Why You Probably Don’t Need to Eat a Gluten Free Diet
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OP's article does feel a bit like a shaming post.
Can I ask you what specifically in the OP caused you to come to the conclusion that it was was a "shaming" post please?0 -
This is a very well written post. Truth be told, if you feel that gluten is causing you issues and you have cut it out and it works, then perhaps you do have an allergy or sensitivity; BUT, most people do not have any issues in this area and to jump on the bandwagon without having a reason for doing it reminds me of those people who jump on Atkins, Grapefruit diet, etc. I asked my registered dietician point blank if she feels that GF would be worth my trying and she referred me to an article she had written which is very similar to the OP argument.
There are some here who seem offended by this position, but I must admit I get offended when faced by the GF police I work with who constantly preach their methodology. Don't hate me because I am eating a nice veggie-filled PITA. It's what works for me!0 -
because a lot of people are being told that gluten makes *everyone* ill and *no-one* should eat it.
I dont think ive ever read that anywhere......ever
i don't think i've read that either! OP's article does feel a bit like a shaming post.
as my best friend and her whole family have issues with gluten, i love that we can go out to restaurants again and she hasn't had to quiz the server on preparation methods and ingredients. those handy little "GF" signs do all the work.
Granted that the internet is a big place so not everyone reads the same sites, but there are a LOT of websites out there that are promoting the idea that all grains are harmful, that gluten is harmful to everyone, some even go as far as to say it's toxic... go look at any websites advocating the paleo diet for examples...
you may not have seen it specifically, but there is a lot of it out there. the popular book "wheat belly" is a classic example0 -
FTR, my husband has Crohn's disease, and he has no trouble with digesting gluten. For him, it is spicy foods, especially the pepper family, and too much fiber that can give him trouble. Certain leafy greens and whole grains are restricted, though he digests white bread and refined grains very well.
Interesting! I admittedly know very little about Chrohn's but my cousin's husband has it and he can only digest white bread and refined grains. Cruciferous vegetables and whole grains are also restricted.
It causes blockages. Basically, Crohn's is where the lining of the gut begins to break down. I've been married to him 19 years and have become practically an expert. :laugh:
But the trigger foods do seem to vary between individuals. Too much fiber is a common cause of flare-ups.0 -
What was the point in posting this article? To berate those of us who have non-GI issues that have cleared up by going gluten-free feel ridiculous? It's not like we don't hear these arguments in our every day lives... I've had a number of GI issues that have mostly cleared up by not consuming dairy, but I also have non-GI issues. Miraculously, these issues (namely acne and migraines) cleared up after going gluten free for 3 months. The tone of this article sounds exactly like my family doctor - even though they cleared up by going gluten free, it has nothing to do with a gluten intolerance and instead, I should be taking medication for migraines even though said medication has never ever worked. Really? Last Friday I ate gluten (pizza). I've had a migraine since then. Coincidence? Perhaps. But it's a pretty strong coincidence and if not eating gluten means not getting migraines, then I think I'll stick with a gluten free diet. It has nothing to do with weight loss. It has EVERYTHING to do with quality of life.
the point of posting it is to tell people that if gluten doesn't make you ill, it's okay to eat it, and only people who are made ill by it need to avoid it, ....because a lot of people are being told that gluten makes *everyone* ill and *no-one* should eat it.
if gluten made you ill, and stopping eating it made you better, then you have one of the problems listed. In fact I seem to recall reading in the article that one of the problems listed in the article can cause non-GI symptoms as well as or instead of GI ones. So you'd be in that category.
No, if you keep reading the article, it then says that even if you fall into that category, you "probably" do not need to avoid gluten. It's basically saying if it's a GI symptom, then it's true. If not, then it's all in your mind. And frankly, I AM SO TIRED OF HEARING THAT.
Yes it says that people with mild wheat allergies may not need to avoid wheat altogether. There's nowhere in the article that berates people who have non-GI symptoms of wheat allergy for avoiding wheat, or anyone else who's actually made ill by wheat for avoiding it. I'm sure you're sick of hearing that you don't really have a problem with gluten.... but the article isn't saying that you don't. It's not berating anyone. It's aimed at people who have bought into a current fad (i.e. grain hating/wheat hating diets) who are avoiding wheat because books like wheat belly told them it's toxic, but who actually are not made ill by wheat at all. And even then, it doesn't berate those people, it explains the truth to them.
