# A number of years ago I experienced months of health problems and was tested for, among other things, Crohn's disease - a type of inflammatory bowel condition - but ended up being diagnosed with IBS. It was a generic diagnosis with no further attempt to determine causes or triggers. I have had varying levels of problems with it ever since, sometimes food related, others brought on by stress.
Our youngest daughter was diagnosed as having a lactose intolerance with a secondary gluten intolerance (one frequently triggers the other) so, for a while, our family diet changed to accommodate and manage her issues.
I discovered that while eating gluten free my IBS symptoms were greatly reduced and continued with a gluten free diet for some time. Once things seemed to have fully settled I gradually reintroduced gluten until I was back on a normal diet.
Working at an off-site event in December, I was discussing my B12 deficiency with a colleague (gluten intolerant themselves) who reminded me that one cause is coeliac disease.
While I am not full blown coeliac I can't help but feel that a gluten intolerance is, at least partly, to blame for my B12 deficiency. To combat both this and a recurrence of my IBS I have returned to a mostly gluten free diet.
Gluten free breads and pastas are now really good but why can't anyone make a decent gluten free biscuit?
In all seriousness, this is a change with two targets: the obvious benefits for my physical health and the knock-on effects for my mental health. With one of the symptoms of a B12 deficiency being depression I am tackling this physical aspect alongside the steps I am taking to address the clinical.
And that can only be a good thing.
I am currently reading "Unplugged" by Nicholas Bate, one of the books recently purchased for January - although I won't finish them all within the month. The first principle of living unplugged is simplicity - where things are straight forward - not to be confused with simplistic. It immediately resonated and I realised that, not only is it something I wish to strive for, but that I have been tinkering around the edges of for a while. The past few years have seen me have less apps installed on my phone, less notifications enabled and, as my phone gets smarter, the less I use it for. Recent birthdays and Christmases have left family frustrated as when asked what I want I have replied "I don't know as I don't really need anything." I want to reduce rather than gain, both physical and mental clutter; reduction rather than minimalism, working out exactly what I need or, as Patrick Rhone calls it, having enough. Enough is as individual as we are; enough means knowing what's right for ourselves; enough is knowing what's next rather than a confusing multitude of choices. Minimalism may work for some but minimalism for the sake of it, in my opinion, only leaves cold, empty spaces, devoid of life and character. I want to simplify not exclude, live not deprive, and minimalism would not allow me to do that.