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Alexa PenaVega Opens Up About Her Recovery From Bulimia, Defends Her Gluten-Free Diet

By Lindsay McCane
Published on: 14:04 PST, Mar 16, 2016

Alexa PenaVega and her husband Carlos Vega are currently on a picture-perfect vacation in Mexico. PenaVega has been documenting their fun-filled trip with photos on Instagram, and recently shared one that brought in some criticism from her followers.

In the photo, Alexa is seen making a face at a bowl of chips. PeneVega captioned the photo by saying, “When you want the chips but you can’t have them :(#GlutenFreeProblems #NeedCornChips! (these are not corn chips… If they were they would be gone.).”

According to Celiac.org, gluten is the general term for the proteins found in wheat, rye, barley, and triticale. It serves as a type of “glue” that gives food their shapes and holds them together. People typically tend to avoid gluten if they are diagnosed with celiac disease (a problem with digesting gluten), or if they have gluten sensitivity. Symptoms of these disorders include diarrhea, stomach upset, abdominal pain, and bloating. The only difference between celiac disease and gluten sensitivity is that celiac disease can cause damage to the lining of the intestines, making it hard for a person to absorb nutrients and leaving them vulnerable to malnutrition and weight loss.

Not long after Alexa posted the photo, PenaVega started getting comments about her gluten-free diet, which prompted her to open up about a very touchy subject… her battle with bulimia. In a lengthy post, PenaVega revealed that she struggled with the eating disorder for six years, and has finally found happiness within herself.

Read Alexa PenaVega’s complete post below.

“Wow. I am actually shocked at how many people felt the need to criticize me for a gluten free diet. I mentioned it not thinking much of it… But apparently there is a lot to say on this. I want to keep this as real and as kind and hopefully inspiring as possible.”

“For six years I struggled with bulimia. Something I only recently opened up about. I had so many insecurities about my body! Since overcoming that obstacle in my life (By the Grace of God) I had a lot of trouble processing all sorts of foods in my body. I had done a lot of damage and recovery from it all was a PAINFUL process. But 100% worth it.”

“My body feels strong. I have energy. I feel like a woman!! I finally have the nutrients I had deprived my “temple” of. (Our bodies are incredible gifts from God that we have to take care of!) Now, there are certain foods that still give me some trouble… So for me… It is easier to eliminate those foods so that my body absorbs all the nutrients I can get! Whether you are choosing a “lifestyle” choice for dietary conditions or because you want to is completely and totally up to you… And guess what? It’s totally fine!!!! So don’t let bitter people discourage you from being the healthiest version of YOU that you can be.”

“So… Here Is my body. It is mine and I am proud of it. I may not hold up to hollywood’s teenie tiny standards but hey… You can’t please everyone. I am me and I am healthy!!! And BEYOND happy and THANKFUL! That is all I can be.#GodisGood #LifeisGood”

According to a previous report by The Inquisitr, Alexa PenaVega married her husband Carlos Vega on Saturday, January 4, 2014, during an intimate ceremony in Peurto Vallarta, Mexico.

“We are so thrilled and blessed that we were able to have all of our close friends and family join us on our special day,” the couple said in a statement following their romantic nuptials.

PenaVega was previously married to movie producer Sean Covel. They were married in 2010 when she was only 21-years-old and he was 33. Alexa and Carlos started dating around the time her marriage to Covel had ended.

[Photo by Araya Diaz/Stringer/Getty Images]

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