Since 1996, I’ve been sick. Always sick with something. I didn’t even know what gluten sensitive meant until exactly 20 years later. I was diagnosed with everything from fibromyalgia, chronic fatique, EBV, Hashimoto’s, interstacial cystitis, endiometriosis, mild Ehler’s Danlos, Reynaud’s Phenomenon, veinous insufficiency, persistent anxiety disorder, costocondritis, pre-diabetic and a slew of other ailments meant to keep me medicated and stuck in bed. I even had doctors who couldn’t understand what was going on tell me it’s in my head. After years of frustration, turning into that horrible friend that cancelled at the last minute, I vowed I would do what the doctors could not. I did the Google thing. And I said screw this. I am way too busy with living – to allow any diagnosis to get the better of me.

The moment I discovered what gluten sensitivity was – was the turning point in my life. I have never been formally diagnosed with Celiac. I just know my own experience. Taking wheat, rye, and barley out of my diet was the hardest thing in the world to do, (I LOVE BREAD & PASTA!) but it changed my life. No longer did I have random inflammation, excruiating pain, and stomach upset. I started feeling better. The same day I stopped gluten – I stopped coffee. Cold-turkey. There’s a chemical in coffee that has the same properties as the thyroid. When you have Hashi’s where your body attacks your thyroid, coffee just compounds the issue. I discovered Teeccino Dandelion Root Herbal Coffee – completely gluten-free! It’s not exactly coffee, but after over two years of living this lifestyle, I don’t remember what it tastes like anyway.

A few months later, after years of you sneezing and me being ill for the next 30 days, I discovered an incredible drink that I modified. Besides occasional migraines and costocondritis flare-ups, I haven’t been sick in over a year…. like this is from someone who lives for theatre and theatre peeps always share germs back and forth. I make this weird concoction of tea. I use an organic oregano tea bag, lemon ginger tea bag, spoonful of fermented turmeric, 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon pepper to activate tumeric properties, spoonful of coconut oil, packet of MonkFruit sugar, and almond milk creamer. Mix and drink. It will knock whatever ails you out of you.

So a year into my gluten-free foray, on July 3, 2017, my husband, Ken and I watched “What The Health” documentary and when it ended, we made a major decision. He took all the dairy, eggs, chicken, sandwich meat and the rack of ribs marinating in the fridge for the grill the next day and we tossed into the garbage, hesitantly starting our journey into a vegan lifestyle. If you knew my husband, you’d understand what a huge deal this was, how much the documentary impacted him. At one point, we were going to open a BBQ restaurant because he was known for his mouth-watering ribs, pulled pork, and beef brisket. Although many say that the documentary is all propoganda BS, it kick started us into a healthier lifestyle. So whether it is or isn’t, I don’t care. Understand, we are not one of those vegans who will spat at you for eating meat. Though we love animals, we chose this lifestyle for health reasons. (But yeah, I did get disgusted about what is found in milk. :P) Ken was all in, so I convinced him to also go gluten-free and he has for me.

Inspired by said theatre friends, we will share our favorite gluten-free and vegan restaurants, recipes and products that help with a gluten-free and vegan lifestyle – #IloveAmazon. Please feel free to suggest new restaurants to visit in Tampa Bay and new gluten-free and vegan products to try.

By the end of our first year, my energy had returned and Ken went from 3XL to 2XL and 50 to 44, his blood sugar reduced from upper 300 to 400 to mid 100s.  Proof that taking better care of yourself, eating whole foods and occasional faux meats and cheeses can make a tremendous difference. So we’ll do us and you do you.  I just hope I can entertain you along the way.

Deb Kelley, DKVK

Deb Kelley Vegan Kitchen