Tuesday, June 21, 2011

The Gluten Free Athlete

Yesterday I actually had the honor of doing a GLUTEN FREE guest post for MY FIT LIST Austin. My Fit List is an online resource and recommendation engine for the community of fitness goers and fitness business owners. Their main mission?

To “remove the barriers that make starting a fitness routine challenging, and help connect fitness goers with the wide array of fitness professionals and businesses available to them in the community.”

In Austin, this is HUGE! And its really been a great tool for fellow Austinites. Hopefully My Fit List will be branching out to more cities in the future, so stayed tuned!

Anyway, back to the post. When My Fit List asked me to write a guest post on the benefits of eating gluten free for athletes, I was ecstatic! I love to write on this topic. And then it dawned on me, I don’t think I have really ever mentioned this topic before on Cotter Crunch. Or have I?  Huh, not sure. Either way, I thought I’d share. So feel free to keep reading, or hit MARK AS READ in your Reader. Don’t worry, I won’t be offended. Winking smile



As you know, the majority of my posts are about our gluten free lifestyle and recipes. You see, a few years ago I was diagnosed with a gluten intolerance. This little issue changed our diet dramatically in the Cotter household. Not only did it help with my health issues, but it also helped the hubs with his training, racing, and recovery as an athlete.clip_image002So here I am today, wanting to share with all you (athletes, runners, cyclists, fitness guru’s, etc), the benefits of a gluten free diet. Should you go gluten free? Is it hard? I think everyone should give it a try and see for themselves.

Let’s get started, shall we?

To start off, what exactly is gluten? Gluten is a form of two proteins: gliadin and glutenin. These proteins are found in the endosperm of wheat, rye, and barley. The glutenin is what gives these type of flours the elasticity in their dough and makes them all warm and gooey. The bad thing is that this protein is usually pretty hard to digest and for a lot of people it can cause a harsh reaction in the digestive system. Ya, bummer!

Celiacs are those actually diagnosed with a genetic disorder and are highly allergic to gluten. This can cause several digestive problems and lead to malnutrition and malabsorption in the intestines. Others might develop a gluten “allergy” or “sensitivity” which can have several of the same symptoms of a celiac (fatigue, inflammation, abdominal bloating, diarrhea/constipation, etc.) yet the effects are not necessarily as damaging or pervasive. Allergy suffers can probably handle a gluten every now and then, Celiacs cannot! For more on this topic feel free to read HERE.

So what if you’re an athlete and you think you have a gluten sensitivity? How would that affect performance?

Think about, athletes need EXTRA nutrients in order to fuel and recovery properly right? But what if your digestive system was not absorbing these nutrients? You’d probably feel pretty crappy despite the number of calories/ratio of macronutrients you were taking in.

According to Dr. Wellingtons article on Active.com, gluten-free diets do have some advantages for athletes:

1. With gluten removed, the body's immune system can rest and absorption can be restored. The body can then function at optimal levels and repair muscles more efficiently.

2. The hypoglycemic effect that results from intense exercise is minimized.

3. A gluten-free diet helps to maintain a stable blood sugar level during exercise, which is optimal for an increase in muscle strength and stamina

Sounds pretty good to me! But the question still remains…..what the heck do I eat??

My suggestion…........

KEEP IT SIMPLE, KEEP IT NATURAL!
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  • Buy fresh vegetables, fruit, starchy vegetables (like potatoes, corn, etc.), beans/legumes.
  • Look for certified gluten free breads, cereals, pastas, oatmeal, granolas.
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  • Focus on the other Grains (gluten free grains)- brown rice, wild rice, quinoa, teff, sorghum, corn (corn tortillas), millet, amaranth. (you can find a lot of these grains and flours in the bulk sections as well).
  • Dig the fat- nuts and nut butters, avocado, oils, flaxseeds.
  • Pump up the protein- Quality protein such as organic meats (watch for deli meats with added starches though), fresh fish, eggs, tofu, etc.
  • Be sure to read labels. Especially on condiments. They can sneak in words like wheat starch, rye, barley, and malt syrup.
    Okay okay, so now we’ve covered the basics. But what about when it comes down to training/racing and those post race refreshments?

