I started to feel better within a week of going gluten-free (although I do still enjoy some Ezekiel bread products in moderation). Another source of your tummy issues may be dairy products. I switched from dairy to almond milk, coconut milk, coconut creamer, and coconut yogurt. You may want to Google "JJ Virgin" for more background on food sensetivities. I've never felt better since I made some fundamental food changes in my diet. There are many website with gluten free recipes and magazines. Eating Well.com has a gluten free section with many recipes. I also shop at Trader Joes and Whole Foods where you can find lots of great GF, Dairy Free and Soy Free products. It's actually not too hard to go gluten free. Feel free to check out my food diary if it helps.

Hi Everyone,

I've been having some tummy trouble lately, and I've been wondering if it is caused by the glutens that I eat. I've been thinking of going completely gluten free to see if that helps with some of the problems I'm having. I already eat some items that are gluten free, so I've gotten a head start on the game. I have a few questions for all of you that do stay gluten free. How do you manage to keep this lifestyle when around others who don't choose it? What are some gf items that you enjoy the most? Do you have any recipes that taste amazingly delicious? How long should I try being gluten free till I'm certain that is what is causing my tummy problems? Any advice and tips are greatly appreciated.

Make sure you give it at least 3 weeks before adding it back in, but you have to do it 100%. You can't have a few nibbles of something here, or a few crackers there, it will mess up your results. And make sure to read every label, gluten can hide in some pretty silly places. Like Rice Crispies cereal, gravy mixes, spices, pre-made icing, licorice etc.

As for keeping the lifestyle when others don't, you just have to do it. I have Celiacs, so I don't have a choice. The tiniest bit makes me sick. I keep protein bars or trail mix, whatever, in my purse in case we end up somewhere I can't eat. I plan out restaurant meals (though we almost never go out) we know what foods are "safe" to grab off the shelf at the grocery store for quick eating, I google anything I'm unsure of, and I make everything myself if possible. With a few exceptions, we buy almost nothing pre-made.

As for foods, we try to eat naturally gluten free foods. Fruits, veggies and meats. We try to follow a paleo diet, since in our family we have allergies to soy, dairy, peanuts and tree nuts as well as being gluten free. The only "GF" foods we buy are rice bread/crackers/cakes and my kids eat GF rice cereal.

I use this to help finding hidden ingredients. The one I just discovered was 'crisp rice'. Who thought rice would be evil?

http://www.celiac.com/articles/182/1/Unsafe-Gluten-Free-Food-List-Unsafe-Ingredients/Page1.html