Gluten


Gluten has certainly got itself quite the negative reputation lately hasn’t it. Everyone seems to be trying to avoid it these days, and probably for good reason. Gluten can definitely do a number on your system, celiac or not. But let’s dive into the issue a bit further and look at the link between gluten and Multiple Sclerosis, shall we?
What is Gluten? 
First, let’s define gluten and talk about what it is, and where it can be found (you may be surprised!). Gluten (literally the Latin word for ‘glue’) is a general term for a mix of proteins that are found in wheat and other grains (barley, rye, oat, spelt etc.) It helps dough rise, gives dough elasticity and a chewy texture (why early forms of gluten free everything were flat and felt like cardboard). Oddly enough, North American wheat has a higher gluten content than European countries.
Gluten can hide out in many odd places. Also, if something is labeled ‘Wheat Free’ that DOES NOT necessarily mean it is GLUTEN FREE. The product may contain another grain derivative, like spelt, so beware and learn to read labels! Due to new laws being enacted in 2014, if something is labeled ‘Gluten Free’ it has to adhere to strict guidelines set forth by the FDA that is does not contain more that 20 parts gluten per million. Where are some odd places for gluten to hide you ask? Soy sauce, hot dogs, gravy, blue cheese, french fries, pickles and hot chocolate (?!). They key to finding hidden gluten is to research all it’s hidden names (any form of grain) and become proficient at reading labels, a skill that will come with time.
 
Gluten and MS
There are several ways gluten can be linked with MS. First, when gluten is consumed, it creates something in our gut called ‘leaky gut’ (I hate that term too). “Leaky gut’ is and isn’t exactly what it sounds like. It isn’t huge holes in our intestines where big pieces of food leak out, but it is a condition where the integrity of the intestines is compromised and small microbes and toxins leak out into the rest of our body and into our blood stream. This condition of Leaky Gut contributes to inflammation, and is why EVERYONE with an autoimmune condition should avoid gluten, in my opinion.
Another way that gluten is linked to MS is that there seems to be a higher prevalence of gluten sensitives and Celiac disease within the MS community. Several studies have shown that people with MS and their relatives have a higher chance of having Celiac or a sensitivity to gluten. Often times when individuals with MS have eliminated gluten from their diet for a period of time, they have experienced an improvement in their symptoms. Considering that gluten contributes to inflammation in the body and MS is impacted by inflammation in the body, it only makes sense that eliminating a source of inflammation can improve symptoms.
Finding hidden Gluten
How on earth do you find all the hidden gluten in the world? I know, it’s hard for me too. Just being aware of where it can hide out is a great start. I listed a few spots above, but other places it can hide out is in deli meat, restaurants, hair care, body care, vitamins and supplements just for a few more ideas. The last 4 on this list might give you a shock if this is a new idea for you. It did for me when I was first looking into it. I NEVER thought my lotions or vitamins would have gluten in them! However, back in the day, they most likely did. Thankfully I started looking at labels only a few years ago, and everything is pretty well labeled now. But that still means we have to look! All vitamins and supplements should be labeled with what it DOES have in it and what it DOESN’T. Same goes for hair/body care.
As for eating out, please be careful. I’ve been so diligent, but my order always seems to get messed up. Don’t be afraid to ask up front about gluten free dishes and then for clarification when they bring out your dinner. If you think something isn’t right, it probably isn’t. It’s YOUR dinner and YOUR experience, not theirs. 
Many people who have MS have found going gluten free to be beneficial. They have reported improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms and MS symptoms as well. There are lab tests that show gluten sensitivities, but an elimination diet is the only true method of finding out 100% whether it (or anything else) bothers your system. Considering the research has found a link between gluten sensitivity and MS, why not try giving a gluten free diet a try for a while and see how it makes you feel? It doesn’t have to be forever, and if it works, wouldn’t that be a bonus?
If you like what you’re reading, consider joining the LissMS Community! I share further insights and knowledge regularly!  bit.ly/LissMS 
Also, if you’re interested in trying out a gluten free lifestyle but don’t know where to start, let me know! I can help 😉

I’M ALISSA!

I help women who have also been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis make specific and personalized diet, lifestyle & subconscious changes so that they can begin to heal their body, reduce disease symptoms, and return to a life they love.hey there,

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Get in MS girlie, we have stress to manage 💅

But seriously… stress management is the KEY to symptom management when you live with MS or any autoimmune disease or chronic illness.

You see- STRESS is where our autoimmune diseases alllll started.

