Why I am gluten-free

I have had quite a number of people asking me why I have suddenly changed my diet, and why have I found it so easy to adjust to things like no sugar in my tea etc. I have debated whether or not to write this blog entry, and believe me when I say I have deleted it, rewrote it, deleted it and rewrote it several times.

 

I have come to the decision that my medical condition will not define who I am and what I stand for, and so I have decided to bite the bullet and explain.

 

In October, I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) after over 18 months of piling on the weight, feeling ill and tired constantly as well as having strong migraines and such. I finally had enough of feeling low, so I decided to go to the walk-in centre nearby where the doctor suggested I visit my GP and request a test for PCOS. I did, and whilst I was nervous I didn't fully understand what PCOS was until the results came back positive. My blood tests show I have a high level of testosterone and other hormone imbalances, and as a result I have excess hair growth as well as terrible bouts of low self-confidence and weird mood swings (I can be really happy, and then really sad within the space of a few minutes and then happy again).

 

PCOS is an endocrine disorder, and as a result my body produces too much testosterone which has an impact on my reproductive organs. Whilst it is not impossible to have children with PCOS, the condition does make it more difficult.

 

I have also discovered that I am gluten-intolerant as a result of PCOS too, and as you may know, if your body is allergic to certain foods your body will start to react to it, which releases more corticosteroids in the body, which then result in a lower immune system. So because of this, I have decided to follow a gluten-free, sugar-free and low-carb diet to maintain my weight and my overall health as diet is key to managing the symptoms of PCOS.

 

Part of me has come to terms with this condition, and I know that there isn't much I can do in terms of fixing it as there is no cure, but there is another part of me which is struggling to understand it, which is why I have been discreet about it up until now. Many women keep this condition to themselves, and I understand why. For me, this condition almost meant I wasn't a 'woman' anymore for a while, and it was hard to not become angry when my life ambition has been to have children. It's an isolating condition and it's not something people understand easily. I have had a fantastic network of people supporting me, like many of the women I speak to, but it's daunting to think that I will need medical assistance to be able to have children and the diet is so frustrating as the ingredients are not as readily available, and if they are they do cost a substantial amount more compared to ready meals and so on.

 

I'm not ashamed of this condition, and whilst it is still frustrating and upsetting at times, I have decided that I want to learn more about PCOS and I want to be in control of it, rather than it over me. It's a liberating feeling to find new recipes and new information, and that's why I have decided to start blogging again, focusing largely on my diet, cooking and gluten-free products.

 

Hopefully this blog will eventually provide someone else with the feeling that they're not on their own, and whilst PCOS is isolating at first, there are ways of handling it and overcoming it.

Students can eat healthy too: Bananas and almonds.

A cheap, healthy and tasty snack which has become my saviour over the last few weeks. Not only does it release energy gradually throughout the day, but it's super healthy and you can mix it up with some other ingredients.

 

It's a gluten-free meal, so for me this is perfect and so quick to make as well for when I need a short break from my studies.

 

 

You can always add other ingredients, for example dried fruit or for the days where I feel like I need a sweet pick-me-up, I drizzle some natural honey over with some natural yoghurt and ground cinnamon.

 

Whilst the initial cost of things like cinnamon and natural honey may seem a bit steep, they're cupboard ingredients which do last quite a long time. A medium pot of natural yoghurt only costs on average 65p depending where you shop. I always buy mine from Tesco as they have a medium pot which only costs me 50p, and I tend to get 3/4 servings from it.

 

If you don't like the taste of natural yoghurt or if you find it a bit hard to get used to like I did, then adding things like cinnamon really does help. Cinnamon is nice and festive too, so I don't feel like I'm missing out on any of the Christmas fun!

 

 

My shopping list

Natural Honey:

Rowse Natural Blossom Honey, 340g from Sainsburys, £2.59.

I use this because it's a squeeze-bottle, which means I have less mess in my cupboard and it's easy to take with you if you want to take this to work/lectures.

 

Almonds:

You can buy most dried fruit and nuts from local markets really cheap. I usually buy mine from the Birmingham Indoor markets and I normally end up with a big bag for a couple of pounds. However, out of all the large supermarkets I find Sainsbury's again are best. Flaked Almonds are best as they're not so chunky.

