eating a book

...so if you didn't already know, i've been on a wheat-free/gluten-free dairy-free diet for about 8 months now. and when i say dairy-free, i mean completely dairy-free not just lactose-free, there is a difference (i didn't know that a first either). the difference is this annoying little milk protein called "casein". so when products say "lactose-free" they are not completely dairy-free, or vegan. i am not vegan because i do eat meat and chicken but when i bake or when i am shopping, i look for vegan products because then i am sure they are dairy-free. luckily, it is now a little easier to find wheat-free/gluten-free & casein-free products because recently they seem to have found links to this type of diet helping children with autism so companies are targeting a demographic. whole foods is my sanctuary.

this wasn't a choice at first but it's grown to be. i really believe our culture weighs too heavily on wheat, esp when i hear more and more everyday that people's bodies turn on them from what seems to be a wheat overdose. I think that's what happened to me. Years of being overloaded with wheat (it's in EVERYTHING, literally, take a look) and then i just couldn't break it down anymore. i'd been having stomach issues for a few years then i got seriously ill for like 10 days in February. i was vomiting and i couldn't even swallow anything except tiny sips of water to stay hydrated. i subtracted wheat from my diet and i was like a new person.

i knew i had always been lactose intolerant but i'm italian so i just kind of ignored it. what is an italian without cheese? in a lot less pain- for this one anyway. I saw a special on TV about doctors that are in the middle of doing studies because there is a new theory that although we need our protein and calcium that doctors have told us to get from cows' milk for so long, they think it isn't natural for us to be getting it from cows because they are a different species and no mammal drinks milk past infancy. hmm, interesting... makes so much sense.

soy milk is a fine substitute. soy- the miracle protein! and the lactose-free cheeses aren't half bad, but if you're like me and have to go vegan, cheese territory is rough. REALLY rough. tofutti brand vegan cheese substitutes are a shining light in the industry. i don't know what they do but i hope they keep doing it. the cream cheese, sour cream and american cheese slices have possibly saved my life.

Pizza was what i longed for the most and having yet to find a shredded cheese or a block to shred (tofutti doesn't make one) because vegan cheese gets really weird when it melts most of the time, i DID finally score a pre-made frozen option by Ian's. actually really good. two thumbs up Ian's. you made my day... or 8 months...

while these are my main vices, since i have such a sensitive stomach i also try to stay away from fried foods, foods high in fat, acids and citrus such as tomato sauce and orange juice, caffeine, chocolate, coffee, tea, carbonation (beverages), egg yokes, & artificial sweeteners. just to name a few. it was kind of exhausting at first but nothing compares to being in pain nearly 24/7. it's a way of life and once you know what to eat and what not to eat it not so bad. i've been thinking about putting together a book/recipe book. i would have bought it.