How do I go gluten free ?
Jay9201
Posts: 119 Member
I've had issues with carbs for a few years and kept a diary and listed which carbs affects my stomach. My doctor doesn't think it's celiac as I'm only giving digestive issues (mostly bloating and cramps and flatulent tmi sorry!). Ive been seeing my dietitian for a month and we've addressed a few things in my nutrition and has suggested to go wheat free /gluten free for two weeks .
How do I go gluten free? Also can a dietitian diagnose me with wheat intolerance ?
Advice much appreciated!
How do I go gluten free? Also can a dietitian diagnose me with wheat intolerance ?
Advice much appreciated!
7
Replies
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Hi Jay. I think it depends on how you plan to eat. My husband and I eat mostly gluten free, and it isn't hard at all, but we cook all the time and have no expectations of eating things that traditionally have gluten in them. Bread is not a daily part of our diet for instance. I don't avoid gluten per se, but I try to limit my consumption of refined flour products simply because refined flour products beget refined flour products... They aren't very satisfying and I end up wanting more.
We follow a pretty primal/paleo protocol, but we include lentils and beans. If you are a pasta fan, we really enjoy POW lentil pasta and it's hard to overeat since it's in an 8 oz box. We split a box and get 25g of protein in each serving. We also get carbohydrates from fruit, sweet potatoes, spaghetti squash. We will have glutinous things if we go out to eat, but it's very seldom.
If you like to eat a lot of prepared and ready-packaged foods though, finding gluten free is harder. We cook a lot, and that's how we end up avoiding it.5 -
There is a blood test your doctor can order to check for celiac, I recommend asking for a referral to a gastroenterologist. Even if the test comes back negative you could still have a sensitivity to gluten, in this case try cutting out gluten for 2 weeks and see if your symptoms resolve. A dietitian can help you with a list of foods and such. My fried has celiac and gluten can hide in a lot of stuff including salad dressings and marinades.7
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You will need to make more meals from scratch but it is easily doable with a little planning. You can get bread/cereal/pasta that is gluten free easily these days. And rice/potato/sweet potato are your friend.3
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If you decide to have the celiac test, you must go back on gluten for a period of time for the test to be accurate. Make sure your doctor knows this. The test is very expensive and most insurance will not pay for it twice due to the mistake.3
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You're going to have to read labels. Most pastas, breads, etc. are made with wheat and therefore have gluten. (Rye and barley also contain gluten) Many foods without gluten may be processed in factories that also process gluten containing grains. For example, oats are naturally gluten free, but if the package isn't labeled gluten free, it may be processed in a factory that also processes wheat products. Many pastas, breads, etc. have gluten free versions. Good luck.1
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I've had issues with carbs for a few years and kept a diary and listed which carbs affects my stomach. My doctor doesn't think it's celiac as I'm only giving digestive issues (mostly bloating and cramps and flatulent tmi sorry!). Ive been seeing my dietitian for a month and we've addressed a few things in my nutrition and has suggested to go wheat free /gluten free for two weeks .
How do I go gluten free? Also can a dietitian diagnose me with wheat intolerance ?
Advice much appreciated!
If you are planning to go gf just for 2 weeks, the best advice I can give you is if it's in a package don't eat it unless the package says "gluten free". Includes condiments, canned and frozen anything, salad dressing, etc. Fresh fruits and veg, plain meats, rice, quinoa and other pseudo-grains should be staples.
There are plenty of prepared foods available that are gluten free without needing to state that on the package, but if you're planning on only 2 weeks to see if it makes a difference you'll want to be very sure you aren't eating anything that contains hidden gluten items. Barley extract for instance is used a lot in packaged meats with seasonings, and can be present in "natural" and even "artificial" flavors without having to be called out as an allergen (US). If you decide to continue after the two weeks, visit the celiac.com site for excellent guidance on getting started. Hope you get to the source of your problems
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I'm currently in a similar situation and I've been gluten free for about a week now. I've not found it to be too difficult so far as there are plenty of gluten free alternatives, the only issue I've come across is when it comes to eating out but many restaurants have gluten free menus so just make sure you ask them what's available.
Go to the Dr's if you're concerned.
Good luck!1 -
While I've never been formally diagnosed with celiac disease, eating gluten free has helped my health so much! Sorry if this is TMI, but I used to not leave the house without pepto tablets in my purse. My digestive system was so upset all the time that I actually had a colonoscopy at the ripe old age of 21!
I always thought, "Oh, I just have a sensitive stomach," but when I cut out gluten my digestive system did a 180.
Now my diet looks like: chicken, fish/seafood, some red meat (grassfed if possible), fruit, vegetables, legumes (beans), heathy fats (avocado/olive oil), seeds, nuts, and gluten free grains like rice and quinoa.
I rarely consume dairy either since that also seemed to cause sensitivities.
Don't get me wrong, I do sometimes over-indulge in gluten-free baked goods... sugar is my biggest challenge right now.
