When my doctor first suggested I try anelimination diet, I scoffed at the idea.
My blood work was normal, and a physical exam revealed nothing unusual.
I visited a board-certified allergist, who conducted an allergy panel.
Frank Bean / Getty Images
Basically, this involved sticking tiny needles with allergens on them into a grid on my skin.
If I were allergic to one of the tests, redness and swelling would raise a red flag.
My allergy panel showed serious pollen and dust allergies, but my blood work came back negative for celiac.
My physicians suggested I try eliminating various foods to see if that was in fact my problem.
If after three weeks I saw no change, Id cut outdairyproducts.
After dairy, Id get rid of soy products.
After soy would come nuts.
After three days without gluten, I felt improved beyond measure.
I didnt experience constant nausea.
I even felt slightly more energetic.
The final verdict, through a diagnosis of exclusion, was non-celiac gluten or wheat sensitivity (NCWS).
The recommended (and indeed, only) treatment is to permanently avoid consuming gluten.
I discovered hidden gluten in things like soy sauce, vinegars, whole-grain tortilla chips, and meatballs.
Wheat flour was a surprising staple in store-bought sauces and ready-to-cook rice mixes.
At first I was extremely skeptical of this new diagnosis.
Nor did I have celiac disease, meaning that my intestines werent necessarily harmed by the digestion of gluten.
As it turns out, NCWS is a tricky condition.
Researchers still arent entirely sure what causes it.
The symptoms of celiac disease and NCWS can be similar.
Gastrointestinal symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloating are common with both conditions.
However, symptoms are reported to have a generally more rapid onset in NCWS.
In other words, NCWS existswe just dont know what causes it or how exactly to diagnose it.
That might explain why some acquaintances were dismissive when I disclosed my new gluten-free diet to them.
Fasano says that NCWS may affect between 0.5 percent and 6 percent of the population.
Experts believe NCWS is because of inflammation, but the exact process is unknown.
This is also the case for celiac disease, whichcan present as asymptomatic.
It can happen at any time.
For the average person, its not a healthy alternative.
People living in rural areas or food deserts may not have access to the same variety of foodstuffs.
Plus, the treatment burden of following a gluten-free diet is high.
Burkhart explains: I dont think that anyone chooses to adhere to this diet and sticks to it.
If they dont experience symptoms, they dont tend to stay on [the diet].
In that case, the switch to a whole food diet would eliminate your exposure to the offender."
Occasionally, friends will ask if Im still gluten-free.
I work closely with my doctor to double-check my diet is well-rounded.
I read the nutrition labels on every supermarket product I come close to.
I google menus ahead of time to verify a restaurant can accommodate me.
Related:
You might also like: 6 Signs of Thyroid Problems You Shouldn’t Ignore
