Why gluten-free?

weinbagel

I eat gluten free because I have Hashimotos and I'm also intolerant to gluten. It makes me drowsy, depressed, inflamed, and bloated. I guess maybe people who are not sensitive to gluten want to try it out? Does it bother you that some people are going about their weight loss differently than you?

nccarolb

My teenaged son has Celiac disease so I have done a LOT of research on the gluten free diet. I also have a friend who has a gluten allergy but not Celiac. I have to laugh at some of my Facebook friends who have gone "gluten free" for weight loss purposes because they are so woefully ignorant of the foods other than wheat that contain gluten. Join me in a chuckle about the guy who posts constantly about how he is losing weight because he is gluten free yet is a micro brewer who drinks his own product! Grains, like other foods, are healthy in moderation.

Unless you are gluten intolerant or sensitive, of course!

twinketta

because they like spending more money than necessary ? gluten free bread costs $5 a loaf vs $2 for regular.

i also think some people who arent legitimately affected by it do it as a way to mask eating disorders

You can eat meat/veg/fruit

If you want to eat bread/biscuits/cake then buy gluten free products. But they will have more calories/salt/sugar in them.

i's really not that simple. as some one with wheat sensitivities i can tell you that just cutting out bread/biscuits/cake will not automatically leave you gluten free. flavored coffees, pickles, prepared veggie burgers, sausages, prepped salad dressings, cold cuts, curry powder, most prepared soups etc all contain gluten. cosmetic wise, many lipsticks also contain gluten

that's part of the reason why i think it's hilarious when people with non gluten sensitivities brag about how easy it is to be gluten free but they still use soy sauce, eat regular fries and use flavored coffee beans.

personally i'm ok with the craze because now that's why someone like me who has to eat wheat free has more options. for instance now betty crocker has a separate gluten free facility and they make box mixes just like for the normies :happy:

I beg to disagree...it is really as simple as meat/veg/fruit. They are not processed foods. All natural foods are OK to eat on a gluten free diet.

If you add gluten free processed foods then they will be full of calories, more so then the processed foods that are not gluten free.

Coeliacs disease if diagnosed, is a debilitating illness and can cause serious issues.

If someone wants to eat `clean` meat/veg/fruit/non processed then go for it ..and why not

mteague277

I think the real problem is so many people are eating highly processed gluten foods. If you cut those out and don't replace them with other highly processed foods, you will probably lose weight, feel better, your skin will probably start looking clearer, etc., because highly processed foods are bad for you in general.

*this does not include people who have legitimate allergies or intolerance to gluten, of course.

just_Jennie1

I think when one looks behind a gluten "sensitivity" claim, you'll usually find the claimant has taken advice from a chiropractor, osteopath or other alt-med practitioner. You know, non-evidence based pseudoscience.

And you know this how?

People with a gluten sensitivity or celiacs have had a blood test done for the antigen that gives them the sensitivity. They're not going on your "non-evidenced based pseudoscience". Blood test is evidence of an intolerance.

PaleoPath4Lyfe

I eat a fairly gluten-free diet, but I don't drop $5 on a loaf of gluten free bread, that's crazy. I just don't eat bread.

Exactly.

FredDoyle

I think when one looks behind a gluten "sensitivity" claim, you'll usually find the claimant has taken advice from a chiropractor, osteopath or other alt-med practitioner. You know, non-evidence based pseudoscience.

And you know this how?

People with a gluten sensitivity or celiacs have had a blood test done for the antigen that gives them the sensitivity. They're not going on your "non-evidenced based pseudoscience". Blood test is evidence of an intolerance.

