Sunday, August 9, 2009

A Message from A & Z

We have now posted on this blog 5 days a week for the last 28 weeks! We have reviewed 127 gluten-free products from 37 different brands. We've tested 9 gluten-free recipes and dined gluten-free at 28 different restaurants. We've also conducted 6 blind taste tests comparing various gluten-free products.

Why are we telling you all this? Well, there's good news and there's bad news.

The good news is that Z is doing a lot better with her RA! In fact, she's feeling well enough that she is planning to go back to law school in about two weeks. The bad news is that law school is a lot of work, so we don't foresee Z having enough spare time to keep up with this blog. While we will still try to post here occasionally, unfortunately we won't be able to keep up the five-reviews-a-week pace.

We're sure at least some of you are wondering about our conclusions concerning RA and the gluten-free diet. To be perfectly honest, we don't think the gluten-free diet has directly played a role in controlling Z's RA. In fact, Z has been experimentally eating gluten again for about three weeks and she's still feeling great.

However, we've still learned a lot from our experiences eating gluten-free. The gluten-free diet has taught us to pay attention to all the food we put in our bodies and, as a result, we have adopted much healthier eating habits that will be with us for the rest of our lives. Being gluten-free has helped us adjust our attitudes in order to be able to make the major life changes that have been necessary to adapting to living with Z's RA. This blog has also been a fabulous project for keeping Z sane while she's been out of school!

We want you to know how much we appreciate everyone who has taken the time to read and comment on this blog. You have all helped A&Z figure out how to be healthy and live with Z's RA, and for that we are extremely greatful. Whether your interest in gluren-free food is a choice, a necessity, or an experiment, we hope you have found this blog useful and that it can continue to serve as a database of gluten-free products.

~A & Z~

3 comments:

  1. Hey, Z,

    Just wanted to stop by to wish you the very best. I'm truly glad you are doing better and well enough to return to law school. That is just wonderful! However, as a leader of a gluten intolerance/celiac support group, I just want to offer one thought for you and others reading. When one goes gluten-free and consumes a lot of processed products, it can impede the healing process. In fact, I've seen folks who've been gluten free for several months and doing well attend gluten-free conferences, consume a lot of processed products there, and suffer a serious setback. Many products that are gluten free may not be a whole lot better for us than gluten products. Our bodies just do not deal with all those "ingredients" well. I've seen folks with RA, lupus, fibromyalgia, and other autoimmune diseases see tremendous recoveries--sometimes even reversal of symptoms and elimination of all meds--after they have gone gluten free, and, in some cases dairy free as well. Both have opiod effects and can do the body harm. Just wanted to mention that for you and any others reading.

    I certainly appreciated your support to me and my blog personally and your mission in helping others! Again, all the best to you, Z and A,
    Shirley

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  2. Hi Shirley,

    Thanks very much for your comment. Honestly, I tend to agree with your point here. I know this blog is all about evaluating gluten-free products, but we did that because people getting started or people with busy lifestyles are inevitably going to look for quick solutions - we did. But ultimately, while I was gluten-free, we started eating a lot more fresh, natural, and organic food. As your blog so rightly points out, these are actually the easy sources of being gluten-free. And this is a habit that we intend to keep, whether I am gluten-free or not.

    Thanks again, Shirley.
    ~Z~

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  3. Just getting started looking for glutin free food to better my life. And my health. Is there a simple list of must have starters? Can i avoid eating all birds and fish,shelfish. I like cow meat and pig. Honestly i have no clue where to start.

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