13 Reasons to be Thankful You Have Celiac Disease
I’m a glass half-full kind of guy. While I may bitch and moan about celiac disease, there are many reasons to be thankful. As the holiday approaches, this is as good a time as any to mention them.
- It is a treatable disease. No medications with a laundry list of side effects. No endless trips to the doctor. Just follow a strict diet. Easier said than done, but it beats the alternative.
- You don’t have to share your Thanksgiving stuffing. So what if it’s because nobody else wants it. It’s all yours.
- Nobody will drink your last Red Bridge. See number two.
- It explains a lot. Falling asleep at your desk. Forgetting people’s names. Now it all makes sense.
- You eat a lot less crappy foods. No cakes. No cookies. No heavy sauces. The way mankind was supposed to eat.
- There is more awareness. It seems everyone is talking about gluten these days. Not always a good thing, but it has opened up more options for us celiacs.
- The celiac community. A wonderful group of people and a great support system.
- My “No Grain. No Pain.” tattoo would make no sense without it.
- The discovery of new foods. Gorilla Munch. Pad Thai. Udi’s Bagels. Pamela’s Cookies. Kind Bars. Never would’ve tried any of these without celiac disease.
- Save money eating out. Fear of new restaurants means more meals at home.
- People really look out for you. Most people will go out of their way to put you at ease. If not, try to get these kind of people in your lives.
- You can still eat sushi and have a cocktail. Wow…am I thankful for this one.
- ???
Ok…fine…so I could only come up with 12. Help me finish the list. Comment below and tell me why you’re thankful for celiac disease.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Janelle Pugh
180 days ago
13. If you do go out, you usually get to pick the restaurant!
The Gluten Dude
180 days ago
Yep. Sushi. Sushi. Sushi.
Carrie Mumford
180 days ago
I would add: There are a ton of GF options these days, and it’s a great excuse to spend a lot of money at your local health food store.
The Gluten Dude
179 days ago
Amen to that. We have an awesome gluten-friendly store right down the street. Quite thankful for them.
Ginger
91 days ago
Do you bring your own soy sauce? Don’t they season the sushi with soy sauce beforehand?
The Gluten Dude
91 days ago
I always ask if the sushi rice is cooked with soy sauce. 99% of the time, it is not. Then, yes, I used to bring my own soy sauce (La Choy, which is gluten free). But now I’m off soy as well.
calgarywalker
179 days ago
13. I’m thankful for being reminded that life is about doing things. Alone or with others. Food is one thing but there’s so many more and now that I don’t feel like complete junk I’m present in a life that non-celiacs take for granted.
The Gluten Dude
179 days ago
Very well said. When you come out of the “celiac fog”, it’s like an awakening.
Diana Strinati Baur
178 days ago
You get to try entire groups of food you never would have entertained before and by using spices and herbs, can open a whole new world of flavors and textures. I never would have tried black eyed peas with ginger, chile and cilantro had I not stopped gluten. Things like that.
The Gluten Dude
175 days ago
This is where I need to expand my horizons a bit. Mrs. Dude is very good at creativity in the kitchen. Me? Not so much.
Jules
176 days ago
The people I have met through and because of my diagnosis with celiac disease have changed my life. Having celiac disease has also afforded me the opportunity to help others, which is a true gift!
~jules
The Gluten Dude
175 days ago
Amen to that Jules!
Carolyn Patrick
176 days ago
I’m thankful for my family and friends who always makes food GF for me when I go to their homes for meals.
The Gluten Dude
175 days ago
If you’re lucky enough to have a support system like that, it is indeed something to be thankful for! Not everyone has it.
GF Vegan Mom
176 days ago
The day I grudgingly (bc I was in mourning) went gluten-free was the day my vegan diet became a high-raw vegan diet that’s jam packed with yummy green juices and green smoothies of which my doctor attributes to reversing my severe osteopenia at a record speed with diet alone.
Celiac disease has been a blessing for me and my family (all four of us were diagnosed in the same year)!