I like some of these sites for recipes: paleomg.com, againstallgrain.com, and balancedbites.com.3 -
I'm currently in a similar situation and I've been gluten free for about a week now. I've not found it to be too difficult so far as there are plenty of gluten free alternatives, the only issue I've come across is when it comes to eating out but many restaurants have gluten free menus so just make sure you ask them what's available.
Go to the Dr's if you're concerned.
Good luck!
Yes, there are more and more options for eating out gluten-free. The only thing I would caution is ask how the food is prepared. For instance, corn tortillas are generally gluten-free, but if they're fried in the same oil as flour tortillas or heated in the same press they are contaminated. If a salad normally contains croutons but can be made gluten free by omitting them, it's contaminated if it's made in the same bowl as a previous salad containing croutons.
I've become the world's most embarrassing dinner companion because of asking prep questions when ordering
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Thank you all for your feedback I did speak to my dr about this and he said I'm not showing much symptoms to be tested for celiac as it is just digestive issues. I'm only having digestive issues when I eat carbs. Pasta is an absolute no no the bloating and swelling of my stomach is horrendous. Dr suggested as I'm working with a dietitian for my weight loss my dietitian would be able to advise further.
Not sure what to expect in these two weeks. I'm not sure what happens after the two weeks. Day one hasn't been so bad still having slight gas and I haven't had any gluten today!0 -
Thank you all for your feedback I did speak to my dr about this and he said I'm not showing much symptoms to be tested for celiac as it is just digestive issues. I'm only having digestive issues when I eat carbs. Pasta is an absolute no no the bloating and swelling of my stomach is horrendous. Dr suggested as I'm working with a dietitian for my weight loss my dietitian would be able to advise further.
Not sure what to expect in these two weeks. I'm not sure what happens after the two weeks. Day one hasn't been so bad still having slight gas and I haven't had any gluten today!
After 2 weeks you'll either decide to keep eating a gluten free diet, if it makes you feel better, or you won't. Simple.3 -
Find lists of gluten containing goods on line. Remember that oats must be labeled gluten free. They are grown away from wheat fields and processed in a gluten free factory. I have found better luck at Whole Foods and our local coop store. Remember that vegetables, fruits, beans, most dairy, eggs, olive oil, and many seeds are gluten free.1
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Thank you all for your feedback I did speak to my dr about this and he said I'm not showing much symptoms to be tested for celiac as it is just digestive issues. I'm only having digestive issues when I eat carbs. Pasta is an absolute no no the bloating and swelling of my stomach is horrendous. Dr suggested as I'm working with a dietitian for my weight loss my dietitian would be able to advise further.
Not sure what to expect in these two weeks. I'm not sure what happens after the two weeks. Day one hasn't been so bad still having slight gas and I haven't had any gluten today!
I’m gluten free and I eat pasta. There are gluten free versions. I eat this way because of allergies. You keep saying your issue is “carbs”. Gluten free diets can still be high in carbs. Do you have the same tummy issues when you eat rice?0 -
I didnt go for any test but Im intolerant to certain foods as well, gluten included.
What I normally do is eat rice/corn/buckwheat/spelt based food. You can also try quinoa and amaranth. As for sauces, I can tolerate a bit of wheat inside so Im normally not so concerned.
Ive alao been taking probiotics and occasionally, digestive enzymes to help with with the bloating and for a better digestion although Ive cut out a lot of gluten from my life.
Hope that helps a little 1 -
Thank you all for your feedback I did speak to my dr about this and he said I'm not showing much symptoms to be tested for celiac as it is just digestive issues. I'm only having digestive issues when I eat carbs. Pasta is an absolute no no the bloating and swelling of my stomach is horrendous. Dr suggested as I'm working with a dietitian for my weight loss my dietitian would be able to advise further.
Not sure what to expect in these two weeks. I'm not sure what happens after the two weeks. Day one hasn't been so bad still having slight gas and I haven't had any gluten today!
I’m gluten free and I eat pasta. There are gluten free versions. I eat this way because of allergies. You keep saying your issue is “carbs”. Gluten free diets can still be high in carbs. Do you have the same tummy issues when you eat rice?
Yes I can eat a small quantity of rice.
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suzannesimmons3 wrote: »Thank you all for your feedback I did speak to my dr about this and he said I'm not showing much symptoms to be tested for celiac as it is just digestive issues. I'm only having digestive issues when I eat carbs. Pasta is an absolute no no the bloating and swelling of my stomach is horrendous. Dr suggested as I'm working with a dietitian for my weight loss my dietitian would be able to advise further.
Not sure what to expect in these two weeks. I'm not sure what happens after the two weeks. Day one hasn't been so bad still having slight gas and I haven't had any gluten today!
I’m gluten free and I eat pasta. There are gluten free versions. I eat this way because of allergies. You keep saying your issue is “carbs”. Gluten free diets can still be high in carbs. Do you have the same tummy issues when you eat rice?
Yes I can eat a small quantity of rice.