I'm sorry that there are people out there who don't take your illness seriously.... but surely you'd understand that it's a problem when healthy people who don't actually have any problems from eating wheat, are scared into avoiding it by books that imply that it's toxic for everyone...?0 -
I know a few people who are trying to stay away from gluten, my cousin has gone completely gluten free and swears she feels so much better and somehow they did some "test' (but the results were based on her feelings...)
Does gluten really physically make her sick? Who knows. But she seems to feel a lot better now that she's gluten free. It may be just because she BELIEVES gluten gives her problems, but she's still better off.
I, on the other hand, don't think I'll believe I'll feel better. So no gluten free for me.0 -
I am gluten-free and have been for over two years. I have Crohn's disease and the past two years have been the only time since I have been diagnosed that I have been medication free and have had minimal symptoms of my disease. In fact, this year I finally did something I never thought I would be able to do...I ran my first marathon. And yes, I attribute this to my gluten-free diet. And while I understand that maybe I am not the typical target audience of this article, it still angers me that people feel the need to treat others condescendingly because of personal choices that they make that may be different than their own.
Do I think that everybody should be on a gluten free diet? Of course not. Do I fault anyone for trying it? Absolutely not. Here is the deal: This diet is a very difficult diet to follow. Bottom line is that you are only going to stick with it over the long haul if the payoff is noticeable.
It is possible that it has more to do with fiber than gluten. But either way, great job on becoming med-free! My husband has been off the prescription drugs for nearly a decade. He only uses cannabis to keep it in remission. Many of the Crohn's drugs are horrific!0 -
But it's not objective at all and does not support making informed choices!! It is shaming people who have non-GI issues that have cleared up by going gluten free. Yes, it suggests that one might have an intolerance, but in a very dismissive tone and then goes on to state that such people STILL do not have to avoid gluten and are just jumping on the band wagon.
I didn't take that from the article myself. I thought it provided a good overview of the subject which was well supported scientifically and provided the probabilities of what the causes of the symptoms may be. Clearly we cannot speak definitively but rather look at what the most likely cause may be, which usually but not always, isn't gluten.
I am truly glad that you have managed to alleviate your symptoms and you have found what works for you.
However, that does not mean to say what is true for you is necessarily true for the general population.0 -
Awesome... Gluten Free.. more marketing Hype if you ask me.. Create a disorder then sell you the cure / prevention. Eat whole grains and minimally processed food & a balanced diet, you will be fine. Just like grandma used to make... jmop. . .
Um ... marketing companies did not create celiac disease or gluten intollerance. They may hype it to make more people imagine they have it, but those are real conditions.0 -
because a lot of people are being told that gluten makes *everyone* ill and *no-one* should eat it.
I dont think ive ever read that anywhere......ever
i don't think i've read that either! OP's article does feel a bit like a shaming post.
I don't think I've ever read that anywhere except on MFP. I've seen it a lot on here.0 -
Awesome... Gluten Free.. more marketing Hype if you ask me.. Create a disorder then sell you the cure / prevention. Eat whole grains and minimally processed food & a balanced diet, you will be fine. Just like grandma used to make... jmop. . .
Glad it a marketing disorder so I can break open the doughnuts and eat away (will you pick my med biils etc?).
I've had coeliacs for over 20 years and first diagnosed 33 years ago. My uncle was diagnosed in the 1940's so it has been around for years.
I do find it a bit mad though as it seems the latest thing is losing weight - I managed to get over 100lb overweight and I'm totally gluten free.
After living gluten free I can see why anyone would choose to cut it out of their diet unless it is for health reason. I would love to have a doughnut or a nice apple pie.0 -
I don't think I've ever read that anywhere except on MFP. I've seen it a lot on here.
Yeah I've seen plenty of people preaching about gluten being the devil.
I personally think gluten is delicious. Breeeead.
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because a lot of people are being told that gluten makes *everyone* ill and *no-one* should eat it.
