Tuesday, November 29, 2011

"...and the Doctor Said..." Part II

I used to ignore the "gluten free" banner across the cereal boxes and other foods, ignorantly thinking that it was for "health nuts" who only ate organic things and the like. Well, turns out I'll need to pay a whole lot more attention to that "gluten free" stamp. Parker's blood work came back and the doctor has discovered that he has celiac disease--a wheat allergy.
In our research, we found that this wheat allergy damages the lining of the small intestine, which makes it impossible for one to absorb nutrients that keep them healthy. There are many symptoms and side effects, but in Parker's case, thankfully, there is only the "no weight gain" symptom. Nobody knows what causes celiac disease, and the only way to "cure" it is to eat gluten-free foods. For the rest of your life.
Our online research pertaining to what Parker can eat has been, oh, so interesting. In short, he can't eat what we eat every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Luckily, there's still the veggies, fruits, meats, and some dairy products that can remain on the menu. But, hey, this new diet to help Parker gain weight may help Cam and I lose weight. This may turn out good after all. :)

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