Really? From the NFCA:

Currently, there are no recommended methods to test for non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Some doctors offer saliva, blood or stool testing. However, these tests have not been validated and are therefore not accepted.
In NFCA’s webcast, Dr. Guandalini states:
“As a matter of fact, right now, they are to say that there is absolutely no biological readout that is no way can this diagnosis can be supported by any laboratory investigation. No antibodies in the blood are specific enough, or sensitive enough, for this condition. No antibodies in the stools can be utilized to diagnose or screen for this condition.”

http://www.celiaccentral.org/non-celiac-gluten-sensitivity/testing-and-diagnosis/

Keep_The_Laughter

I cannot believe the neg talk and outright attacks. Seriously guys. If you don't suffer from allergies, count your lucky stars.

the gripe isn't with people who have genuine allergies. It's with the wheat hating/demonising bandwagon.

I've had allergies. My 3 yr old daughter has allergies whereby she'll vomit the food about 30 mins after eating it then break out in hives, to several different foods.

But there's this whole trend currently whereby all the worlds ills are blamed on wheat and there are a lot of people who think that wheat is harmful to everyone. And also, why just wheat? Allergies can be to pretty much any food. Why aren't they also demonised? It's because it's the current trend to demonise wheat and blame a whole bunch of medical issues including obesity on it just so they can sell a bunch of books to people who'd rather believe they're fat because of wheat than because they eat too much and don't do enough exercise....

Who is blaming all these problems on wheat, people trying to sell something? I'm pretty sure this same conversation has occured about paleo, sugar, white flour, red meat, veganism, the raw movement and macrobiotics...etc. People being irritated with the consumerist nature of modern fitness and nutrition is not carte blanch to disregard someone else's reality.

Food intolerance is real, just go look at any reputable medical website or ask a doctor (http://dictionary.webmd.com/terms/food-intolerance). Anaphylaxis is only one extreme in the spectrum of abnormal reactions to food, not the measure of whether a food is appropriate for any one individual to consume.

SnicciFit

I think when one looks behind a gluten "sensitivity" claim, you'll usually find the claimant has taken advice from a chiropractor, osteopath or other alt-med practitioner. You know, non-evidence based pseudoscience.

Not in my case. No doctor could figure out was wrong with me. I took it upon myself to try eliminating gluten (I think the idea came from a family member who's husband had celiacs and she thought my symptoms sounded familiar). It turns out that my IBS, joint pain & extreme abdominal discomfort (to the point of missing work quite frequently) all disappear when I don't eat gluten. No chiropractor or other alt-med practitioner was involved.

Guinivere

People should just experiment on themselves! If they suspect their IBS, tummy pains and/or bloating to come from wheat, stop eating it for a whole week. Then eat a slice of bread and record what happens to your body. If no change - great - it's not wheat making you feel yucky, try to eliminate something else like eggs or something. Then eat that after a week and record the result.

There's no one size fits all here. Just need to take our own health responsibility into our own hands.

I find the longer I don't eat wheat the more sensitive I have become which I find fascinating. It helps me say "no thanks" more easily!

ecw3780

I think most people have some level of sensitivity.

This sort of horrific misconception is why gluten-free is so popular.

and then they go eat a box of gluten free oreos because they think they are healthier and then wonder why the gain weight.

meshashesha2012

I think most people have some level of sensitivity.

This sort of horrific misconception is why gluten-free is so popular.

and then they go eat a box of gluten free oreos because they think they are healthier and then wonder why the gain weight.

no reason to bad mouth delicious newmann's own wheat free bootleg oreo's :mad:

bubbles1212

It is "trendy" and will make them lose weight....

I have to tell you, I WISH I COULD EAT GLUTEN!!!!! I decided to eat a little on Thanksgiving and my whole body got swollen, I got a rash, headache and stomach troubles. I am still suffering these effects and it is Sunday. I wish people would stop treating it like a joke. Not only do I miss the awesome food (GF doesn't taste the same) but it is more expensive and you have to be careful and read every label. Please people, please stop making this trendy!!!