    This is where it can be tricky. I like to bring my own food just in case. Like a Gluten Free Bagel and chocolate milk or honeymilk. But here are some other choices that might be available at the finish line or post ride.
     
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    • Dried fruit, fresh fruit, trail mix, fruit roll ups, fruit leathers
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    • Gatorade, most cola’s (read ingredients), fresh juice, lemonade, milk, chocolate milk
    • Tacos with corn tortillas (black bean, veggie, or beef/chicken/ egg cooked in natural oil or butter)
    • Natural potato chips or tortilla chips
    • Pickles (love that sodium fix)
    • Smoothies with fresh fruit and/or natural yogurt
    • PB and banana Sandwich with a GF bagel or bread.
    Phew, I think that’s about it for now. If you need any more recipe ideas, check out my recipe page. Lots of choices, and even a few customized HEALTHY BITE recipes. Smile

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    So what do you think?Do you see the benefits from a gluten free diet?

    Cheers!
    LC

    p.s.
    Being that I am gluten intolerant, I choose to live Gluten Free for my health. These are just my suggestions from what I have gathered along my GF journey. If you think you have a gluten allergy or intolerance, my best advice would to seek a professional or ask your doctor.

    In the meantime, feel free to email me with any questions.
    Cottercrunch (at) Hotmail (dot) com

    102 comments:

    tea-bag said...

    i totally agree with removing a lot of the gluten from our diets.  if anything, it just means less processed food!  also, with all the chemicals and toxins in wheat production, i have no doubt that gluten products have a negative impact on our bodies!  i've been digging on all the gluten free flours lately and loving it!

    Jess said...

    KEEP IT SIMPLE..KEEP IT NATURAL..

    AMEN, girl!! Totally agree. I agree with LESS processed foods, and there's often gluten in processed foods!!

    lindsay cotter said...

    you got that right! well said Jess, as always.
     
    Lindsay




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    Stephanie Bragg said...

    Congrats on being featured!

    Liz said...

    I'm taking advantage of your early post! :)  I am totally intrigued by your GF diet, and really want to give it a try sooner or later to see if I feel better.  How long do you think I'd have to try it out before being able to assess the results?

    Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) said...

    Great post Lindsay! I totally see the benefits of a gluten free diet. I eat some gluten, but mostly gluten free. Tony has celiac, so no gluten for him. I'm one of the weird ones that loves gluten free baked goods though. There are so many great alternatives that have so much flavor! Love, love love this post!

    Jenny Houlahan said...

    Lindsay such an wonderful enlightening post. I really had never much thought about the effect a gluten free diet could have on an individual without gluten intolerance or sensitivity. I actually tried a short stint of eating gluten free when I couldn't figure out what was going on with my pelvis (it turned out that I had problems with my pelvic muscles and not my intestines). I found the gluten free breads and bars hard to eat because they had more simple carbs than my favorite sprouted grain breads. However, if I were to do a period of whole food cleansing (i.e. nothing processed or packaged) then I think I would try dropping gluten grains as well to see what a difference it might make.

    This is such a great topic to address because there are entirely too many individuals with gluten intolerance and sensitivity who have no idea!

    PeasandCrayons said...

    Simple and natural for the win! <3 I love your food philosophy! It makes me feel uber confident about my own since we're totally on the same page! You wrote a fantastic guest post for them girl! <3 love ya!

    even if you are a nut. almond joy style =) haha!

    lindsay cotter said...

    You are not weird! I love those GF baked goods too. I love their nutty flavor I guess. All your GF treats look amazing to me!
    :)

    lindsay cotter said...

    LOL! Almond Joy's got nuts...mounds don't! Haha. Love you jen and I love your food philosophy as well!
    ;)

    LC

    Dorry said...

    This is an awesome and informative post, Linds! Congrats on being featured in My Fit List. Sounds like a great resource - I'll have to check it out! Eating GF has been great for me, and not too difficult in my opinion, but I've been eating a clean diet for many years so it was just some minor adjustments. :)

    Lisakthrives said...