 

Natural Yoghurt:

I live quite far away from major supermarkets, and so I buy my natural yoghurt from a Tesco Express just around the corner. It costs 45p for a medium pot, and as I said earlier I normally end up with a few servings.

 

Bananas:

I love it when my bananas are a bit softer with the black spotted skin because they taste best, and so I always buy my bananas from the Birmingham Indoor Market. Even in supermarkets, you can buy a bunch for £1, so they're very cheap and student-budget friendly!

 

If you don't want to eat bananas, you can always try apples or just mixed fruit with almonds with natural yoghurt. If at the end of the week you find yourself with fruit leftover, then you could always make a fruit salad or even freeze them. I always freeze grapes and pop them into my drinks - lemons, apples, grapes etc. are all brilliant for this!

 

Next week: Sweet potato curry with brown rice.

 

I will eventually be transferring all of these tips to a new blog, but for now I will be posting them here just so I can get a feel for what works and doesn't work.

 

Also, if you have any recommendations or some ideas, let me know and I can always test them out for you :)

Changes.

As a BA History Undergraduate in my 3rd and final year (sob sob!), I have a number of thoughts and questions about what the next step in life will entail. At the age of 22, I am faced with a tough economic climate where I am competing against the rest of the unemployed population when it comes to job applications.

 

Researching into what I want to actually do when I finish is quite hard too, because there are so many options and so many things I want to try my hand at. I have always grown up with the philosophy that as long as I am happy, I don't mind what job I do in the end. I want to work in an environment that brings out the passion and life in me, and so I have narrowed it down to a few possibilities: Human Resources, Personnel, Administration, Research or teaching. (I also have a pipedream to become a wedding planner, but that's more for the romantic in me).

 

I used a number of tools to find out what I want to possibly do once I graduate, but I will recommend Prospects as this is what I used initially. It not only helped me narrow down my skills and match them with my interests, but it also lists numerous graduate schemes and opportunities available which start half way through next year. A great place to start!

 

The fact that I have decided to commute from home (which is in Birmingham) means I am able to set up my foundations here whilst also engaging in my studies, which I absolutely love, in Derby. The segregation has really helped, more so because I have recently been diagnosed with a condition which affects my health long-term.

 

The support which I have experienced at home with my family, partner and friends means I am able to keep the emotional attachments and distress at a bay when it comes to my studies - keeping them both in their own little 'boxes' has provided me with a great coping mechanism. I am now on a gluten/sugar/carb free diet, and I have found that this sort of diet is not really accommodated for with a student budget. Therefore, I am currently planning a few long-term projects to complete once I have finished my studies. The one I am most excited about is my own cookbook and blog - an online platform which I am currently putting together and collaborating with a very dear friend of mine to provide a healthy, student-friendly network and forum for those who just want to live a healthy lifestyle, or have medical/cultural conditions.

 

All of these changes have meant that I am now looking at my life and my future in a very different light. I am now feeling a lot healthier than I was a couple of weeks ago, and whilst I am still focusing on the now (which includes my lovely pile of essays), I am also focusing on  the "what next" questions.

 

I think it is a transitional process that no one can ever really prepare you for. There are plenty of places where you can find advice and guidance, but ultimately each journey is individual, which includes all of those little and big decisions. It's a transitional process which has been made easier for me because I am fortunate to study at a very supportive and student-focused university, but it is an exciting place to be standing. Exciting and scary!

 

My advice to anyone who is in the same position of facing the "what next" questions, then it's not something to worry about or hide away from. It's a position of great promise, opportunities and the chance to move forward in a journey where you will discover so much about yourself.

 

Tutorials, careers advice services, online forums and even social media are great places where you can find some of the answers to the questions you may have, but keep in mind that your happiness comes down to the decisions you make for yourself.

 

I will end this blog with what I'm currently doing now, as well as an interesting article I think you should read.

 

Favourite things right now:

- I've just booked a holiday in the South of England with my partner in May 2014!

- I've just achieved my first 1st grade this semester on an essay I didn't think I had passed!

- I'm reading An Immigration History of Britain by Panikos Panayi which is a fascinating book. It's helping me process all of the reading I've done recently surrounding an essay I'm writing.

- It's only 2 weeks until my birthday.

- That makes it just under 4 weeks until Christmas!

 

The article:

Zenia Malmer The Pineapple: displaying status.