My 82-Year-Old Mother's Results From Going Gluten Free...

[Monklady123]

Several months ago my mother mentioned to me that she'd had bad intestinal "issues" for a week or so. Really bad. She's already stick-thin so couldn't afford to lose any more weight, but she couldn't eat anything she said. So I insisted that she try the gluten free diet. She called me a week later to say that she hadn't had problems since she gave up gluten! She still had some stomach issues but I explained that with her system all upset it would take awhile to get back to normal.

Well she's had "stomach trouble" for years and that had gotten worse lately, so that she had to give up some of her favorite things such as raw tomatoes.

Anyway...I'm visiting her right now. She has been totally 100% gluten free (she knows how to stick to a diet because she's had high cholesterol for some years) since she gave it up cold turkey. I brought some farmer's market tomatoes, forgetting that she really couldn't eat them. She did eat them because she couldn't resist and they were so good. She had absolutely NO problems from eating them.

Also, this morning I realized she was sitting here reading the newspaper. For the past year she'd been saying that her eyes were "funny" and she couldn't read very long. I said "hey Mom, you're reading that paper without any trouble." She said yes, "for some reason it doesn't bother my eyes anymore."

Um... darn doctors! (her doctor basically said no it couldn't be gluten.)

My dad told me that he sees that she has more energy. She can read. No more intestinal problems. She can eat tomatoes. She's gone totally gluten free, and even my dad has (pasta, etc.) except that he eats regular bread. My mom even bought herself her own toaster. She's become a label-reading fiend and can now quote exactly what's in some common things. Although she did say "I always read the label again just in case...you can't trust these companies. rofl)

Anyway...I am SO thankful I suggested it. And thankfully she can buy Udi's at the grocery two blocks from their house, plus some cookies she likes (to have with her afternoon tea, a necessity. lol).

So that's my mom's success story. Just thought I put that here, as a success story.

[squirmingitch]

YAY! That's a nice success story. Good for your mom!

[sreese68]

That's so cool! Not cool that she has to go gluten free, of course! Cool that in her 80's, she has an open mind and wants to learn new things and apply them to her life to improve it. (Some people I know half her age could learn a lesson from her!) Glad she's feeling better!!!

[bartfull]

Give her a big hug from me. I'm so glad she's feeling better. And you know, I bet she doesn't see herself as old - she just sees herself as HER. Remember when you were in first grade you would look at the "big kids" (sixth graders) and wonder what you would be like when YOU were a big kid? And when you got there, you were still just you.

My wish for all of us is that as we age, we all remain "just us". Your Mom has done that, and she is an inspiration. How nice that she will be able to enjoy her life more now.

[beachbirdie]

What a heart-lifting story! Thanks so much for sharing it! It is just wonderful that she has been able to see so many improvements in her quality of life!

Cheers!