Ilumi | A Celiacs Blessing in Disguise

As you know I suffer from coeliacs/celiacs (varied spellings) disease which is pre-tee bad. I also react to certain foods such as oats, chicken (fed with wheat etc), eggs and other foods that hold a similar protein line up to gluten and wheat based products.

What most people don't understand is that celiacs disease is NOT a food intolerance condition unlike wheat sensitivity or intolerance. Celiacs is actually an autoimmune condition which means our bodies attacks itself when an allergen is placed inside of us - in this case our villi is destructed and we cannot metabolise nutrients from foods. Symptoms include malnutrition; we cannot get the goodness that we need which then snowballs into anemia, low ferritin, stomach cramps, migraines, body swelling, liver dysfunction, impaired kidney function, heart palpitations, colitis, Crohn's, dermatitis herpetiform (a skin rash that blisters and ulcers), hair loss, fatigue, blacking out and so much more terrible symptoms. I recently found out that my folliculitis decalvans wasn't so, it was blisters from using keratin straightening shampoo - keratin is wheat.

The only treatment for true celiacs is following a 100% gluten free diet. If the symptoms aren't improved via a strict change of lifestyle it can scarily cause death. So many people do not get that and by putting any sort of cross contaminated product into our bodies we are ultimately playing Russian Roulette. The only way to be truly diagnosed also is via blood tests and a colonoscopy to check for villi destruction - it makes me so furious when people just presume they have celiacs because they get a bit bloated or an upset tummy when eating wheat - if only those people could really understand how hellish it is to manage this disease.

Most stores stock gluten-free foods but what's not made clear is that in order to stay healthy we must only purchase 'gluten free' foods and not 'wheat free' wheat free foods can still contain a small amount of gluten. Yes, supermarkets stock the basics but they tend to contain a lot of sugar, processed ingredients and oats (I can't eat oats).

Along came a heavenly company called Ilumi. Ilumi offers a range of foods that are suitable for celiacs, milk intolerances and even vegetarians. For me, it was a godsend to finally be eating nutritious and balanced foods that would help my ever increasing anemia fatigue.

I was kindly sent the gluten-free diet pack which includes 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 7 dinners as well as snacks - typically this would also include a couple of beers but they may have thought I didn't look old enough, I'm not sure (I'm 30!)

Breakfasts include:

✓ Nairn's Porridge Oats

✓ Nairn's Oatcakes

✓ Nairn's Oat and Syrup Biscuits

I didn't manage to eat these due to the oats but I tried - some part of me hoped that I would manage with them being gluten-free but it wasn't so. I was double up in serious pain.

Lunch included:

✓ Butternut Squash Soup

✓ Pea, Mint & Pancetta Soup (absolutely incredible)

✓ Beef Casserole

✓ Tom Kha Gai Soup

✓ Zaatar Chicken

✓ Tomato & Red Pepper Soup

✓ Moroccan-Style Vegetable Tagine.

My favourites were the Pea, Mint and Pancetta Soup and the Tom Kha Gai Soup they were so flavoursome and just incredible, the thing is I've never liked pea soups before.

Dinners included:

✓ Beef Meatballs

✓ Kerala Chicken Curry

✓ Northern Chinese Style Chicken & Mushrooms

✓ Thai Red Chicken Curry

✓ Sweet Five Spice & Chilli Pork

✓ Coq Au Vin

✓ White rice

✓ Yellow basmati rice.

When my food ran out I really felt the difference, I missed eating tasty food again and I couldn't stop thinking about Ilumi foods, so I placed an order.

This order included 14 products and cost me £20.95, I was emailed a £10 off voucher and the only requirement was that you had to spend £25+. Delivery was free and this turns up typically the next day via courier depending on when you place your order.

This order included 19 products. Once again I received £10 off my order and a free new release curry and it only cost me £25. These products will last me over a week and I already have certain favourites - Kerala Chicken Curry and of course, my beloved Pea Soup *nom*

If you're looking for a healthier but tasty diet, if you've been diagnosed with food intolerance, allergy or autoimmune condition or even if you've just had a baby and want to eat good food quickly then try Ilumi. I'd also recommend signing up to their email notifications because they regularly send offers such as the ones I used above. You can check out their foods on their website here.