With a Renewed Mind

When I first started my gluten free lifestyle, it took a lot of trial and error to figure out what worked for me and what didn’t. I’ve noticed that my symptoms vary and can range from mild to severe – depending on what I eat. With all of this trial and error, I have also found a few ways to help me feel better when I’ve accidentally eaten gluten-containing foods, and I want to share them with you!

Below are 10 essential tips to help you recover.

1. Heating Pad

My heating pad is one of my favorite items to use whenever I have a stomach ache, have cramps, or when I just need some comfort. The heat from the heating pad helps to relax your stomach muscles, which in turn, eases stomach pain. You can buy one online from Amazon or in retail stores such as Walmart or Target. This is the one I use. I love this heating pad because I can control the temperature setting.

2. Essential Oil

One of my favorite ways to relax and ease stomach pain after I’ve eaten something with gluten is to rub essential oils on my stomach – especially peppermint oil. It does an amazing job with relaxing the stomach muscles and creating a relaxing feeling. I use this brand from Amazon. (I rub this on my stomach, on my wrists, behind my ears and behind my neck to help soothe the anxiousness, body aches, headaches etc). Of course, find one that works best for you.

3. Stay Hydrated

Drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated helps to improve digestion. Which will move the food you’ve eaten through your system much easier/faster. Tip: Try drinking hot water with fresh squeezed lemon juice in it. Hot water with lemon has been a staple in my recovery kit lol. It is extremely effective in helping to settle my stomach quickly. Lime also helps if you don’t have lemon.

4. Ginger

I absolutely cannot live without ginger. I usually juice fresh pressed ginger root in a juicer and keep it in the refrigerator. With the juice from the ginger, I make tea or take a teaspoon of it once or twice a day. Ginger helps to settle the stomach and also helps to promote digestion. Which is good because you want to get the gluten out of your system. I HIGHLY recommend keeping some in your kitchen. If you can’t juice the ginger root, tea bags from the grocery store are good too, or you can boil the ginger root on the stove and make tea with it.

5. Sleep

When all else fails, try to get some rest. Sleeping allows the body to recover and you will get some relief from the pain for a while.

6. Fast

When I’ve eaten something with gluten in it, and I am experiencing pain in my body, I fast for several hours. One of the best ways to reset your gut or give things in your stomach a chance to settle down is to go without eating for a couple of hours. When you do eat again, make sure you start with very light foods or fruits. The length of time that you fast is up to you. It is very important that you consult your doctor prior to making the decision to fast.

7. Probiotics

Taking a probiotic once a day has been an absolute game changer for me. Our gut is comprised of a system called the microbiome. The microbiome has both good and bad bacteria. When we experience symptoms like nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, stomach aches, it is usually an indication that things are off balance in the microbiome and that there may be more bad bacteria than good. Taking a probiotic can help to increase the number of good bacteria in the gut which can help to promote healthy digestion and improve feelings of wellness. There are several brands to choose from.. this is the one I take.

Probitoics are also naturally found in fermented foods such as yogurt, kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi – to name a few. I encourage you to carefully do your research to find the best option for you.

8. GlutenEase

GlutenEase is a digestive enzyme supplement designed for individuals with gluten intolerance. It helps to break down gluten-containing foods (such as pizza, pasta, bread etc.) I want to be clear that this may not be effective for everyone and that it should be used sparingly. For example, taking this pill does not mean that you can or should overindulge in eating gluten-containing foods. There is a chance that it will not be effective in minimizing the symptoms you experience when eating gluten-containing foods. But, I want to share with you because it is something I have found to be helpful in my experience. Please consult your doctor before taking any new supplements.

9. Light Exercise

I have noticed that going for 15-20 minute walks outside have provided me with relief when I’ve been glutened (a term used for when you’ve eaten a gluten-containing food). Exercise helps to improve/diversify the good bacteria in the gut, and also helps to promote digestion.

10. Time

When all else fails, I’ve realized that the one thing that always helps me feel better is – time. Sometimes, all the remedies are not quite helping and all we can truly do is wait. Even though waiting can be very hard (and miserable) in the moment, I try to keep in mind that I won’t feel this way forever. Neither will you. Let time do it’s thing and you will feel better soon.

Remember that everyone is different. Our bodies and tolerance levels are not the same. A relief method that works for some, may not work for others and that is okay. The important thing is that you find what works for you.

There are several methods, holistic remedies, and supplements others have found to be effective in helping them find relief once they’ve been glutened. The ones I shared with you above are the methods I’ve tried myself and found to be helpful. You may not be able to completely eliminate the symptoms you experience when eating gluten-containing foods but it is possible to effectively manage them.

Continue to do your own research and talk to your doctor about navigating your health journey. Most importantly, breathe and take things one day at a time. This lifestyle is a major adjustment and requires a lot of self-compassion and grace. You will not have everything figured out overnight and you will always be learning something new, as long as you are willing. Be patient with your body. I know you may have moments of feeling frustrated with it because it does not seem to be cooperating with you, but don’t give up on it.

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Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12