    This is great info!  Joe has been reading about the benefits of going gluten free as an athlete, and he's considering it---but it seems a little inconvenient to him (I think it just has to grow on him a little more!).  Definitely forwarding this to him---or maybe I'll just read it to him to it sinks in better :)

    Bre said...

    YAYAY!!! you are amazing friend! Congrats on being on my Fit List- you a re a rockstar! Definitely love the GF athlete posts- although I'm a terrible example for hwo to make GF interesting! lol I just eat alot of the same plain jane foods! ;) speaking of plain jane food...i need a GF bedtime snack!

    Kate Horning said...

    I love your tips esp keep it natural I feel like so many gf people are addicted to gf products when they're not always healthy fruits & veg are gf naturally and delicious :) congrats on being featured you deserve it!!

    Heather @ Dietitian on the Run said...

    Congrats on the opportunity to write what you Know and live! :) This is a great, informative 'article'!

    Shannon said...

    Definitely enjoyed reading this post! I'm not entirely sure if I'm gluten intolerant or not, but I've been doing my best to steer clear of it because I think I *might* have an intolerance. For a while there I would get really bad stomach cramps, and one time when I wasn't feeling too well I ate a piece of toast, as it usually calms to stomach, but it just made it worse. This has been about a month, give or take, and I've eaten very little gluten since then and haven't had nearly the amount of stomach pain as I was having. It's super difficult at work, though, especially when I eat there because they have the most delicious bread, and sometimes when I get hungry I would sneak a few croutons to munch on, or put some soup in a cup and sip on that... yeah, not anymore! 

    SquatLikeALady said...

    Such an informative post Lindsay! LOVE it.

    I don't think I'm too sensitive to gluten but I do try to minimize it in my diet because my father is a Celiac and I don't want to run into any problems down the road! :X I am going to pass this along to my MIL though because she has mentioned some of these symptoms (fatigue and bloating especially) when she eats a lot of gluten!

    Katie said...

    Great post, and I couldn't agree more.  GF is hard at first, but mostly because it is out of our comfort zone.  Once you realize how much you can still eat, it is easy and even gets FUN.

    Have you read The GLuten Effect?  Great book - I reviewed it on my blog.  http://makingfoodandotherstuff.wordpress.com/bookshelf/the-gluten-effect/

    Stephanie said...

    I dated a GF guy for awhile, and really enjoyed the challenge of making my baking GF for him---he had basically given up on treats because of his diagnosis, and we made an arrangement: he would cook for me, without chicken, shell fish or cilantro (my no-no foods), and I brought Anzac biscuits and Neenish tarts back into his life.

    It seemed to me that it was an incredibly expensive situation, eating GF, it you did what this guy did---he wanted all the things he used to eat, but GF. His cereal habit alone was worth $90 a month!! I thought that the way to be healthy and NOT feel deprived was to abandon a lot of the traditional gluten-y foods and revel in what could be eaten comfortably---like what's on your list above---but he felt that it was bad enough to be eating GF---he wasn't going to give up the things he wanted, too... hm. My desire to bake GF outlasted the courtship, and to this day a spelty pizza dough is, I think, WAY better than traditional. Fab post, Lindsay!

    XLMIC said...

    We are a nearly gluten-free household…I am the only one with real issues who cares enough to totally not eat gluten. This is so informative! One thing I would add is that many corn tortillas that I have looked at in the grocery store do contain some wheat :( just an fyi.

    Thanks for writing this and congrats on the guesting :)

    Katy said...

    I went on a gluten-free diet once (two of my close friends were diagnosed with celiac at the same time, which is how I found out about it.) and I LOVED how it made my body look and feel. I really should go back. I'm not sensitive to gluten, but I know it works in a positive way for my body to be gluten-free. Just have to make the step again...

    Maryea @ Happy Healthy Mama said...

    It was really interesting to read the benefits for athletes.  Thanks! 

    Beth Brakewood said...

    I haven't had any problems that made me think I NEEDED to go GF, but the information about how it can improve performance is really interesting.  I do have one question though - what is "certified gluten free"? Is there someone special that does the certifying or is it an FDA thing?

    Heather (Where's the Beach) said...

