I finally got around to finding a new health care practice in our new neighborhood here in PA. After hearing a recap of my recent health issues, it was decided that I should be tested for celiac. The upside of this decision is that for the last couple of weeks I’ve been allowed to eat small amounts of gluten each day. The test looks for antibodies in the bloodstream and the only way that these will appear is if I’m ingesting gluten. So if you’re thinking about getting tested for celiac or a gluten intolerance, smarter people than me would do it before they cut out the gluten.
Although I haven’t taken the test yet, it’s clear that my system is not appreciating the reintroduction. So I’m trying to have a few of my favorite things, in moderation, in case I decide that it’s not in my best interests to repeat this experiment again, even if I don’t have celiac. Of course, pizza made the list. Last Friday night Alex made me a red pizza (still off dairy) with anchovies. I made the dough and he cooked it perfectly. I can honestly say that I didn’t miss the cheese at all. We use a simple tomato sauce of canned organic San Marzano tomatoes and salt. They had a rich fruity flavor with just a hint of tang that balanced perfectly against the salty anchovies and the light, airy crust. I savored every bite.
It’s been an interesting process in that as much as I may have missed some of my favorite foods, I find that I have to force myself to eat something with gluten every day. I’m just not that into it anymore. That could be very helpful down the line because one of my issues was not knowing if I really needed to give up certain foods. Now that I’ve brought back the gluten I know that I’m better off without it. Although I have to admit that I’m hoping for a different result when I reintroduce the dairy. Life without ice cream is just hard to imagine.
About the Author
