Diet Update

Well, it has been a long time since I have posted.....and an extremely long time since I have posted about our diet.  Many things have changed since I last posted about our diet.

First of all, we have recently gone *gluten free*....because my doctor told me that I had to.  So we are testing gluten out for everyone.  The test isn't going exactly like I had hoped.  It actually reminds me of when we took out dairy, only it seems to be having the same affect on a different child this time.  When we took out dairy, it affected my oldest son the most...which was totally unexpected.  This time, it seems to be affecting my youngest daughter....which I completely didn't expect either.  Everyone loves the new bread that we found, which is very helpful.  We have also tried some gluten free spaghetti noodles with our untomato spaghetti sauce, which we have all come to love!  

We haven't yet tried any treats, because sugar seems to be a huge issue for me.  I am little concerned about trying any substitutes like agave, sucanat, or any other natural sugars.  I haven't had any issues with honey, but my youngest daughter seems to be very salicylate sensitive.  And honey seems to be a huge sensitivity for her.  Hopefully, taking gluten out of our diet will help all of our bellies to heal and reduce so many of our food allergies.

In the last 6 months or so we have removed corn and soy, which seemed to help with so many of the lingering allergies.  We have been able to add some fruits over the last few months.  All of us can't eat each fruit, but some of us can at least eat one or more.  We have added green grapes, cuties, rasberries, strawberries, blueberries, mandarin oranges and oranges.

The boys both willingly accepted the gluten free challenge, which seems to have sweetened both of their spirits.  Gluten wasn't being processed well with either one of them....therefore causing anger issues and frustration issues for both.  Removing it has helped tremendously...not looking forward to testing it....but we will wait until after this weekend to do that.

I have been studying and learning about enzymes and I believe that this intolerance is caused from a lacking of the enzyme amylase.  I am still researching about enzymes, but hoping to find some enzymes that would help our bodies process gluten, starches and sugar better.  These are the things that are broken down from amylase. These also seem to be the things that make me itch.  I have been having huge problems with eczema and hives since before the start of September......many months later.....I am getting closer to eliminating the issue all together...I hope!  :)