In her response to the criticism, the actress shared that she suffered from bulimia, a struggle that lasted almost 6 years. Bulimia is an eating disorder that is caused by binging, followed by methods to avoid gaining weight, such as vomiting the food they just ate and excessive exercising or fasting. Fortunately PenaVega was able to recover from the disease and is now very healthy and conscious of what she eats.
“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,” she revealed. “My body feels strong. I have energy. I feel like a woman!!”
People that go on a gluten-free diet don’t eat the protein gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye. In most cases, people go on a gluten-free diet when they are diagnosed with celiac disease. Foods with gluten cause inflammation in the small intestines of people who have this disease. Some people can suffer from the symptoms of celiac disease, even though they don’t have it, such as feeling bloated. This can make their abdomen feel tight, which can be very painful.
“I finally have the nutrients I had deprived my ‘temple’ 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!”
She felt the need to say something because even though she’s had some struggles, she’s now healthier than ever and happy, which at the end is all that matters.