Did you know that there are many people who are intolerant to, or cannot eat, wheat? Neither did I — until I discovered I was one of them. Although I’ve never had a test to confirm it, I can tell you that living without wheat in my diet has changed my life. I’ve had to give up my favorite food, pizza, and find new gluten-free breads and pasta to eat, but the rewards to my general health and well-being have been amazing. I just feel better. My digestion, my energy, my body. Who knew?

Celiac Disease: The Real Struggle

I consider myself one of the lucky ones because I’m only in tolerant of gluten in food. However, there are many people who can’t eat wheat at all. Most of these individuals suffer from celiac disease and must depend on organic and health food stores for their shopping. I can tell you that living without
wheat in my diet has changed my life.Even the smallest bit of wheat can make their bodies go haywire. Celiac disease (CD) is specific to one thing: gluten. Wheat contains gluten (a protein), and so do many other grains, like rye and barley. Celiac disease does not go away. It is a lifelong autoimmune intestinal disorder. A toxic reaction in the intestines interferes with the absorption of nutrients.

How do you know if you have celiac disease? Your body is usually predisposed to it, since it can be part of your genetic makeup. Talk to your doctor. There are tests available to determine if you are affected. Symptoms of CD can include: bloating, gas, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, weight loss, anemia, bone or joint pain, depression, irritability, fatigue, tooth discoloration, failure to thrive (in infants), and infertility.

There are no medications to help people with CD. The only course of action is to take gluten out of the diet. In time, the intestinal damage will begin to heal, and within weeks of gluten being removed from the diet, the antibody levels will decline.

Remember, gluten can be found in many foods and even as a trace food in manufacturing. Unless it says gluten-free, don’t assume it is, even if you read the label.

What? I Can’t Eat Bread?

Not everyone has CD. For those that are gluten intolerant, eating gluten can be uncomfortable, but it won’ t have long-term effects. If this is the case for you, do what I do: don’t eat wheat. Seems easy, right? Well, wheat is in just about everything. Did you know it’s in soy sauce and, of course, pizza? The good news is that there are many foods that don’ t contain wheat. Most crackers and chips are out, but corn chips and popcorn don’t contain wheat. Pretzels are out, but rice cakes are in. Not the best foods perhaps, but your intestines will thank you. Plus, taking wheat out of your diet can benefit your waistline, too. Imagine all the carbohydrates that you won’ t eat.

Find the foods you like that have no wheat and keep them around. Like everything in life, taking wheat out of your diet is an adjustment. I do sneak in a slice of pizza now and then, but only one slice. As hard as it is, if I eat more than that, I pay for it two days later. It’s just not worth it.

Eating out can be the biggest challenge, but there are always foods you can eat that don’t have wheat; the menu is just more limited. Substitute, especially if you have diet restrictions.

If you suspect that wheat has been troubling you, talk to your doctor and she can make suggestions so that you can achieve your optimal health goals. What have you got to lose, except maybe pizza made with wheat!

For more information on celiac disease and gluten-free products, visit these websites: Celiac.org and Celiac.com (gluten-free products).

Please note: The information is purely the opinion of the author.

Charlene Schosser has a passion for health and nutrition and is the owner of Schosser & Co., LLC. Please visit her website: MarketAmerica.com/CharleneS. Please direct any comments or questions to