That being coeliac is not a trend, a fad, or some phase I’ll grow out of. It’s not a quirky lifestyle choice, a diet I picked up because a celebrity swore off gluten and now feels “so much lighter.” No, my body just straight-up malfunctions when I eat gluten. My immune system doesn’t just get mildly annoyed—it launches a full-scale attack on my intestines like they personally offended it.
And yet, I still get people saying, “Oh, are you still doing that gluten-free thing?” as if one day, I might just decide, “You know what? I miss chronic fatigue and nutrient deficiencies. Let’s bring those back!” Or worse, “Have you tried reintroducing gluten to see if you’re really that sensitive?” Oh yes, brilliant idea. Let me just poison myself for science.
Then there are the people who say, “I tried going gluten-free once, but the food was awful.” Well, Karen, if I only ate the first sad, dry loaf of gluten-free bread I found, I’d think the same thing. But when you have to eat this way, you actually put effort into finding decent food. It’s not 2005 anymore—gluten-free food has come a long way! But it still requires research—something you clearly didn’t do in your seven-day wellness experiment.
So no, this isn’t a phase. It’s not a choice. And while I totally get that gluten-free life is confusing for those who don’t live it, a little awareness goes a long way. Because believe me, if I could eat gluten, I’d be first in line for a proper croissant, probably weeping with joy as I inhaled it. But instead, I’m writing this rant because someone said something once again that utterly irritated the hell out of me, which I’ve had to hear for the hundredth time.
Anyway, rant over. I feel much better now—until the next time someone asks if I’m just doing this for “health reasons.” 😂
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