Either due to emotional stress, physical stress, environmental stress… you get the picture, stress is the problem.

And unfortunately- it’s never going away, we can only learn how to manage it better for ourselves and our bodies.

Totally lost on how to do that? I got you!

I’m hosting a free masterclass all about how to manage stress in your daily lives- and in a way that doesn’t add a ton to your already packed to-do list.

Wanna sign up? Duh..
Comment STRESS below and I’ll send you the link to save your seat!!

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #thisisms #becausems #stressmanagement #seasonaldepression #healingmultiplesclerosis

Get in MS girlie, we have stress to manage 💅

But seriously… stress management is the KEY to symptom management when you live with MS or any autoimmune disease or chronic illness.

You see- STRESS is where our autoimmune diseases alllll started.

Either due to emotional stress, physical stress, environmental stress… you get the picture, stress is the problem.

And unfortunately- it’s never going away, we can only learn how to manage it better for ourselves and our bodies.

Totally lost on how to do that? I got you!

I’m hosting a free masterclass all about how to manage stress in your daily lives- and in a way that doesn’t add a ton to your already packed to-do list.

Wanna sign up? Duh..
Comment STRESS below and I’ll send you the link to save your seat!!

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #thisisms #becausems #stressmanagement #seasonaldepression #healingmultiplesclerosis
...

3 0
It’s amazing what taking a few minutes to breathe and reassure yourself can do, ya know??

If you have MS and this gives you an immediate uncomfy feeling in your gut because you never advocate for yourself and your needs, 

You need to come to my next Masterclass:
Managing Stress to Manage MS

We’ll be talking about:
* How Stress Works: Discover how your body’s stress response system operates and why it plays such a big role in your overall health.
* Stress and MS: Understand how stress impacts MS symptoms and why it can sometimes make symptom flares worse.
* Building Your Resilience: Get simple, effective strategies to boost your stress resilience and help ease MS symptoms for a healthier, more balanced life.

Happening February 10th at 6pm EST!
Comment NEEDS below and I’ll send you the link to register! 

#multiplesclerosis #lissms #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #healingmultiplesclerosis #thisisms

It’s amazing what taking a few minutes to breathe and reassure yourself can do, ya know??

If you have MS and this gives you an immediate uncomfy feeling in your gut because you never advocate for yourself and your needs,

You need to come to my next Masterclass:
Managing Stress to Manage MS

We’ll be talking about:
* How Stress Works: Discover how your body’s stress response system operates and why it plays such a big role in your overall health.
* Stress and MS: Understand how stress impacts MS symptoms and why it can sometimes make symptom flares worse.
* Building Your Resilience: Get simple, effective strategies to boost your stress resilience and help ease MS symptoms for a healthier, more balanced life.

Happening February 10th at 6pm EST!
Comment NEEDS below and I’ll send you the link to register!

#multiplesclerosis #lissms #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #healingmultiplesclerosis #thisisms
...

9 1
This is hard!!

We feel like “we should be able to” still do the cleaning, chores, putting things away etc etc etc.. 

But in reality- our bodies need and crave rest and recovery first.

If we don’t give our bodies what they need voluntarily, they’ll find a way to make us.

Really struggle with this idea of listening to and caring for your body?
(I get it- it’s not a skill we’re taught)

I’m hosting a (free) masterclass on this and “managing stress” in January, comment CLASS and I’ll send you the link to sign up!! 

#multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #stressmanagement #lissms #thisisms #becausems #seasonaldepression #anxiety

This is hard!!

We feel like “we should be able to” still do the cleaning, chores, putting things away etc etc etc..

But in reality- our bodies need and crave rest and recovery first.

If we don’t give our bodies what they need voluntarily, they’ll find a way to make us.

Really struggle with this idea of listening to and caring for your body?
(I get it- it’s not a skill we’re taught)

I’m hosting a (free) masterclass on this and “managing stress” in January, comment CLASS and I’ll send you the link to sign up!!

#multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #stressmanagement #lissms #thisisms #becausems #seasonaldepression #anxiety
...

15 5
I get it..

It seems like it would be good.

Because others around you are taken care of..
Because others around you feel good..
Because others around you are happy..

But what about you??

In reality, that’s just making it harder for you to help yourself heal and probs making your MS symptoms worse.

I’ve worked with so many people with MS and autoimmune disease… 1 thing (among many) that they all have in common is a habit of putting others before themselves, saying yes way too much and forgetting about what they want themselves.

