gluten free zen
Taking The Stress Out Of Gluten-Free Grain-Free & Dairy-Free Living
Go With Your Gut
Over the weekend I ordered a hot chocolate at a specialty shop downtown. I like to go to that particular shop because I know that their sipping chocolate is dairy free and they will make me a hot cup with almond milk.
Or so I thought.
If possible, I usually watch people make my food and drinks. Because honestly, no one cares as much about my food allergies as I do. But on this occasion I was on a date weekend with my husband who has been traveling a lot. My focus was on him and we were chatting away, not paying attention to my favorite cup of sipping chocolate. As we walked out the door with my to go cup, I first put my nose to it and inhaled deeply as I always do. Ahhh…chocolate. Is there anything better on certain days?
Hmm…it smells different.
I stopped in my tracks. Took a couple of sips and again realized…something is different. I looked at my husband and said, “Do you think I should go back in and double-check if they made this with almond milk? I asked her to make it with almond milk right off the bat.” For whatever reason, I hate to be an alarmist. I hate to be one of “those” paranoid people who whine, or throw a fit when they think their order isn’t prepared properly. But my husband looked at me and said, “Just go back in really quick and ask. What’s wrong with asking?”
So I popped back in and nicely asked and… you guessed it. She made it with cow’s milk! I told them I was allergic to cow’s milk and that I had asked for almond milk. They apologized (kind of) and gave us a tiny little vegan caramel to share. How generous…and of course, made me another sipping chocolate with almond milk.
Luckily, those two or three sips only resulted in mild stomach issues and a little swelling. There’s a theory that if you abstain from your sensitive foods and allergens that you can eventually add them back into your diet at some point once your gut has healed. Not so with me. My body now recognizes gluten and dairy almost immediately, where several years ago it would take 12-24 hours to appear.
This “accidental” exposure has happened to me numerous times with gluten and dairy. Seriously, more than I can count. It can make even the most anti-alarmist a little paranoid and skeptical. It has even happened in restaurants where I order off of the gluten-free menu and make sure there’s no dairy in my entrée. As a matter of fact, sometimes when we are extremely busy, which we have been, we eat out a couple times a week. Even though I’m careful, very careful, I can tell after a few restaurant excursions that I am slowly being fed allergens in one form or another even if they tell me I’m not. Swelling joints, stomach issues, headaches, and if it’s really bad, shingles appear. Then I know for sure.
When we were standing at the counter waiting for my sipping chocolate, my husband looked at me, shook his head, and said, “Always go with your gut.”
Wise words.
Always. Go. With. Your. Gut.
Who cares if people think you are an alarmist, paranoid, or just into the latest crazy diet fad? It’s your health and it’s important. A good reminder.
Here’s a very interesting article that popped into my email this morning. I am set up on Google Alerts for gluten and dairy intolerance articles. This article is very simple and informative in the way it explains the body’s response system to allergens, antibodies, and how the inflammation process works.
*Photo courtesy of DrOZFans.com
6 Comments on “Go With Your Gut”
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gluten free zen 
Wow! That really could have ruined your weekend! So glad your heeded your gut and that you weren’t affected any worse than you already were.
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It’s a hassle, but such is life! If it had been gluten, I would have been sick for three days. Glad my husband was there to remind me that I need to think twice in these types of situations!
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Hey Good Buddy! This article is just great. It really helps me to better understand how inflammation occurs in my body. It helps me trust that my body can also heal itself over time. Woo Hoo. I loved the 5 min. video. Awesome explanation of how this happens when I eat processed gluten. You are so good at bringing us such helpful knowledge. Thanks and thanks again. Gay E.
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You are very welcome, Gay. Hope you are doing well! 🙂
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We must care for ourselves — no one else will. Glad you went back!
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Certainly true! I’m glad I went back too. 🙂
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