    What a great, informative post. Thank you. My sister had to go GF last summer so I eat up all the info I can to share with her. It's definitely changed the way she looks at food, and me too because I like to cook for her and offer up great recipe ideas. I do think there are benefits and often think we should try GF in my household. Jason's mom can't have any grains at all and I do have sneaking suspicion that gluten bothers him. My only worry is that as a vegetarian, a good deal of protein often comes from glutens.

    And I'm glad you mentioned the hypoglycemic effect. I had never heard that before, but have experienced that crash after long runs before.  I've finally figured out what my body tends to need for recovery, but every once in a while, if I don't get the electrolytes back in ASAP I hit the wall.

    jobo said...

    This is a really great post about your move to GF...and honestly, your rules of thumb are just generally good ones even if you don't have to be GF! I really like what you say about keeping it fresh and natural. I strive for that too, but of course, knowing I can have the bread I want or some 'regular' pasta here and there is definitely a plus for me, though I am sure if I had to, I would be able to cut those out for my heath as well. Sounds like you have done an awesome job with the transition and I love that it has helped your husband's training too!

    Jess said...

    I agree with  my sis on this one, totally - other than having to stay away (obviously) from things with gluten in it, your overall advice is basically how I try to live -healthfully and wholesomely as much as I can. Fresh ingredients, wholesome choices. And maybe a healthy bite or two thrown into the mix (yes, she shared them with me, YUM!). Great post my dear! 

    Melissa Keller said...

    Another perfect timing on one of your blogs :-)
    Dr said yesterday, no gluten, no dairy.

    You are a wealth of knowledge about many challenges I am facing right now with my diet, exercise, etc.  I appreciate you and your blog :-)

    Casey said...

    Love this post. I know I'm still working through a lot of my digestive issues, but finding out about the gluten intolerance completely changed my body and seriously increased my immunity. Great suggestions, too. My family always pulls the..."Oh poor you," but I have SO many healthy choices. I just look at it as motivation to eat more vegetables. :P

    Julia said...

    I am SO glad you did this post. I hear about all these other ways of eating but really know nothing about them, what it means or what you can eat, etc. Plus...is there one that is really worth trying? If I want to try one or learn about one where do I start? Thanks so much for this info! I enjoyed learning more about GF lifestyle and would like to try it at some point!

    Dana @ My Little Celebration said...

    I haven't done much gluten-free so I wouldnt' be able to speak on the benefits. But I know there are more and more people who are going that route and reaping some serious benefits. Thanks for this post! It was very enlightening. 

    DishNutrish said...

    I think I may have a slight intolerance to gluten and I have been debating trying a gluten-free diet for a couple weeks to see how my body reacts. This really helps!

    Rachelle Wardle said...

    Great post!  I really have been interested in your decision to go gluten free and I am so glad you decided to share this.  I have read a few articles on the positive effects of eating gluten free for athletes.  I may try it out in the near future and I will be sure to let you know if I do.  I will probably have questions along the way as well.  Thanks again for sharing.  Can I still have chocolate? ha ha

    lindsay cotter said...

    haha, of course you can have chocolate and YOGURTLAND! Thank goodness, right?
    feel free to email me anytime Rachelle.
    ;)
     
    Lindsay



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    Chrysta said...

    wow darlin! First off congrats on the article! Im so going to have to check out My Fit List. It sounds amazing and since we hopefully one day will finally get to Austin....;)
    Im not gluten intolerant or anything but i really enjoy learning about it alot! Plus alot of the foods just taste yummy=) It is cool to know that a gluten free diet stabilizes blood pressure. Something that I will keep in mind. I dont eat much gluten as it is anyways since I eat high protein and veggies mainly at the moment. But its interesting to find out. Thanks for the wonderful post!

    (what runs) Lori said...

    Great post, great information, and great suggestions for athletes. The list of "approved" foods is so beneficial since it can feel like most foods are being taken away when in reality, tons are being added! :)

    lindsay cotter said...

    I am always curious if going GF while pregnant helps the baby absorb more
    nutrients. Thoughts?
    Lindsay



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    lindsay cotter said...

    oh great point Lori. So well said. I'll have to quote you on that for sure!
    been thinking about your family! How's your dad? How are you??