Rant over

mkmfrog

If you can eat it and it doesn't bother you, EAT IT. When I eat it, I look pregnant, feel lethargic, and clog toilets. I gave it up before it was super trendy, but my instinct is that this is an issue for a lot of people, since everyone I know who's given it up for the sake of the trend tends to feel better. This could merely be because giving up an ingredient that is in pretty much everything that's packaged FORCES you to have a really clean, unprocessed diet, or just to have better general awareness of what's going into your body, which will obviously make you feel better than your diet of easy-mac. But then again, I'm not one who tries to substitute (in my opinion, gluten free breads usually taste like gravel). If you do substitute with g free alternatives, they tend to be higher in calories and crap than the regular kind, and that's certainly not a path to health.

Agree with this. When I ate alot of processed foods and gluten, I felt bloated, tired and depressed about how I looked and felt inside and out. I stopped eating all processed foods and began cooking my own food back in August. I feel totally 180 degrees better and have tons of energy! The fat is burning off and the muscles are started to tone.

I also don't buy gluten-free food either. (Except I do use 123Gluten-Free pancake mix as an ingredient in my protein pancakes..I don' t make the recipe as stated on the box.)

It's a choice. There is no medical reason for my choice. My nutrition plan does not include packaged, processed, gluten-filled foods. And I don't miss it.

nathank887

Wow, a lot of people here making untrue assumptions. How about this study: "Gluten causes gastrointestinal symptoms in subjects without celiac disease: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial"

"A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled rechallenge trial was undertaken in patients with irritable bowel syndrome in whom celiac disease was excluded and who were symptomatically controlled on a gluten-free diet. Participants received either gluten or placebo in the form of two bread slices plus one muffin per day with a gluten-free diet for up to 6 weeks. Symptoms were evaluated using a visual analog scale and markers of intestinal inflammation, injury, and immune activation were monitored."

Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21224837

nathank887

Also, according to a Wall Street Journal article:

"For the first time, we have scientific evidence that indeed, gluten sensitivity not only exists, but is very different from celiac disease," says lead author Alessio Fasano, medical director of the University of Maryland's Center for Celiac Research.

The news will be welcome to people who have suspected a broad range of ailments may be linked to their gluten intake, but have failed to find doctors who agree.

Patients have been told if it wasn't celiac disease, it wasn't anything. It was all in their heads," says Cynthia Kupper, executive director of the nonprofit Gluten Intolerance Group of North America."

Link: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748704893604576200393522456636

PaleoPath4Lyfe

It is "trendy" and will make them lose weight....

I have to tell you, I WISH I COULD EAT GLUTEN!!!!! I decided to eat a little on Thanksgiving and my whole body got swollen, I got a rash, headache and stomach troubles. I am still suffering these effects and it is Sunday. I wish people would stop treating it like a joke. Not only do I miss the awesome food (GF doesn't taste the same) but it is more expensive and you have to be careful and read every label. Please people, please stop making this trendy!!!

Rant over

Umm, your listening to too many people on MFP saying it is the trendy thing to do.

Just as someone else posted, there are many people that have issues with gluten, just because it isn't Celiac disease doesn't mean there isn't an intolerance.

jonnythan

It is "trendy" and will make them lose weight....

I have to tell you, I WISH I COULD EAT GLUTEN!!!!! I decided to eat a little on Thanksgiving and my whole body got swollen, I got a rash, headache and stomach troubles. I am still suffering these effects and it is Sunday. I wish people would stop treating it like a joke. Not only do I miss the awesome food (GF doesn't taste the same) but it is more expensive and you have to be careful and read every label. Please people, please stop making this trendy!!!

Rant over

You decided to eat food you're allergic to on Thanksgiving?

And you're complaining about it becoming much easier and more acceptable to avoid said food you're allergic to?

What?

cwgrlfth

I actually took the advice from my doctor due to the fact I had been sick for many years and they couldnt figure it out. He suggested I do his blood test and it came up positive... I then did the biopsy to see how damaged my villi was in my intestinal tract. So for some of us gluten is not kind to us. You can ask my kids how sick I get if I ingest gluten and don't realize it had it in there. I try very hard to avoid things I do t know but restraunts are the hardest. Why argue about someone's inability to ingest gluten is it really that huge of a thing to argue about?