I dont think ive ever read that anywhere......ever
I've definitely heard this. As someone else mentioned, those who practice paleo claim it makes everyone ill (they claim all grains in general make everyone ill). In my very non-scientific opinion and based purely on my own experiences, if someone just doesn't feel well, whether it's GI issues or headaches, migraines, energy issues, hormonal issues, etc. and have tried other modalities that have not worked, then perhaps just trying a gluten free diet couldn't hurt. If these things clear up and one feels better, then that person was obviously gluten intolerant. If the issues continue, then what was the harm? I'm sure I'll be criticized for saying this (especially by the calories in vs. calories out police), but I think a lot of people (maybe not on MFP) who are following the "standard American diet" don't necessarily know what feeling "well" actually feels like. I know I certainly didn't until I started eating much healthier foods. It was only when every other aspect of my life was relatively healthy and I had sought out other modalities to "cure" my non-GI issues that my naturopath suggested I try a gluten free diet. I did, and aside from my one slip up, I've never felt better. Do I think everyone will benefit from it? Absolutely not - I think it has been well documented that most gluten free foods (processed, that is) are not as nutritious as the ones containing gluten. Also, there's a lot of junk that goes into many brands of gluten free bread. But, if someone does benefit from it, then I think they should absolutely be gluten free and NOT have to hear that it's all in your mind because it's not a GI issue, and that you should be on medication instead because your migraines or acne or the fact that you're tired all the time, or anything else for that matter, have nothing to do with your gut. (Rant over. ) 0 -
Since the doctors can't figure out what the hell I'm allergic to, I was tested negative for Celiac's and think I am still positive. I've had all kinds of tests, doctors, specialists - no one can figure out whats wrong so I decided on my own to go Paleo and rid my body of whatever I might be allergic to - after 6 weeks I'll slowly add back in some things. But I'm pretty sure it's gluten, since I balloon within an hour of eating it to the point my pants barely fit.
Everyone is right - it works for some, not for others. If it doesn't work for you, don't do it. Simple as that.0 -
I do find it a bit mad though as it seems the latest thing is losing weight - I managed to get over 100lb overweight and I'm totally gluten free.
After living gluten free I can't see why anyone would choose to cut it out of their diet unless it is for health reason. I would love to have a doughnut or a nice apple pie.
Right, my story is similar, although my reaction to gluten is far less than yours.
I resisted taking gluten out of my diet for a long time. I was eating very healthily and I didn't want to totally eliminate something as pervasive as gluten. When I finally decided to give it a try, my gaseouness stopped almost immediately. Just that one thing makes gluten-free worth it to me. Other people avoid beans or broccoli because it gives them gas. I avoid gluten.0 -
All of the new found poisons or diseases are made up by marketing firms to help Pharmaceutical companies sell you toxins! 100 years ago there was no such thing as Gluten ...... CARBS..............High protien low fat diets! I am a firm believer that you can eat whatever you like in moderation and maintain a healthy weight! All of the bogus PCOS and Fybromyalfia..........total body pain or total body aches is BOGUS! its all in your head used as an excuse to STAY fat, or stay lazy! either way its an excuse. IMHO.0
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My 3 year old was diagnosed with Celiac about 8 months ago. She, of cvourse, is 100% GF due to it. We are NOT GF but sometimes it is easier to eat GF dinners we have prepared for her. So we (husband, oldest child and myself) are semi-GF. We are about 55% GF. Hasn't hurt us yet...
I think the point of the post was that you can go gluten free and it won't hurt you, but most people don't need to.0 -
All of the new found poisons or diseases are made up by marketing firms to help Pharmaceutical companies sell you toxins! 100 years ago there was no such thing as Gluten ...... CARBS..............High protien low fat diets! I am a firm believer that you can eat whatever you like in moderation and maintain a healthy weight! All of the bogus PCOS and Fybromyalfia..........total body pain or total body aches is BOGUS! its all in your head used as an excuse to STAY fat, or stay lazy! either way its an excuse. IMHO.
No, you are quite wrong. I got fibromyalgia when I was not fat or lazy. Not bogus at all... and I'm not sure I follow how this is supposed to be related to gluten, either.0 -
All of the bogus PCOS and Fybromyalfia..........total body pain or total body aches is BOGUS! its all in your head used as an excuse to STAY fat, or stay lazy! either way its an excuse. IMHO.