    Lindsay



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    lindsay cotter said...

    sounds like what I had to do several years ago. I hope things work out and you
    can get all the little "issues" resolved Melissa. Keep me posted please!
     
    Lindsay




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    lindsay cotter said...

    you two really do think alike! and so wise.
    :)
     
    Lindsay



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    lindsay cotter said...

    and of course, you can always survive on a GF diet with healthy bites, right?
    :P
     
    Lindsay



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    lindsay cotter said...

    True true. And I now I am curious about Jason. I have found a lot more GF tempeh
    and tofu these days, which is a good thing. And can't go wrong with beans and
    eggs. Let me know if he ever tries it out!

    Lindsay



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    lindsay cotter said...

    certified gluten free means its made in a gluten free facility without any cross
    contamination. That definitely crucial for celiacs but no so much for those just
    sensitive to it. Hope this helps beth!
     
    Lindsay



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    lindsay cotter said...

    first step is always the hardest, but if you feel good on it, go for it girl!
    ;)
     
    Lindsay



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    lindsay cotter said...

    oh awesome Meg. So glad you can agree!
    ;)
     
    Lindsay



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    lindsay cotter said...

    haha, thats a cute story. I need eating to be my 3rd job too, and i need a TJ's.
    ;)
     
    Lindsay




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    lindsay cotter said...

    plus it goes hand in hand with candida, right? All those sugars/proteins that
    are an made can really take away the vitality the body.  I really admire your
    way of eating.

    Lindsay


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    lindsay cotter said...

    thats great Gen. I hope it helps!
     
    Lindsay




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    lindsay cotter said...

    oh gosh girl, I can totally relate. I was borderline anemic and had several of 
    the same issues. I hope this test really helps clarify things for you so you get
    back to 100%!.

    And you are the amazing athlete! 
    ;)
     
    Lindsay



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    lindsay cotter said...

    oh totally! just the everyday stresses of the body need  extra nutrients,
    which many can get from being GF. ya know?
     
    Lindsay
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    jenncotter said...

    I've honestly considered going gluten-free to see if it helps out with some abdominal issues I've been having.  Did not know where even to start, until I found your blog.  I'm working on transitioning into it.  I LOVE bread, and truly didn't even know there was such a thing as gluten-free bread (not much of a "foodie" person).  Thanks for all the great information!

    lindsay cotter said...

    oh totally! I don't feel like I am missing out either. Lots of good healthy GF
    choices.

    ;)
     
    Lindsay



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    Jenny Orcutt said...

    I'm not gluten free... or an athlete really.. but I do love you, and food, so I just wanted to say haaaaaay ;)! <3 

    lindsay cotter said...

    oh my gosh Jenny you totally made my day! haha. I laughed and loved every word.
    haaaaaay! I love you too!
    ;)
    Lindsay




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    lindsay cotter said...

    thanks friend. My science nerd side is happy. haha.
     
    Lindsay



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    lindsay cotter said...

    good call sable! let me know what your MIL thinks!
     
    Lindsay




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    lindsay cotter said...

    oh I bet it is hard at work. If you try it out, make some snacks to take to
    work. and let me know how it goes shannon.

    Lindsay



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    lindsay cotter said...

    thats awesome Jen! please let me know how I can help with your transition, if
    any.

    :)
     
    Lindsay 




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    lindsay cotter said...

    so true, and i love your recipes for that! now come on down to austin.
    ;)
    Lindsay
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    lindsay cotter said...

    good to know Dana. Glad those people are benefiting, and thanks for sharing!
     
    Lindsay Cotter
    Nutrition Manager & Fitness Consultant
    lyndzut@sbcglobal.net   
    www.cottercrunch.com




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    lindsay cotter said...

    oh thanks Julia. I am so glad it made sense! and ya keep me posted on if you get
    it a whirl!

    Lindsay



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    Sabrina @ Radioactive Runner said...

