Welcome to Lexie’s Kitchen! Since 2007 we've been on a journey to recovery with our youngest son. Through diet and targeted biomedical treatments we have made great strides in healing him from the inside out. Click here for the full story and a few words about the ingredients I use.
I was one of those moms who allowed their kids to get accustomed to drinking juice instead of water. It's been a hard habit to break but we're getting there. Today, naturally decaffeinated, stevia-sweetened teas are one of our favorite alternatives to juice.
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Uncovering a Food Allergy to Wheat
Sherri | 46 | Colonial Heights, Virginia, USA
Hi, my name is Sherri and I am allergic to wheat.
I smile when I type this because it sounds like I’m introducing myself at a 12-step recovery program meeting. But I was an addict, not to drugs or alcohol, to wheat.
I have been on a journey for over 20 years to discover what was “wrong” with me. Years before it all began with a debilitating depression in the 8th grade that kept me from attending school and almost got my Mom arrested. After I graduated, I began noticing more and more stiff, black facial hairs and started piling on more and more pounds.
In my 20’s, I sobbed as I learned I had fertility problem called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. (I was blessed to conceive twins with the help of medication!). I started to suffer from chronic sinus infections and hives after I gave birth. I was exhausted all of the time! I was later diagnosed hypoglycemic.
My diet was atrocious! I loved fast food—Doritos, soda, Little Debbie snack cakes. When I cooked it was pasta of course—and I always wanted more. More of the bad stuff, never more veggies or plain meats!
In the late 1990’s, I remember the nurse calling me with blood test results stressing that I needed to get an Epi-pen because my IG-e levels were extremely high. They didn’t know what I was so allergic to so they sent me to an allergist.
The allergist performed the standard scratch test on my back. I reacted to everything he checked me for. He then asked if he could photograph my skin. He took a blunt instrument that looked like a tongue depressor and lightly rubbed it down my inner arm. The skin kept its “mark” for too long, he said, and wrote dermatographism or "skin writing” on my chart. That doctor signed me up for allergy shots but didn’t do a food allergy test.
Fast forward to 2005. I had gained more weight. My sister was sure that I had sleep apnea because I snored so badly. I decided to low-carb diet AGAIN. I’d had success with it before but my cravings always got the best of me and I’d go back to eating all those high carb foods.
This time something clicked inside me. After a few weeks of eating right and losing weight, I noticed something else. My hives were gone! Thankfully for the internet, I had learned about the elimination diet and how to check to see if you are allergic to a certain food by eliminating it for a month or two and then reintroducing it. I remember the day I reintroduced wheat. I had taken a chicken sandwich to work. I was alone for my lunch break and after a few bites I felt this pressure build in my chest. I started belching and was swallowing a lot. I ran to the bathroom and lost my lunch! My esophagus now had a condition called Eosinophilic Esophagitis that I believe was triggered by an allergy to wheat. The hives returned shortly after.
I was scared. I believed I finally had my answer, but how overwhelming it was to think about all of the foods that contained wheat! I didn’t even know, then, that soy sauce had it and so many other foods. Who knew.
I started that day on a path that has changed my life! There weren’t that many gluten-free prepared foods in my local grocery stores. It took me a long time to find acceptable replacements for pasta, bread and desserts.
Today, I am healthy! I’ve lost over 50 pounds but still have a ways to go. I’m grateful that I’ve found almond flour and coconut flour for easy, high-protein breakfasts and desserts. I’m amazed at all of the gluten-free blogs and prepared foods that have cropped up.
Last year, to confirm my allergy to wheat, I reintroduced it back into my diet. Sadly, the hives returned and I will not try it again. I can also report to you that the items I tried smelled bad to me! I can barely stand to walk down the bread aisle in the grocery store. I guess it’s my body's way of reminding me that bread just isn't good for me!
Some of Sherri's favorites!
