Gluten-Free School http://learntruehealth.com/gluten-free-school/ Gluten- Free School Gluten-free is how more and more people are tweaking their diet nowadays. I remember seven years ago when my husband and I first went gluten-free, few people knew what it meant. My guest, Jennifer Fugo, apparently went through a similar path. And because being gluten-free made her so much healthier, she established the Gluten Free School to help people get their health back. Life Before Being Gluten-Free Jennifer Fugo’s journey was similar to most people who have gotten sick. Way back in 2006, she was so much into working out and being healthy. However, despite how Jennifer Fugo was restrictive with her diet, she was gaining weight, felt tired most of the time and very sickly. She initially thought she was exercising too much, but despite cutting down her workouts, she still didn’t feel right. Even doctors couldn’t diagnose appropriately because Jennifer Fugo’s lab tests all came out normal. Then one day in 2008, Jennifer Fugo’s friend recommended seeing a nutritionist. Upon seeing that Jennifer Fugo’s diet mainly consisted of bread, pasta, and pizza, the nutritionist advised her to go gluten-free for two weeks. It didn’t take long before Jennifer Fugo saw results. Within just three days of being gluten-free, she felt more clear headed.  Apparently, brain fog was associated with gluten sensitivity, and it turned out that Jennifer Fugo was gluten sensitive to eggs, dairy, cashews, and pistachios. “Gluten sensitivity implies that there is an immune reaction that is happening as a result of a specific food like gluten coming into the body. If you are gluten sensitive, you do need to avoid things like oats that are not certified gluten-free,” said Jennifer Fugo. What Is Gluten? Many people have heard this term, but very few know what gluten is. Gluten is derived from the Latin word ‘gluten’ which means glue. And like glue, it binds things together. Final products that contain gluten usually have a chewy texture. “It is a spongy protein that is found in specific grains. Most notably, wheat, barley, and rye. It is also in other ancient forms of wheat,” Jennifer Fugo said. “Gluten binds together ingredients, and it may be hard for some people to digest.” Advocating A Gluten-Free Diet Even outside of Philadelphia where Jennifer Fugo lives, she attests that things have changed so much as far as diet is concerned. She says many people in her area are advocates of a gluten-free diet, so it wasn’t hard to find restaurants that offered a gluten-free menu. However, that was not always the case. When Jennifer Fugo first tried practicing a gluten-free diet, her father, who happened to be a medical doctor, was very skeptical. It was only when her health significantly improved that her father understood how a gluten-free diet plays a significant role in overall health. “People noticed a big change in me.  Because it seemed like I lost weight when in fact, it’s not fat, but inflammation. I lost inflammation weight,” explained Jennifer Fugo. “When it comes to food sensitivity or autoimmune diseases, the symptoms are all over the place. That is why it is hard for doctors to pinpoint the correct diagnosis.” The Gluten Free School Her personal experience drove Jennifer Fugo to put up Gluten Free School in 2011.  Her mission is to empower and inspire gluten sensitive women to get back to living a healthy, joy-filled life. A program at the Gluten Free School typically lasts six to eight weeks. The school helps women identify root causes, implement diet and lifestyle changes based on their unique health history, and resolve chronic health issues. “A lot of people don’t understand that you can’t do it halfway. You have to be gluten-free all the way,” said Jennifer Fugo. “If you don’t allow yourself to tune in and go on this journey of figuring out what the imbalances are, they don’t just miraculously disappear. Things build slowly with time.” Importance Of A Good Dig