    Congrats on your guest post!
    You are just full of information and healthy tips. I love that about you! I would like to try gluten-free for a couple weeks and see if I feel better. I've thought about it a couple of times although I find it hard with a husband and two boys because I feel like I would have to make two of everything. One for them and one for me.. and that's costly and time consuming. I love your "keep it simple, keep it natural" mantra though :)
    Great article, Lindsay!

    k said...

    i think you're right about keeping it simple to be honest. i have to confess, i'm cynical when people say 'oooo i can't eat bread because of gluten etc.' i feel that it negatively affects how seriously we consider if when have it as a real problem. ditto anorexia and eating disorders

    i mainly think that so-called intolerances (often just slight discomfort is described in this way...) to bread etc. aren't necessarily derived from gluten, but from the stabilisers and additives and preservatives. thus, even gluten free bread may not be great. so, yup, grains are in! simple is in! pure and natural, can't go wrong :)

    Petraduguid said...

    Saw this on FB and read it from there - great article and very well balanced on a topic that people have very strong feelings about - nicely managed!

    lindsay cotter said...

    you make a very valid point. All those additives and stabilizers can mess
    up digestion for sure. I think thats why its so important to keep it natural.
    Making GF bread is also fun! I love the smell of fresh baked bread, don't you?!
     
    Lindsay



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    Emz said...

    Girl. I am loving this post. I am sooooo happy to know you! I love all your advice. I love your knowledge!!

    Thank you!!

    lindsay cotter said...

    that is time consuming. Think they'd try it out with you for a week? or maybe
    don't tell them in GF. hehe.
    Lindsay
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    lindsay cotter said...

    now if only we could REALLy know each other IRL! one day, right EM?
    ;)

    lindsay cotter said...

    thank you Petra. You are too kind. Glad it was well balanced, I was a little worried.

    kalli said...

    what an informative post indsay!  thank you for all of this info.......i have learned so much about being gluten free from you :)

    Kath (My Funny Little Life) said...

    I really enjoyed this post, and it was very interesting for me to read as well! I don't have celiac disease, but I'm sensitive to gluten - the main symptoms are inflammations, bloating, malabsorption of food, and - worst of all - incredible fatigue. I dragged myself through my life for so many years, and since I've started to avoid gluten, I feel so much better and have so much more energy. :)

    marathonmaiden said...

    great post! i've always figured that eating natural is best. i've always wondered if it really is totally beneficial to go GF if you're not intolerant. i'm sure it isn't going to hurt anyone but for me i think that going out of my way to make those changes might not necessarily be "worth it" if my body can process gluten just fine. thoughts?

    Adam Deane (Brother N8ture) said...

    You guys rock! :D  Thanks for being a constant source of inspiration... Meals-wise, self-wise, and word-wise! :)

    Tracy Simmons said...

    I just finished my detox and brought the gluten back and feel very bloated.  I am thinking it is the cause, I am going to remove it again for the rest of the week and see how I do.  At least I know that there are lots of fantastic gluten-free things to eat!

    Conner Katherine said...

    Lindsay!  What an interesting and informative article.  I enjoyed reading about the science behind the merits of a gluten-free diet.  It makes it Pret-ty appealing.  Thank you for sharing your knowlege with us. 

    Stephanie said...

    I feel like we have not talked in forever! How r u girlie?

    lindsay cotter said...

    oh go for it! i bet it comes naturally to you. Let me know how you feel
    after the week!
     
    Lindsay



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    lindsay cotter said...

    oh well thanks adam. So glad we can share! Cheers.
     
    Lindsay




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    lindsay cotter said...

    I think it doesn't hurt to try just to see if your body heals from any
    inflammation. I think its more important when you are heavy into training
    though. Does that make sense?
      
    Lindsay




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    lindsay cotter said...

    hellloooooo!! I am good but busy. wish we could just chat all day. ya know?
     
    Lindsay




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    lindsay cotter said...

    oh thanks katherine, glad you looked at the article too! 
     
    Lindsay
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    lindsay cotter said...

    same here.  i know I say this all the time, but we really do have the same taste
    buds. so glad you are feeling better now, more energy!
    ;)
     
    Lindsay



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    lindsay cotter said...

    oh gosh, thanks Kalli. that makes me so happy!
     
    Lindsay




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    Melissasimson @primalbliss said...