My life has changed dramatically since 2005. We eat pretty simply now and I believe more healthy. I occasionally get glutened and experience flu like symptoms but it's so rare that it took my husband and me a day or two to figure it out! I haven't had a depressive episode or a sinus infection since being wheat-free, I've remarried (my first husband couldn't deal with my depression) AND I am a grandmother!!! So much to celebrate!
Sherri and family | Thanksgiving 2011
As a footnote: Since I self-diagnosed my allergy, my doctor re-checked my IG-e levels a couple of years ago after being gluten-free for some time. The levels were in normal range once again! My other health problems, I believe, were brought on by my allergy. Depression, chronic sinus infections and hives are known symptoms. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is often treated nutritionally by eliminating wheat and milk. These conditions have never been confirmed by a doctor as being caused by wheat. My own personal disclaimer.
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Making the Switch, spotlights everyday people journeying on to better health and well-being by choosing pure food over processed. For some, it has been gradual. For others it was a complete about-face.
Putting the modified diet focus of this blog aside, Making the Switch is open to all. The point being to bring personal stories to light that encourage young and old to get back into the kitchen to cook real food. As Jamie Oliver puts it, “make only a few small changes and magical things will happen.” Whether it’s weight loss, improvements in a child's behavior or the regaining of health, magical things will happen.
WHAT'S YOUR STORY? Consider being featured on Making the Switch! Click here and drop me a line telling me a little about yourself. Someone is waiting to be inspired by YOU!
Kelly and Lexie a year ago at the Gluten-Free Girl's potluck in Boulder.
Last week, sweet Kelly over at The Spunky Coconut invited me to join her for her second Spunky Coconut podcast. It was a hoot! We had fun rambling on about everything from gluten-free dining, dumpster diving, recipes we're working on, and more. Like Kelly says, podcasts are like listening to the radio but only better!
Have a listen! Head on over the The Spunky Coconut.
A big thank you to Kelly's husband, designer and publisher, Andrew for making this happen.
Tonight I got to thinking about the coming week. This whole bit about Thanksgiving is so food-centric—the preparation, the making and the clean-up. Sure, I love the food, but there is something else that makes this holiday my all-time favorite. It is the slowing down, the catching up with family and friends and the counting of blessings that makes it so special.
This month, Lexie's Kitchen was in the running for Top 25 Food Allergy Mom Blogs 2011. When I got the email announcing that it had made it into the top 25, I couldn't contain myself. Never in my wildest dreams did I think Lexie's Kitchen would pull in 1,216 votes! And it was nothing I did (aside from knocking on your door relentlessly :), it was all you! Your votes have put wind in my sails in a big way! For you, I am thankful! You are my friends, you are a blessing. This Thanksgiving you can be sure I will be remembering you.
If we could fit, I would invite you all to our table—a place card with your name would be waiting. Imagine the time we would have! Alas in the past 18 months over 100,000 different people have visited Lexie's Kitchen—I think we'd need a mighty big table!
I wonder who will be joining you at your table? I am sure they are a blessing to you, and that for them, you are thankful.
This week I am attaching a download for some simple place cards we will be using at our table and I thought I would share them with you. A little extra touch to show the ones we love how thankful we are to have them in our life.
DIY Holiday Place Card Download
1. Choose from a folder-over tent-style or card that would insert into a place card holder.
2. Download the version you'd like.
3. Print on decorative cardstock.
4. Trim and fold.
4. Then in your prettiest handwriting, customize each card.
Downloads:
Place Card Holder Ideas to Check Out:
Clothespin Place Card Holder over at Centsational Girl
Evergreen Place Card Holders over at Martha Stewart
Pine Cone Place Card Holders over at Do It Yourself Duo
Copyright © 2013, Lexie's Kitchen. All rights reserved.
Affiliate Links: Some posts on this blog contain affiliate links. I receive a small commision whenver a product is purchased through these links. Occasionally I receive products in exchange for a review or giveaway post. However, all opinions expressed on Lexie's Kitchen are my own, and I only suggest products or services that I believe my audience could benefit from.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and the statements on this blog have not been evaluated by the FDA. Any products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Authorship: Lexie Croft
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