FOOD ALLERGIES

Wheat Free for Two Weeks

I’m no longer ignoring this food allergy.

I am not a medical doctor. The recommendations that I share in this story are based on my personal opinion and personal experiences in eliminating wheat from my diet. Any reader who has been diagnosed with a food allergy must adhere to the medical advice provided by their medical doctor. Thank you.

This Is My Backstory

I love bread. If it is filled with a combination of mouth-watering buttery sweetness, I appreciate eating it more.

Challah and Hawaiian bread are among my favorites because of the luscious flavor and delicate texture. But I also enjoy assorted savory muffins, croissants, bagels, and waffles when I am in the mood for these baked goods. I mostly relish these foods with my morning coffee.

My latest enjoyment has been toasting these bread and pastries in the air fryer. The texture becomes crispy and flakey just as I like it. And this makes them just right for the Irish butter, cream cheese, or jelly that I lightly spread on these delights. I also find main dish recipes made with crispy and flakey filo dough like the Greek delicacy spanakopita to be a delicious treat.

My list of favorites has been much larger than slices of bread and bites of pastries. Pasta of every kind prepared in various ways, especially with lots of cooked vegetables is among the foods that I love. Others include different types of crackers eaten with melted stringy cheese.

It has always been easy to grab a sandwich for breakfast, lunch, or dinner while on the go. Pizza has always been an easy food to enjoy. My daughter and I would often freeze leftovers for a later time.

I have always found some baked desserts especially delicious. Glazed donuts from my favorite bakery and homemade cookies and an occasional slice of my mother’s sour cream pound cake are among the foods that I classify as sweet treats.

The common ingredient in all these foods that I dearly love is wheat. And the appetite that I have for all my favorite wheat products is reminiscent of the childhood classic storybook “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss. As the story goes,

“I could eat them here, there, or anywhere”,

and so much more!

Many years ago, I was diagnosed with a wheat allergy. Since I had no symptoms, I continued to indulge in all the foods that I enjoy made from this grain.

But I noticed that something was going on with my body when I ate other foods as I have grown older. When I was diagnosed with additional food allergies including one that prevents me from eating pollinated foods (that is a very lengthy list of restrictions) I excluded them from my diet to feel better physically. For the past several years I have had to regretfully exclude many of the fresh fruits and vegetables that I love throughout the seasons of the year. While cooking the foods that I am allergic to kills the pollen protein that makes me ill, except for nutritional supplements, nothing has been a substitute for being able to eat these allergens.

However, my consumption of wheat products drastically increased over the years. And herein lies the problem.

A New Enemy

For a few years, I have been plagued by a serious sinus problem. Different medications, visits to my doctor, and home remedies failed to help me. My problem only worsened.

Intense nasal pressure that radiated throughout my pounding head and ears, congestion, and vision problems were the symptoms that almost became nonstop. I only received relief within a few hours of taking medication. But then the problems returned with a vengeance.

But those symptoms were not the only ones I experienced. A few times my heart began to pound very hard, and I felt as though I was blacking out. Since I had a recent physical examination and was told I was in good health, I did not believe these symptoms were anything to worry about. I assumed stress caused my body to react in that manner. During these episodes, I laid down for a while and the symptoms passed.

One night after snacking on a few glazed donuts, the sensation intensified again, and I planned to return to my doctor the next morning. But after a good night’s sleep, I felt great in the morning. But, as soon as I had a light breakfast, the very bad symptoms returned. My head pounded so hard that I felt it all over my body. My sinuses became so congested that I could hardly breathe. When I felt like I was close to blacking out, I drank a full glass of water as I realized what was happening to me. I had simply eaten a bagel.

As I lay down to recuperate from this episode, I suddenly remembered that two different doctors told me that I was allergic to wheat. And I realized that what I was experiencing was an allergic reaction to wheat.

I did not immediately return to my medical provider because I discovered the source of my physical problem. But I researched the symptoms of wheat allergies and found that all the symptoms that I endured for too many months to quantify are connected to this allergy. Since that moment of discovery, I have been committed to removing all wheat from my diet.

While I will carry an epi-pen because I realize that wheat could potentially cause anaphylaxis, my elimination of wheat has helped me physically.

