I finally stopped eating wheat

This is why.

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In a Nutshell Starting in August 2018, I started getting itchy, welt-like rashes all over my body after eating. I spent years cutting different foods out of my diet before I finally gave up and saw an allergist/immunologist in December 2022. Lo and behold, I'm allergic to wheat. Who knew you could develop food allergies as an adult?! It took me a while to finally stop eating it, but now I'm fully committed to the wheat-free diet. I'm still getting the hang of it, but the change has been well worth it so far. Scroll down to read what this process has been like for me. But first: • 10 tips for managing nighttime joint pain • Yoga vs. Pilates: Which is a better workout? • 11 signs that you're not eating enough Be well, Morgan Mandriota Newsletter Editor, Healthline

Written by Morgan Mandriota April 5, 2024 • 2 min read

what's got us buzzing Welcome to my wheat-free journey After testing positive for a wheat allergy, my doctor offered two potential solutions. I could either take a daily antihistamine to suppress my symptoms and keep eating all of my favorite foods like bread, pasta, and pizza … or stop eating wheat. Cue the internal conflict. I knew I didn't want to live on another medication, so I weighed the pros and cons of changing my diet. I also knew that I didn't want to say goodbye to pizza or pasta just because they made me itchy. After all, I'd basically grown used to the rashes by that point. So ultimately, I decided "What's the big deal?" and continued on without change for another year. Turns out, consistently eating something you're allergic to is a much bigger deal than my doctor led me to believe. In a recent Healthline newsletter, Mohini Bhakta, a registered dietitian at Healthline, warned that food allergies should be taken seriously. "That itchy skin is an immune response and may be a sign of mild anaphylaxis," she says. "Even if this side effect has been mild in the past, it could become more severe down the road. And since anaphylaxis can be fatal, it's safest to avoid wheat completely." Anaphylaxis? FATAL?! After reading that, I knew it was time to say goodbye to wheat forever. It's only been 2 months, but I've already noticed a drastic difference in how I feel. I don't get rashes anymore, I'm no longer scabbed up or bruised from constant scratching, and I've saved myself the anxiety over potentially dying from anaphylaxis one day. Although I definitely miss eating garlic knots and avocado toast, the change hasn't been too tough. The biggest challenge is remembering to order gluten-free (GF) when I'm out. I've accidentally eaten rye toast at the diner and a regular bun on a veggie burger, only to realize later on, once I've found myself aggressively scratching at my legs. Oops! I've found that it's much easier to stay on track when I'm home (read: in full control). Grocery shopping hasn't been so bad, either. Here are some of the yummy meals and simple swaps I've grown to enjoy: making breakfast tacos with corn tortillas every day using a GF pancake and waffle mix for chocolate chip blueberry pancakes stocking my pantry with fruit snacks, rice cakes, veggie chips, and GF cookies baking GF goodies or buying pastries and treats from local GF bakeries eating Amy's GF Mexican bowls, mac and cheese, and burritos for lunch eating Annie's chicken noodle soup with rice pasta for a great, light, healthy dinner Do you follow a wheat- or gluten-free diet, too? Email me at wellnesswire@healthline.com to share your favorite brands and products! I'll take all the recommendations I can get. JOIN NUTRITION EDITION

Great finds I love these cookies       Maja Matcha Sugar Cookie Mix Most gluten-free cookie mixes I've tried made crumbly, not-so-great cookies. I can confidently say that Maja's mix takes the cake for the best GF cookies I've ever baked in terms of texture *and* taste! I've tried a bunch of their flavors, all of which are great, but matcha sugar is the most unique (and delicious). The green tea is subtle enough to add a nice spin to the classic sugar cookie. The mix is also dairy-free, vegan, and kosher — very allergy-friendly. SHOP NOW Every product we recommend has gone through either Healthline's or Optum Store's vetting processes. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline and Optum Store are owned by RVO Health.

 

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