    I haven't been tested but I feel AWFUL when I eat gluten. That's why I took up primal/ paleo for a while to feel better. But recently I've been eating simply GF and I can tell you I feel just as good. I totally feel you with the nutrient absorption - I've gotten so much stronger and faster in the gym in just a few short months so I can tell an immediate difference. Congrats on guest posting that's an accomplishment especially in Austin. Sadly, the post race food they have is pretty awful. Not just bc of the gluten but it's not healthy in any way and loaded with all sorts of ingredients I can't pronounce. It seems like such an oxymoron- I rarely do touch it. Except for the chocolate milk ( after reading the label of course). Seriously my favorite!

    lindsay cotter said...

    so glad you are rockin those workouts. I think Primal eating really helped me as
    well. Post race foods is limited, I agree. I often bring my own like muscle milk
    and just pray they have fruit. haha. How's NYC??
     
    Lindsay



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    Heather Rock said...

    I avoid gluten but I am not totally gluten free, I just feel so much more energetic when I don't eat a pile of it!

    Great post!

    Sara @ Nourish and Flourish said...

    Oh Lindsay, I love this post. Thank you SO much for spreading information about gluten allergies and sensitivities! It took me two years to figure out that gluten doesn't jive well in my body. Had I known to eliminate it earlier, I would have avoided much physical and emotional stress.  It's incredible what an effect two little proteins can have on the body, isn't it?!

    Congrats on the publication! Your passion and compassion are so apparent in everything you write. I'm sure you'll positively impact many people--athlete or not--through your article!  <3

    Liz @ Iheartvegetables said...

    That's really interesting! One of my good friends is allergic to gluten so I'm always trying to learn what foods she can and can't have! I wasn't sure about things like oats. I'm not sure if I could go gluten free entirely, but I have tried to cut down on it!

    Natalie O said...

    Really interesting!  I didn't realize how much gluten would affect people without intolerances!  Maybe I should try it out for a few days and see what happens :)

    Maryea @ Happy Healthy Mama said...

    Oh, interesting!  I have no idea.  I'll have to read up and see if I can find anything.  I've never had a problem with gluten (that I know about anyway) so I haven't thought too much about it.  

    Allie said...

    WOW! Awesome and informational post :) LOVE IT! You are so knowledgeable about gluten and celiac's!

    lindsay cotter said...

    oh you should, from an performance stand point. ya know?! let me know if you do
    Natalie.
    ;)
     
    Lindsay



    ________________________________

    lindsay cotter said...

    oh gosh same here! I feel like we can definitely relate on that. it took me that
    long too! Sara you are such a strong example of living out your passion
    through health. thanks for always leaving encouraging words.

    Lindsay


    ________________________________

    lindsay cotter said...

    well its taken a while to finally figure it out, but so worth it. ya know? Are
    you glad to be home now from your awesome trip?

    ;)
     
    Lindsay




    ________________________________

    LauraJayne said...

    Love this post - I don't have to follow a gluten-free diet, which I feel totally lucky about - but I always wondered about it!  It really sounds like you've figured it out and rocked the diet!

    Kris | iheartwellness.com said...

    I love you LC, you are always such a pleasure to read and follow!!! I heart the gluten free diet!!  I just read a book by Caroline Sutherland about how your body knows....and she said people that eat a lot of gluten are borderline diabetic due to high sugars in their diet.  Interesting!!!!!!

    xxoo

    lindsay cotter said...

    oh well you are a pleasure to read for me! I totally agree with sutherland! I'll
    have to check out this book. Thanks Kris. Your comments always make my day.
    <3! 
    Lindsay




    ________________________________

    Christine said...

    I'm interested in trying it. My problem is trying things like this when the rest of my family isn't. 

    lindsay cotter said...

    that is hard. I think You should try just going wheat free. Much easier and it
    might help see if you feel better. Its do-able for the family too. you don't
    even have to tell them. hehe.
     
    Lindsay




    ________________________________

    lindsay cotter said...

    you are lucky, hehe. But I also love your clean eats and I know that you ROCK
    that!
    ;)
     
    Lindsay
    ________________________________

    Erin Shipe said...

    Great post, Linds! I have read a few things here and there about the benefits of a GF diet, but not for athletes specifically. It definitely makes sense to me!
    -Erin @ www.untilyoutri.com

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