep
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Autism
Hyperactivity or Cranky
Mental Health Problems

* The highlighted symptoms are all common excuses I used for not exercising!

Well when it comes to this list I had 16/23 so I knew it was time to make a change, The answer, a Low Stress Diet For 3 weeks I went on the Low Stress Diet, Free of all gluten, and dairy, eating only natural foods, along with supplements, no carbohydrates, processed foods, or sugars, and it was settled. In this 3 weeks I lost around 8 kgs, had more spring in my step, could get out of bed, would be itching to go for a run, my hair and nails were healthy for the first time ever, my asthma was gone, ecezma was non existent, no bags under my eyes, flawless skin. I was a new woman! Now weighing in at a healthy weight for my height, I continues to follow this natural eating plan, and its hard to miss gluten when you realize how bad it was making you feel! My family who were also on the diet, experiences a rise in energy levels, weight loss, and better general health.

After finding out I was allergic, I wanted to know how much, so I sought out the help of Dr Gluten himself, Dr Rodney Ford, and got my allergy, and IgA levels tested. Turns out I am Gluten Intolerant... not Coeliac, with sensitives to Dairy, Dust Mites, a Few Animals, and Rye Grass... So it pays to check.

Healthy Weight and Gluten Free

Now without gluten I have lost a total of 10 kg's, and no longer suffer from those nasty symptoms. Now I am not saying that gluten intolerance is every over weight persons answer, but there are a number of people out there, who do not know about this illness and its effects on their body.

These are my own personal thoughts on gluten and obesity, if you would like to learn more about gluten intolerance click here, if you would like to learn more about the low stress diet click here.

When I was first diagnosed my Dr (Rodney Ford) gave me a copy of his book "Going Gluten Free" I found this to be a very powerful resource, and highly recommend his books to anyone... He is constantly writing new books, with recipes, medical studies, gluten free journeys of children and adults, dealing with a number of allergies.

For Help and Advice from a Pharmacist or to order gluten free products Call 0800 980 000