Deciding to eliminate gluten containing products saved my life err….joints. I know it’s a strong statement, but it did.
Years of playing basketball, had taken a toll on my knees. I thought the creakiness and aching I felt after playing a game of “pick up” was a sign of aging.
After moving to South Florida from Orlando, I decided to partake in a 
pickup game in my new apartment complex.
I woke up the next morning not being able to walk and ultimately had to limp around on crutches.
I went to a doctor who immediately suggested surgery, but I was against it and decided to seek a second opinion.
My intuition served me more than I would ever imagine.
The second doctor did an MRI and pronounced me with arthritis in both knees.
It wasn’t what I wanted to hear because I was only 32, but I’d take arthritis over surgery.
I had first hand knowledge of knee surgeries through basketball and it wasn’t a joyful thing.
I continued to play even though I had considerable pain. I did everything I could to alleviate the pain including icing and using heat.
I remember the day when it all changed.
What happened?
I listened to a health podcast and heard Dr.William Davis, author of Wheat Belly, say gluten could have adverse affects on the body.
He went on to specifically say joints could be one of those affected areas. I decided to go gluten free for 7 days and my life changed!
No more achiness and creakiness in my knees.
It felt like someone had taken an oil can and finally oiled the tin man’s knees. 🙂
I haven’t eaten bread and/or gluten containing products since that day almost 10 years ago.
Heather K. Jacobsen visits the podcast today to chat about her book, “Going – Gluten Free: 7 Surprising Facts You Should Know if You Want to Achieve Dietary Success.
I can’t say going gluten free is the magic bullet to solve all your health issues but it just may be a good start.
Who is Heather K. Jacobsen
Heather K. Jacobsen is an author, researcher and founder of the online magazine, Stuffed Pepper.
She has an MSc in Ethnobotany, and worked at the National Academy of Sciences.
Always fascinated by the endless ways plants are incorporated into every day life, she dreamt of roaming jungle forests with indigenous tribal leaders, in search of native flora with untold healing properties.
Instead, she found herself taming the wilds of nutritional science as she dealt with health issues that no conventional doctor seemed to be able to solve.
As she worked to unravel the true science between gluten, grains and chronic disease, it turns out that maybe Heather is the modern ethnobotanist… not exploring plants in the wilderness, but exploring how removed we have become from the wild, and how that has adversely affected our health in so many ways.
Inside The Episode
I saved Heather’s book on my Amazon wish list and had forgotten about it. I have several books saved on my list as well as clothes and other items.
Books I‘ve had saved for some time can get buried and that’s exactly what happened with,“Going Gluten Free”.
I somehow forgot I was a fan of Heather’s Facebook page and was notified she was changing the name of the page.
I reached out to her via Facebook and the rest is history! I guess some things are just meant to be.
What You’ll Learn
· What does the thyroid need to function properly?
· How has the wheat of today changed from long ago?
· What is villous atrophy?
· Why should you look for the certified gluten free label?
· How has gluten free changed from its early years?
· Why is non-celiac gluten sensitivity just as serious are being celiac?