If you have issues with rice as well it isn't gluten intolerance
I can tolerate rice just the below causes me issues. I eat the below in moderation but it causes bloating, cramping and gas. My stomach feels heavy and then swells up.
Pasta
Pizza
Wheat tortilla
Potato wedges
Crisps0 -
My sister quotes an old doctor's joke then laughs hilariously:
Patient: It hurts when I do this.
Doctor: Then stop doing that.
I suggest you go two weeks avoiding the foods completely that make you bloat. You know what they are.
Potatoes are gluten free and they wouldn't be the source for a wheat intolerance. I also don't tolerate potatoes very well.
You may have to limit starchy carbs altogether. Try a Keto or Paleo diet. Try the gluten free grains one at a time but if they give you trouble add them to your forbidden list. You may need to limit your carbs to various vegetables.
I'd be curious how you do with quinoa, oatmeal, and buckwheat.1 -
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Hmm my dietitian has advised to go completely gluten free to see how I react . Thank you all !0
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Yes I can eat a small quantity of rice.
[/quote]
If you have issues with rice as well it isn't gluten intolerance [/quote]
I can tolerate rice just the below causes me issues. I eat the below in moderation but it causes bloating, cramping and gas. My stomach feels heavy and then swells up.
Pasta
Pizza
Wheat tortilla
Potato wedges
Crisps [/quote]
Crisps and potato wedges are potatoes though. There is no gluten in potatoes. I fear that you are going to try gluten free and find you still have issues if that’s the case.
I’d suggest trying the gluten free pasta as a test to see if you still have the issues then talking to your dietician again.1 -
I will do I have to do this for two weeks so I'll know more about this. If it isn't gluten what could it be? My Dr thinks it's wheat, dietitian thinks something very similar.0
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I would disagree with anyone who states it is too difficult. There are tons of gluten free pastas, crackers, cookies, etc. Breads are harder to find quality products but if your initial goal is 2 weeks to see how you feel then you can skip bread.
I keep a supply of black bean pasta(my favourite), gluten free lazangna noodles, and crackers in my pantry. I often eat low carb but on the off days then at least I have choices. For baking(everything but bread) I sub almond flour with great results I don’t have much love for coconut flour or some of the premixed gluten free flours. Coconut is sooooo dry and some of the others have odd flavours. There are tons of recipes on Pinterest etc for goodies.
Keep you eye on dips, candy, and packaged products for gluten. If you focus on fresh protein, veggies and fruit it becomes quite simple. And if you decide to go longer than 2 weeks then you can start testing out bread products and see if you like any of them.
It sounds like you could be like me though which is unfortunate. My gluten free experiment expanded because I tend to get stomach pain with almost all non fruit/veg carbs now. Bathroom issues, bloating, ickyness. Nobody can figure it out. Possibly gallbladder but “let’s wait and see”. Low carb does great things for my migraines anyway so I am just trying to stick to it.0 -
suzannesimmons3 wrote: »Thank you all for your feedback I did speak to my dr about this and he said I'm not showing much symptoms to be tested for celiac as it is just digestive issues. I'm only having digestive issues when I eat carbs. Pasta is an absolute no no the bloating and swelling of my stomach is horrendous. Dr suggested as I'm working with a dietitian for my weight loss my dietitian would be able to advise further.
Not sure what to expect in these two weeks. I'm not sure what happens after the two weeks. Day one hasn't been so bad still having slight gas and I haven't had any gluten today!
I’m gluten free and I eat pasta. There are gluten free versions. I eat this way because of allergies. You keep saying your issue is “carbs”. Gluten free diets can still be high in carbs. Do you have the same tummy issues when you eat rice?
Yes I can eat a small quantity of rice.
If you have issues with rice as well it isn't gluten intolerance
I can tolerate rice just the below causes me issues. I eat the below in moderation but it causes bloating, cramping and gas. My stomach feels heavy and then swells up.
Pasta
Pizza
Wheat tortilla
Potato wedges
Crisps
So you actually just need to not eat those things...1 -
I will do I have to do this for two weeks so I'll know more about this. If it isn't gluten what could it be? My Dr thinks it's wheat, dietitian thinks something very similar.
If your Dr thinks it is wheat when potato wedges are one of the foods that bother you please get a new Dr. there is no wheat in potatoes, nor is there any gluten.
If rice doesn’t bother you, or corn, it’s likely not a starch issue either.
You don’t know if gluten free pasta would cause the same issues as regular pasta does yet. This could still be a useful self test to try. Honestly though it sounds like you might just be someone who feels better eating reduced carb. We all do better on different macro splits
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Do plain baked potatoes (no toppings, just the potato) bother you as well, or is it just potato wedges and crisps? What about regular bread? Have you tried having a small amount of plain pasta or just the pizza crust to isolate whether it's the gluten or something else you eat with the pasta/pizza crust? Can you tolerate commercial soy sauce or beer? (Because those both contain gluten). If it were me, I would do a lot more testing before randomly cutting out gluten.2
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