How Quitting Drinking Has Improved My Life With Celiac Disease

Plus, my top picks for gluten-free non-alcoholic drinks.

I quit drinking a little over two years ago after experiencing one of the worst hangovers of my life. At first, I was only planning on taking a break temporarily—but the time off from drinking gave me a moment to reflect on my relationship with alcohol and realize that it was no longer serving me.

So, I ultimately decided to ban booze from my life for good and haven’t looked back. I can honestly say quitting drinking is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for my health—particularly when it comes to managing my celiac disease.

The benefits of quitting drinking when you have celiac disease

After being diagnosed with celiac disease at the start of the pandemic, I used to drink a glass (or two…or sometimes three) of wine with dinner in an attempt to soothe my anxiety about my health and the state of the world.

However, drinking didn’t have the intended effect of calming my nerves—instead, it only left me feeling more stressed and unable to get a restful night’s sleep, which created a vicious cycle that left me perpetually anxious.

That’s not too surprising given that research shows alcohol can actually make anxiety and depression worse by affecting chemicals in your brain—and it also can prevent you from getting adequate REM sleep throughout the night, leading to feelings of grogginess in the morning.

Once I took alcohol out of the equation, I started feeling less anxious and my overall mood and energy levels improved. Plus, I ended up replacing drinking with healthier activities to further reduce my anxiety, including exercise and meditation.

Because I was sleeping better sans alcohol, I had more energy during the day to work out harder. I was also less likely to skip a workout and quickly developed a consistent fitness routine of exercising three or four times a week. Studies show exercise can have a positive effect on anxiety, and I experienced that first-hand.

Another huge perk of quitting drinking? It helped me get my acid reflux under control. I’ve struggled with acid reflux since I was a teen. Even after being diagnosed with celiac disease and cutting out gluten, I would still get heartburn from other trigger foods and ingredients, including alcohol and coffee. When I ditched the booze (I’m still working on the coffee!), my acid reflux started to subside. It’s not totally gone, but it’s certainly not as bad as it used to be when I was drinking.

While I was worried about how to handle social situations early on in my alcohol-free journey, this has gotten easier over time. I’ve found plenty of ways to have fun without alcohol—and although my friendships that were centered around drinking have faded, I’ve deepened many other friendships and even made new friends. And, in the past year, I’ve noticed that many of my friends have decided to cut back on alcohol too so I no longer feel like the only one who doesn’t drink.

(You can read more about what I learned from a year of not drinking and hear me talk about going alcohol-free on my freelance client aSweatLife’s podcast!)

Best gluten-free non-alcoholic drinks

Since cutting out alcohol over two years ago, I’ve been enjoying trying all of the non-alcoholic drinks that have hit the market. Of course, being both gluten-free and a non-drinker can make it tricky to find non-alcoholic drinks that are safe.

Non-alcoholic beers are sadly off-limits since they contain gluten, but I’ve had good luck with other NA drinks, such as wines, liquors, and hop waters. (I’ve also been able to find plenty of zero-proof cocktails at restaurants and bars made from naturally gluten-free ingredients, like fresh juices, fruit, and seltzer.)

Below, I’ve rounded up a few of the gluten-free non-alcoholic drinks that have earned a spot on my zero-proof bar cart.

Note: The drinks on this list either state on their packaging or website that they’re gluten-free or made without gluten-containing ingredients. However, I always encourage you to do your own research before trying anything because products can change. Also, note that some non-alcoholic drinks contain trace amounts of alcohol.

Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher

One of the first non-alcoholic drinks I tried was this hop water from Lagunitas. ICYMI, hop water is non-alcoholic sparkling water infused with the flavors of hops. It’s an excellent alternative to alcohol-removed beer, and it just so happens to be gluten-free. I love this one because it’s so light and refreshing. $11 for a 6-pack, boisson.co

Hoplark Citra 0.0

Another one of my favorite hop waters is this one from Hoplark. It has a strong citrus flavor and IMO tastes pretty close to beer. But, there’s absolutely no malt in the ingredients, so it’s gluten-free. I’ve gotten more than a few friends hooked on this NA drink. $46 for an 18-pack, hoplark.com

Giesen 0% Sauvignon Blanc

This is my favorite non-alcoholic white wine (and the brand mentions on its website that it’s suitable for people who are gluten-free). It’s light and fresh, with citrus flavors and a crisp, dry finish. I usually pair it with seafood and pasta. (Check out this article I wrote about pairing non-alcoholic wine with cheese, featuring input from Giesen’s chief winemaker!) $16, boisson.co

Monday Zero Alcohol Gin

This non-alcoholic gin tastes like the real thing. I was very impressed with the juniper flavor the first time I tried it. I like to pair it with tonic water and non-alcoholic bitters. In addition to being gluten-free, it’s also free of carbs, sugar, and calories. $35.99, amazon.com

Free Spirits The Spirit of Tequila

This is another one of the best gluten-free non-alcoholic spirits I’ve tried. I’ve made NA margaritas for a few friends using this tequila alternative, and they all said it came pretty close in taste to the real thing. I also like that it’s infused with B vitamins for a subtle mood-boosting effect. $36.99, amazon.com

Ghia Non-Alcoholic Apéritif

I can’t get enough of this gluten-free non-alcoholic apéritif, which I usually mix with seltzer for a delicious spritz. The key ingredients include orange peel, rosemary extract, and ginger extract. The flavor reminds me of Campari or Aperol and transports me right back to Europe! $32.30, amazon.com

Betty Buzz Sparkling Grapefruit Soda

This sparkling non-alcoholic mixer is the brainchild of Blake Lively, one of the biggest-name celebs who doesn’t drink. It’s gluten-free and also free of artificial flavors, colors, and sweeteners. The grapefruit flavor is my favorite in the collection because it’s not too sweet or too tart, and it pairs well with many non-alcoholic spirits, including the gin and tequila alternatives above. $39.99 for a 12-pack, amazon.com

Fresh Victor Mexican Lime & Agave Cocktail Mixer

Last but not least, I discovered Fresh Victor—a line of craft, refrigerated cocktail mixers—when I was working on a recent article. I was won over by the fresh ingredients and fun packaging. The Mexican Lime & Agave flavor paired fantastically with my Free Spirits tequila alternative, and it took all the work out of creating an NA margarita. $9.99, freshvictor.com

For more NA drink ideas, check out my recent roundup of the best non-alcoholic drinks published on Shape.com. Most of the products in the article—except the NA beers—are made without gluten-containing ingredients. For my article, I interviewed a few fellow Substackers, including Tawny Lara

Beyond Liquid Courage

,

Hilary Sheinbaum

, and Derek Brown

Positive Damage

for their input. I highly recommend you follow them here and on social media if you’re looking for more information on this topic!

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