Wow. Apparently you are fortunate enough not to be suffering from one of these diseases. Easy for someone to say a condition is bogus if they don't have it.0 -
What was the point in posting this article? To berate those of us who have non-GI issues that have cleared up by going gluten-free feel ridiculous? It's not like we don't hear these arguments in our every day lives... I've had a number of GI issues that have mostly cleared up by not consuming dairy, but I also have non-GI issues. Miraculously, these issues (namely acne and migraines) cleared up after going gluten free for 3 months. The tone of this article sounds exactly like my family doctor - even though they cleared up by going gluten free, it has nothing to do with a gluten intolerance and instead, I should be taking medication for migraines even though said medication has never ever worked. Really? Last Friday I ate gluten (pizza). I've had a migraine since then. Coincidence? Perhaps. But it's a pretty strong coincidence and if not eating gluten means not getting migraines, then I think I'll stick with a gluten free diet. It has nothing to do with weight loss. It has EVERYTHING to do with quality of life.
the point of posting it is to tell people that if gluten doesn't make you ill, it's okay to eat it, and only people who are made ill by it need to avoid it, ....because a lot of people are being told that gluten makes *everyone* ill and *no-one* should eat it.
if gluten made you ill, and stopping eating it made you better, then you have one of the problems listed. In fact I seem to recall reading in the article that one of the problems listed in the article can cause non-GI symptoms as well as or instead of GI ones. So you'd be in that category.
I don't see anything anywhere in the entire article that berates anyone who suffers from health issues from gluten for giving up gluten. It merely advises those that don't suffer health issues from it that they don't have to give it up and eating it won't harm them.
I feel like this passage here:Theoretically, if you eat gluten on a regular basis, your gut and body stay inflamed, and you develop an increased risk of the following (just to name a few):
Autoimmune diseases like arthritis, M.S., autoimmune thyroid disease, etc.
Long-term gut damage, which can lead to nutrient deficiencies.
Diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and other digestive issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Insulin and leptin resistance.
Weight gain.
Nerve damage (neuropathy) and neurological diseases like autism.
Osteoporosis.
Cancer.
Brain fog and headaches.
Joint pain.
Slow recovery from workouts.
Heart disease.
Insomnia.
We won’t get into detail on every single one of these problems, because research hasn’t examined how gluten affects most of these conditions directly.
Instead, let’s look at the people who probably do need to avoid gluten — based on the best available data — and see how likely it is that you’re one of them.
makes it sound like these aren't legitimate reasons to try a gluten-free diet, particularly the line in bold. People with these symptoms and conditions hear often enough that it's all in their head or they just have to live with it. While I do agree that wheat isn't something that everyone must absolutely give up and appreciate the spirit in which it was posted, this article can be read as discounting people with the above conditions.0 -
All of the new found poisons or diseases are made up by marketing firms to help Pharmaceutical companies sell you toxins! 100 years ago there was no such thing as Gluten ...... CARBS..............High protien low fat diets! I am a firm believer that you can eat whatever you like in moderation and maintain a healthy weight! All of the bogus PCOS and Fybromyalfia..........total body pain or total body aches is BOGUS! its all in your head used as an excuse to STAY fat, or stay lazy! either way its an excuse. IMHO.
No, you are quite wrong. I got fibromyalgia when I was not fat or lazy. Not bogus at all... and I'm not sure I follow how this is supposed to be related to gluten, either.
You're the one who is making things up. Not everyone can eat "whatever they like" in moderation. PCOS and fibromyalgia are real diseases. Just because there isn't a cure for them doesn't mean that the suffering people go through isn't real.0 -
I have a friend with a problem with eating gluten, it makes her throw up. Well- I'm just so eat that I can eat it, never gonna even consider stopping, it doesn't hurt.0
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All of the new found poisons or diseases are made up by marketing firms to help Pharmaceutical companies sell you toxins! 100 years ago there was no such thing as Gluten ...... CARBS..............High protien low fat diets! I am a firm believer that you can eat whatever you like in moderation and maintain a healthy weight! All of the bogus PCOS and Fybromyalfia..........total body pain or total body aches is BOGUS! its all in your head used as an excuse to STAY fat, or stay lazy! either way its an excuse. IMHO.
Strange thing there is no treatment for Coeliacs so how to they benefit???
I don't take any medicine and the only thing i get from the doctors is bread on prescription which cost the health service. Gluten has been around for years and recently they have found a body from frist century AD that shows signs of having coeliacs (http://www.celiac.com/articles/23317/1/How-Old-Are-the-Genetic-Factors-that-Leave-us-at-Risk-for-Celiac-Disease/Page1.html)0 -
People who actually *are* gluten intolerant must love that it's such a BS fad right now because there has been such an increase in gluten free products. Of course, I'm sure people just think they're jumping on the special snowflake bandwagon with the rest of the d-bags, so that would kinda suck.0
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I have not been tested for celiac or gluten sensitivity. However through trial and error, I have been 98% migraine free (used to get them nearly every day) and my gas/bloating/stomach pain is gone. Oh, and I have a lot more energy these days. I had to leave work early on Friday due to a migraine and had my hubby pick me up (I was feeling dizzy and light headed) and as soon as I told my hubby his first response was you have eaten too much gluten lately...which was true. So there are some people who haven't been tested yet are better off without it.0
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I can't say for sure that I have a problem with Gluten or if it's a wheat allergy... I took a guess that it was wheat. I did fine eating it for 40 years, then all of a sudden I started getting a runny nose, puffy dry eyes, a weird cough, terrible acid reflux, and what I'll describe as "The fire down below" after eating anything derived from grain.