~Priscilla
Laurena
176 days ago
Hello,
I am celiac too and I am having a hard time with osteoporosis. I would love to hear more about your diet and how it helps you. I would really appreciate hearing from you.
thank you…
Laurie
Helen
175 days ago
My Osteopenia also reverted after going gluten free! And all I did was remove gluten! I’ve always had lots of vegetables, so that continued the same. The key to osteoporosis is gluten, not the other things you eat. (unless you have a very poor diet)
The Gluten Dude
175 days ago
All four of you? Wow. Luckily, my wife and kids have been spared.
By the way, just read your latest blog post. 400 symptoms. Unreal how many things Celiac can affect.
Tracy
176 days ago
My diagnosis, though a shock at the time, made the rest of my family get tested. My Mum and my daughter were also diagnosed because of this and will now live healthier lives! My daughter grew three inches in her first year gluten free – she loves not being the small kid anymore!
The Gluten Dude
175 days ago
Three inches? That’s amazing Tracy.
ZC
176 days ago
Maybe it’s not that I’m thankful to HAVE celiac disease, it’s that I’m thankful to KNOW I have celiac disease. I feel so much happier, so much clearer, so much better. And I can see how great life really is without gluten, and that it’s not something to miss or agonize about – it’s really worth it…everyone always tells me “I don’t know how I’d live without gluten!” and I always think “Thank god I can live without gluten.”
The Gluten Dude
175 days ago
Very well said ZC!! I don’t think I would go back to a gluten life even if I could.
Kristy
176 days ago
Im thankful for being more aware of the food I eat. Even if my celiacs magically dissappeared I still wouldn’t eat corn or gluten grains, and would continue to eat organic non GMO foods.
The Gluten Dude
175 days ago
Same here Kristy. Can’t imagine ever going back…even if I could.
sandy
176 days ago
My daughter too, has GF food when I’m there so as not to worry about cross contamination. I really appreciate her doing this for me. It also is good for them once in awhile too:) 14
The Gluten Dude
175 days ago
That is very sweet. My kids still live on bagels. I try to get them to have just one gluten free day. They don’t make it past breakfast.
alice
176 days ago
I love gf food
Laura
176 days ago
Emotional stability. I have been on an emotional roller coaster since my late teens. 48 hours after going gluten free I discoverd what normal people feel like all of the time. I can now make rational decisions and get upset without losing all control. I have met some of the nicest, kindest, most caring people from all over the world because of my Celiac disease. I wouldn’t change it for the world. And, btw, the stuffing I made this year was actually the best I’ve ever had so if people didn’t want to share, it was truly their loss!
The Gluten Dude
175 days ago
Absolutely Laura. I touched on the emotional side effect of gluten in this post. It’s nice not to lose it for no reason anymore. Well…hardly anymore
Wendy
176 days ago
I’m thankful for my daughter’s dx because it led to my own dx. She had symptoms for years, but the labs kept coming back negative. Finally, at age 5, her labs her positive and an endoscopy confirmed celiac. I had ZERO symptoms, but was tested with the rest of our family because of the genetic possibility. My biopsy showed “near 100% villi atrophy”. I would never have known there was a problem!
The Gluten Dude
175 days ago
That’s interesting Wendy. Did you have any symptoms at all?
Helemarie Reavis
176 days ago
I”m so thankful to be gluten free now for 5 yrs. I’m so much healthy now, since my Dr. said it was Celiac. I’m no longer in pain, and always being sick. And believe it or not, I’ love my food, gluten free pizza, ceral, cookies, pies. Hey I’m so happy now that I’m not sick all the time. And my husband and kids, even the grandkids help me to stay with my diet.
The Gluten Dude
175 days ago
That’s the spirit!!
Megan
176 days ago
13. My diagnosis made me a better cook and baker. I had to learn to cook for myself, and now my family enjoys loads of GF dishes. Also this Thanksgiving my cranberry/white chocolate chip cookies were a hit. No one knew they were GF until I ate one!