I Am Now Wheat-Free

All the physical problems that I have been struggling with are gone. That means no more:

• clogged ears,
• relentless pounding headaches,
• heart racing,
• eye pressure,
• feeling weak and faint,
• nasal congestion,
• feeling unwell, and
• crawling sensations in my head because of the intense sinus pressure.

In addition to the physical ailments that I had, my cravings and continuous urge to eat wheat products continue to decrease every day.

I have been able to eliminate all the unhealthy wheat from my diet because I have been using specific strategies.

Eleven Steps to Eliminating Wheat

These recommendations have been helping me to remove wheat from my diet. If wheat is also your enemy, perhaps you can use them, too.

My easy-to-follow steps are available below for you to use.

1. Value the importance of good health. Come to terms with the reality that wheat is dangerous and unhealthy to eat.
2. If you are a huge snack lover, explore different wheat-free options. Things like flavored rice cakes, different popcorn seasonings, nuts, smoothie blends, jerky, and dried fruits will fill the culinary void when you eliminate cakes, cookies, donuts, and other wheat treats from your diet.
3. Carefully read food labels when purchasing and preparing foods as well as beverages. Stay away from anything that contains wheat, even in very small amounts.
4. Avoid shopping for groceries when you are hungry or are pressed for time. This will prevent the urge to purchase foods that contain wheat. Patience is the key to making great food choices.
5. Prepare healthy foods ahead of time to eat while on the go. This will eliminate the desire to stop at fast food restaurants and order foods containing wheat.
6. Try wheat-free grab-and-go selections at fast food and convenience stores. There will be plenty of foods to select from like red beet, buffalo-flavored boiled eggs, nuts, sliced cheese, sweet and spicy pickles, and so much more. The food labels just need to be read.
7. Don’t be afraid to try gluten-free foods along with foods made from other grains.
8. Be aware of menu options before visiting restaurants. Avoid eateries that have an inadequate selection of wheat-free dishes.
9. If you enjoy specific sandwiches at fast food restaurants, order them without the bun. Eating them without the bun can be more satisfying than denying yourself. Additionally, ask for gluten-free buns at restaurants when you order a sandwich. If the establishment does not serve that type of bread, request that they start supplying it.
10. Experiment with preparing recipes made with grains other than wheat. Most of your favorite recipes can be adapted from wheat to wheat-free.
11. Do your homework and take the initiative to learn independently. Visit a health food store to discover wheat-free options. And visit relevant websites as well to increase your knowledge about wheat alternatives. Talk to a nutritionist, your medical doctor, or a health food store worker for unique ideas.

My Final Thoughts

Now that I have eliminated wheat from my diet, besides the elimination of all the adverse physical symptoms that I previously mentioned, three positive benefits need to be highlighted below.

1. I have always struggled with my weight. But now I no longer feel or look as bloated as I usually do. And this change occurred in only two weeks. Perhaps this journey will make future weight loss efforts easier. I now have a new sense of optimism about shedding pounds.
2. My mood has changed for the good because I am no longer living with the debilitating symptoms that controlled my life for a long time. I have noticed that I am no longer irritable and short-tempered. Being wheat-free has simply made me a happier person.
3. I have activated a level of self-control that reflects the self-discipline that was buried deep within. This now enables me to celebrate the reality that food does not control me. Now I am reclaiming self-confidence because I have a can-do-it spirit.

In conclusion, my advice is straightforward. If you receive a diagnosis related to a food allergy, take heed. Even though it may not seem as though the allergy affects you, you need to engage in research to discover some of the subtle and more blatant ways it does. Therefore, it is critical to listen to your body. Physical ailments that perplex you and stubbornly prevail may be connected to food allergens.

Most importantly, follow the directions that your medical doctor provides in your treatment plan.

If you find the study of wheat allergies to be of interest, I have attached a link to a YouTube video called “Wheat: Unhealthy Whole Grain” by Dr. William Davis for you to watch. Perhaps this video will help you gain new insights on this topic.

Thank you for sharing your time with me and reading my story. If you suffer from food allergies I hope you embraced the words of support, hope, and encouragement that I provided.

I invite you to share your experiences with food allergies in the comment section of this story.

Here is my golden ticket that helps me accomplish my mission.

Dr. Deborah M. Vereen is a retired Teacher and School Administrator. Her website is www.Drdeborahmvereen.com and her YouTube Channel is

Copyright © 2022 Dr. Deborah M. Vereen. All rights reserved.