If someone says "I'm dairy free" without questions asked, there is an immediate understanding but if someone says "I'm gluten free," there is an immediate sense of judgement and criticism. This coming February marks four years that I've been gluten free and not by choice. Four years and I still get comments like "Oh, a little won't hurt you" or "Oh, you're one of those people." *eye roll* I deal with it because I'm used to it, I laugh with the jokes because I'd rather not start an argument, but for the skeptics out there, just know this is a real issue people like me deal with.

Maybe it's the gluten free fad that continues to grow. Which actually isn't a terrible thing if it's done properly. Meaning - substituting grains for healthier ones like quinoa, using almond or coconut flour instead of wheat flour, and eating all natural. NOT eating the gluten free products that are loaded with sugar and extra carbs.

Before I went gluten free, I had been very ill my entire life. I used to take tums after everything I ate and thought that was normal. I was in and out of the doctors, on and off different medications, missed a lot of school, and I thought I had what I thought was the "stomach bug" at least once or twice a month. Gluten intolerance is extremely hard to diagnose and years ago, the education gluten intolerance was lacking. It was a friend induced self-discovery that changed my life. One day, my friend suggested I try gluten free pasta which was a brown rice pasta merely because of the taste. It changed my life. For the first time in my entire life, I ate a full bowl of pasta and didn't get a stomach ache among other symptoms. This made me wonder if this was my issue, so I started to continue to substitute my foods for gluten free options and before I knew it, I felt like a new person.

Moving forward, it was a series of trial and error and learning what I could and couldn't eat. When I thought I was eating entirely gluten free, there were still things I wasn't aware of. This was before everything - and I mean everything - was labeled gluten free or not. At this point, I could no longer be tested to see if I had Celiac Disease. To be tested, I'd have to do a "gluten challenge" which meant eating a certain amount of gluten every day for a period of weeks in order for the test to be accurate. Since I already knew eating gluten free made me feel better, I didn't want to go back to being sick just to get the answer I already knew.

Whether I have Celiac or just an intolerance to gluten, it doesn't matter. Gluten is a villain to me. When I eat foods containing gluten, my symptoms aren't ones I'd want to deal with or physically can. Over the course of the last two years, I've had two meals where I accidentally ate gluten without knowing. What happens when I eat gluten? Within 15 minutes of starting my meal, before I could even finish eating, my body sends me rushing to the bathroom, my body instantly bloated, and I break out in hives. Sometimes these symptoms don't go away for a few days either.

It means I have to go through extra steps just to ensure I don't have a reaction.

It means I need to double and triple check with the wait staff and chefs at restaurants to make sure the meal I'm getting is indeed gluten free and then trusting their word.

It means I have to read labels twice of everything I'm eating.

It means I can't just have a little and be okay.

It means I have to bring food backup in case I can't eat anything.

And it's by no means a glorious or easy lifestyle.

It hasn't been easy but thanks to that one meal and my friend who suggested it, I live a much happier and healthier life! If you think you might have an intolerance to gluten, simply take it out of your diet and see how your body reacts. This might take a few days to weeks so be patient and do it naturally. Don't eat all of that gluten free junk food! Pinterest is an excellent resource for amazing gluten free recipes!