Someone out there is searching for information about what happens if they cheat on their gluten free diet … is it you?
I know this because the searches are appearing on my logs. If it is you – don’t!
Possible excuses:
“Just one won’t hurt” – yes it will. You may not feel any different or experience any symptoms, but the gluten will be damaging your intestines with long term effect and increased risk of many Bad Things, such as infertility, osteoporosis and cancer.
“But it’s my birthday” – even more reason to treat yourself well, surely!
“Don’t be mean, let him share the cookies/cake” (said of a diagnosed child) – this isn’t a fad diet imposed by some mean mother, but a medical necessity. Would you knowingly offer a child food containing poison?
“I know other coeliacs who eat this” – more fool them, then.
“Just don’t tell the doctor” – hello? Whose body is it?
“It says low-gluten” – yes, but low isn’t the same as no, is it?
I know it needs a lot of willpower. In a sense, the lucky ones are those who experience unpleasant symptoms very soon after eating the Bad Stuff, because they have an immediate connection with reasons not to do it.
Just don’t do it. If you are medically diagnosed as requiring a gluten free diet, then stick to the diet. Cheating is only cheating yourself of good health.
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I’ve written a book summarising what we’ve learnt over 20 years of dealing with the gluten free diet, and it might be just what you’re looking for. It packs the lessons we’ve learned into what I hope is a helpful and straightforward guidebook. It’s available on Amazon, as a paperback or for your Kindle… |
I certainly will not cheat on my gluten-free diet, and for many reasons.
First, I absolutely dread the feelings my body will go through if I consume gluten – it is not a pleasant experience in the least bit!
Next, I feel I live a pretty normal life eating all sorts of things I would otherwise consume, with the difference being they are now gluten-free. I post all sorts of recipes online via my blog to help anyone else that feels “tempted” to eat normal foods, especially those foods we all crave (breads, pizza crust, etc).
Bottom line: do not even think about “cheating” or “sneaking” some normal food into your diet. You could be causing damage that will take days, weeks, months to fix up. It’s just not worth it.