Feel a little called out?
Then my course Embodied Resilience is for you.

This is a course all about managing + improving your stress tolerance- since stress is the number 1 trigger of symptom flares and relapses

And- it’s on sale for Black Friday!!
Comment SALE below and I’ll send you the link!!

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #healingmultiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems

I get it..

It seems like it would be good.

Because others around you are taken care of..
Because others around you feel good..
Because others around you are happy..

But what about you??

In reality, that’s just making it harder for you to help yourself heal and probs making your MS symptoms worse.

I’ve worked with so many people with MS and autoimmune disease… 1 thing (among many) that they all have in common is a habit of putting others before themselves, saying yes way too much and forgetting about what they want themselves.

Feel a little called out?
Then my course Embodied Resilience is for you.

This is a course all about managing + improving your stress tolerance- since stress is the number 1 trigger of symptom flares and relapses

And- it’s on sale for Black Friday!!
Comment SALE below and I’ll send you the link!!

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #healingmultiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems
...

25 7
✨Moving your body✨

Notice I didn’t say exercise, although yes that also helps.

Stress hormones can get stuck in our bodies, our cells, our muscle tissue for various reasons.

Making it super easy for us to carry stress around with us- which shows up often as:

Pain
Tension
Trouble breathing
Difficulty with balance

It’s no coincidence that these are often prominent MS symptoms too. Sometimes it’s hard to tell where effects of MS end and effects of stress begin.

Being able to offload accumulated stress is key to being able to improve MS symptoms.

My course Embodied Resilience shows you exactly how to do this, and it’s gonna be on sale for Black Friday.

Comment ME below and I’ll send you the sale link when it’s ready!! 

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemhealing #nervoussystemregulation #stressmanagement #thisisms #becausems

✨Moving your body✨

Notice I didn’t say exercise, although yes that also helps.

Stress hormones can get stuck in our bodies, our cells, our muscle tissue for various reasons.

Making it super easy for us to carry stress around with us- which shows up often as:

Pain
Tension
Trouble breathing
Difficulty with balance

It’s no coincidence that these are often prominent MS symptoms too. Sometimes it’s hard to tell where effects of MS end and effects of stress begin.

Being able to offload accumulated stress is key to being able to improve MS symptoms.

My course Embodied Resilience shows you exactly how to do this, and it’s gonna be on sale for Black Friday.

Comment ME below and I’ll send you the sale link when it’s ready!!

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemhealing #nervoussystemregulation #stressmanagement #thisisms #becausems
...

9 2
I’ve seen myself and tons of clients through behavior change to help improve their MS + autoimmune disease symptoms.

There are SO MANY things that can help us.

But the one I’ve seen move the needle the most?

Working on your mindset and stress management tools.

We can change our diet
Change how we move 
Change the products we’re using
Change the supplements we take..

But if we’re still in the high stress state that most of us are in.. all those will only go so far.

Stress is my biggest symptom trigger, and 99% of my clients feel the same.

My biggest course sale is coming Black Friday, included is my course Embodied Resilience, all about learning how to actually manage stress- so you’re not constantly battling MS flares too.

My email list is gonna get first dibs..
Comment LIST below and I’ll add you so you’re notified first!!

I’ve seen myself and tons of clients through behavior change to help improve their MS + autoimmune disease symptoms.

There are SO MANY things that can help us.

But the one I’ve seen move the needle the most?

Working on your mindset and stress management tools.

We can change our diet
Change how we move
Change the products we’re using
Change the supplements we take..

But if we’re still in the high stress state that most of us are in.. all those will only go so far.

Stress is my biggest symptom trigger, and 99% of my clients feel the same.

My biggest course sale is coming Black Friday, included is my course Embodied Resilience, all about learning how to actually manage stress- so you’re not constantly battling MS flares too.

My email list is gonna get first dibs..
Comment LIST below and I’ll add you so you’re notified first!!
...

18 8
And my period started to add to the joy 🙃🙃

We can do hard things y’all,
breathe in, breathe out,
all will be well.

#Electionstress #seasonaldepression #anxiety #multiplesclerosis

And my period started to add to the joy 🙃🙃

We can do hard things y’all,
breathe in, breathe out,
all will be well.

#Electionstress #seasonaldepression #anxiety #multiplesclerosis
...

19 4
Home stretch!!

Do what you need to do today to take care of yourself friends.

#Electionday #Govote #Vote

Home stretch!!

Do what you need to do today to take care of yourself friends.

#Electionday #Govote #Vote
...

10 1

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