I quit eating wheat and everything went away. I did have the DT's for 9 days, so I won't revisit the issue; not going to add them back as a test and risk going through that again.0 -
I have celiac disease. I've had it for 40 years and didn't know it. Celiacs who continue to eat gluten can get cancer of the lymph nodes and or small intestine. I don't care if I sound like an alarmist. If you think you may have a problem with gluten, get tested. If the tests are negative, but you still have symptoms stop eating gluten. Celiac disease is not new, it is not rare and it is not a joke. It can kill you. Do not wait for your doctor to suggest testing. Doctors know very little about autoimmune diseases. Celiac get very little attention because, THERE IS NO DRUG TO TREAT IT.0
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I have been gluten free for a while now, having been in constant discomfort with bloating, constipation and abdominal cramping for the last year or two. Initially I eliminated dairy but this didn't help much (I now eat yoghurt and cheese but have oat milk instead of cows milk as that was the only thing that seemed to make a difference) and I cut out bread and pasta months ago but continued experiencing the same symptoms, so decided to try going completely gluten free to see how it went. The result has been pretty life changing if I'm honest. I hadn't even realised how uncomfortable I was until I wasn't any more. Last week I had a bacon roll in a white bap, first time in ages, and within hours I was doubled up and my abdomen was cramping like mad. So no, I don't have celiacs, I don't have a wheat allergy, but my body sure as hell doesn't like gluten, I feels worlds better without it, it makes a significant difference to my quality of life - another little extra added bonus is that my acne which I have suffered from for nearly 15 years now seems to have cleared up too. Could be coincidence I guess.
Anyway, my point is that not everyone is just jumping on the band wagon. We do have an enormous amount more gluten in our dies than we did 50 ears ago because so many processed foods contain it, and so it is not beyond the realms of possibility that more people have developed sensitivities or intolerances. Frankly, it pisses me off when people think I'm going along with some sort of fad.0 -
All of the new found poisons or diseases are made up by marketing firms to help Pharmaceutical companies sell you toxins! 100 years ago there was no such thing as Gluten ...... CARBS..............High protien low fat diets! I am a firm believer that you can eat whatever you like in moderation and maintain a healthy weight! All of the bogus PCOS and Fybromyalfia..........total body pain or total body aches is BOGUS! its all in your head used as an excuse to STAY fat, or stay lazy! either way its an excuse. IMHO.
Wow must be awesome to be you and not have any health issues that other people have to deal with. Adn going gluten free doesn't mean you buy phrama toxins - it just means eliminating certain foods from your diet. And my sister has PCOS and I know she will tell you its a very real condition.
Glad you are perfect.0 -
I am gluten-free and have been for over two years. I have Crohn's disease and the past two years have been the only time since I have been diagnosed that I have been medication free and have had minimal symptoms of my disease. In fact, this year I finally did something I never thought I would be able to do...I ran my first marathon. And yes, I attribute this to my gluten-free diet. And while I understand that maybe I am not the typical target audience of this article, it still angers me that people feel the need to treat others condescendingly because of personal choices that they make that may be different than their own.
Do I think that everybody should be on a gluten free diet? Of course not. Do I fault anyone for trying it? Absolutely not. Here is the deal: This diet is a very difficult diet to follow. Bottom line is that you are only going to stick with it over the long haul if the payoff is noticeable.
It is possible that it has more to do with fiber than gluten. But either way, great job on becoming med-free! My husband has been off the prescription drugs for nearly a decade. He only uses cannabis to keep it in remission. Many of the Crohn's drugs are horrific!
This is true. Sometimes I think it may even be yeast and not gluten (based on experience). But I am done trying to fine tune it. I feel pretty good on my current diet. I know what I can eat and I stick with those things. Wheat is one of several things I avoid.0
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