The Gluten Dude
175 days ago
Love your “Giving Thanks, the AbsoluteMommy way” post!
Irene
113 days ago
Do u by any chance have a good bread recipe? I need a lite one. Any suggestions. Thanks in advance. Irene
The Gluten Dude
112 days ago
Hi Irene. See the recipe from Chef Kate Purdy in the comments section on this page: http://glutendude.com/gluten/gluten-free-cooking/
It was unbelievable.
Ardyth
175 days ago
Dealing with celiac has taught me to have a better relationship with all food. Finally.
The Gluten Dude
175 days ago
That’s a great way of putting in…”a relationship with food”. May be a love/hate one at times
Gluten Free Vegan
175 days ago
Being gluten free and vegan has given me WILLPOWER! Food no longer controls me, I am in complete control of my food, and my health. I must add, I have never felt or looked better!
The Gluten Dude
175 days ago
Same here. Makes you feel like there is nothing you can’t accomplish.
Helen
175 days ago
CD diagnosis have probably ensured a healthier old age and longer years to live, decreasing the risk of associate illnesses.
The Blender Girl
175 days ago
Thanks for sharing this list.
Being gluten free has introduced me to more nutritionally dense flours and grains, and has made me more adventurous in the kitchen, and more compassionate to other people’s needs and journeys.
The Gluten Dude
175 days ago
Well said Blender Girl. Your blog is awesome by the way. Every informative and engaging. Did you really pour food over yourself to get those pictures?
JC
175 days ago
No one gives me fruitcake anymore! What a relief.
The Gluten Dude
175 days ago
Becky
175 days ago
With a doctors note, your gluten free food is tax deductible. Save your receipts.
The Gluten Dude
175 days ago
Is it that simple, or do you need to show comparison prices to the same food item “with” gluten?
Jason
110 days ago
Only the difference in price between the gluten containing item and the gluten free item is tax deductable – and only the portion of your medical expenses that excede 7.5% of your income. (goes up to 10% in Jan 2013). I’ve seen a couple of articles by this CPA that explains it in more detail: http://zinnerco.com/community/2011/01/18/the-celiac-tax-deduction-what’s-new/trackback/
The Gluten Dude
110 days ago
Seems like a whole lotta work for very little payoff…
callmecathy
111 days ago
For the first time in my life since diagnosis I’ve taken up regular exercise – motivated by putting on weight for first time ever (boo!), and by being finally well enough to do sport. Interesting to sort of ‘get’ what everyone else was going on about all those years about having to ‘work off’ that extra cake in the gym etc, and discovered the endorphin rush from going for a run
that has definitely enriched my life.
The Gluten Dude
111 days ago
Love the endorphin rush…
Sassy Celiactivist
95 days ago
I was very ill the year before my diagnosis, and it prompted me to cut my hair short, because I simply didn’t have the energy to deal with my long hair. I love it, and others do, too, so I am, in a way, thankful to Celiac Disease for that LOL Also, for the wonderful people I’ve met because of it. Some of the other reasons I am still waiting for, but I know I will get there!
The Gluten Dude
95 days ago
You will indeed get there Sassy. One step forward and two steps back. That’s celiac!
genie
81 days ago
13. I’m glad I do not feel like absolute s* anymore. I feel like going outside again. I can pay closer attention to my loved ones.
The Gluten Dude
81 days ago
That is indeed a good thing Genie!
Wendy
80 days ago
I’m thankful for Avocados and now Coconut Aminos. And thankful for getting my family eating healthier as well as having met “in cyber world” a bunch of great gluten free people.
Have you tried Coconut Aminos instead of soy? I also just cut out soy. Just curious as to how others decide to go. What made you decide to?
The Gluten Dude
80 days ago
I want soy and dairy free years after my diagnosis when my body just refused to feel better. But no have never heard of the Coconut Aminos. Will keep my eyes peeled.
rob rotondo
60 days ago
it gets me out of going to places i dont want to go
The Gluten Dude
60 days ago
I like that Rob!!