Going Gluten free
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I have had the same issues as you most of my life. I have had IBS and chronic indigestionlike you my pregnancies were horrendous I consumed the gaviscon the docs prescribed and an additional bottle per week. When not pregnant I used to get indigestion so bad I would get chest pain and vomiting, I took lanzoprazole and gaviscon. In desperation I had food intolerance testing and was told I was intolerant to eggs, gluten and dairy. Icut these from my diet and experienced a major reduction in symptoms. I am currently not following the diet as it is not easy to follow, impossible to eat out and follow it although I did manage it twice once some trigger foods got in there and it made me I'll. At the moment the symptoms are tolerable but if they get severe again I would definitely go back to the exclusion plan. I didn't lose weight but it improved my health. It took lots of forward planning but there are lots of gluten free alternatives out there so it is not impossible. Good luck if you decide to follow this if you need more info I am happy to help.0
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mostly because i cannot afford things like 'gluten free bread' i will just have to stop making bread! Or make my own! They have a good range of gluten free flours etc in my local supermarket
A lot of supermarkets in the UK sell bread cheap at the end of the day when it's about to go out of date. I've often seen very cheap gluten-free bread in Asda on the reduced aisle. And it tends to last longer than its use-by date - or you can freeze it. I've tried it a couple of times - but I don't like the texture at all. It lasts several days though, amd remains soft.
Great tip thanks! If you toast bread it lasts a bit longer too
Will definitely keep my eye out at Waitrose (we dont have a local asda!) 0 -
I have had the same issues as you most of my life. I have had IBS and chronic indigestionlike you my pregnancies were horrendous I consumed the gaviscon the docs prescribed and an additional bottle per week. When not pregnant I used to get indigestion so bad I would get chest pain and vomiting, I took lanzoprazole and gaviscon. In desperation I had food intolerance testing and was told I was intolerant to eggs, gluten and dairy. Icut these from my diet and experienced a major reduction in symptoms. I am currently not following the diet as it is not easy to follow, impossible to eat out and follow it although I did manage it twice once some trigger foods got in there and it made me I'll. At the moment the symptoms are tolerable but if they get severe again I would definitely go back to the exclusion plan. I didn't lose weight but it improved my health. It took lots of forward planning but there are lots of gluten free alternatives out there so it is not impossible. Good luck if you decide to follow this if you need more info I am happy to help.
Thank you - are you based in the UK? I am wondering whether to force my doctors to test me. Mind you, it takes them so long i can probably work it out for myself by then! Might be worth looking into though..0 -
I had private testing with York test laboratories it was about £250 it was easy to do a finger prick and collect a tube of blood then send it to them. They returned a report with food intolerances on it and 2 telephone consultations with a nutritionist included in the price. For me the price was worth it but I realise it is a lot of money. I also did a cheaper one called the food doctor that was£50 but you had to develop the test yourself and I felt you could interpret the results how you wanted. I found myself staring at it trying to decide if it was positive or not. It did come up with the same results though so if money is an issue a cheaper alternative.0
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Read "Wheat Belly" by Dr. William Davis. Very enlightening. I would like to try not just gluten free, but completely wheat free. But to me it is just so difficult because you find wheat in almost everything. I would encourage you to try it if you are interested. I bet you have good results. If you do, keep blogging - I'd love to follow you.
I was going to suggest tyne same book. I have two kids that have celiac disease. I'm all for anyone who wants to eat gluten free to jump on whatever fad or bandwagon that is out there. It makes my life way easier. The higherl the product demand the easier to find. When diagnosed 11 years ago eating gluten free was tough, now its easy, the low carb fad diet helped too, anything to bring awareness and education and restaurants willing to provide gluten free options for people who want to or those that have to. I always tell people I'm thankful my kids are only gluten intolerant, it could have been worse they first thought my son had leukemia, I'll take gluten free any day. We as a family eat gluten free cuz my kids have to, I cook that way, I don't eat out that way.
I would say the main thing is don't stock up on gluten free cookies and cakes or breads just because ey are gluten free. It's like the fat free fad fat was replaced with sugar so not really any better for you.0 -
All these restrictions are usually supported by bullsh!t reasons that are usually untrue--really it's just an effort to mask an individual's desire to further restrict a food group as a means to lose weight. I hate that crap.
Are you saying that eliminating gluten is bull****? Because that's what this thread is about. I think there will be a lot of people who suffer from gluten disagreeing with you on that one.
I'd be interested in understanding why it bothers you so much when people decide to eliminate foods to help lose weight. If someone knows they tend to abuse a particular kind of food, and eliminating it helps them to eat healthier, then what's the problem? I found that when I eliminated all grains and refined sugars, my cravings for those foods that I used to overeat has all but disappeared. That is helping me lose weight and be more healthy. And, I feel like it's a way of eating that is totally sustainable for me, because I am always full, I find I snack less between meals, and my food is delicious.
(edited because I forgot to add my reply!)
I only have a problem with it when they try to deceive others instead of just calling it what it is--an attempt to remove trigger foods from their diet. People don't need to come up with some excuse to not eat gluten if the underlying reason truly is weight loss--it minimizes the actual severity of the issue for people who truly suffer.
Well, actually I'm following the primal blueprint (www.marksdailyapple.com) which happens to eliminate grains and thus gluten. Eating this way has nothing to do with minimizing the severity of people who suffer from gluten. Its about me eating healthier, and yes, losing weight along the way. But even if I don't lose another pound, my goal is to continue eating this way for the rest of my life because I feel so much better, and I'm enjoying my food so much more. That said, I do totally get your perspective. I purposefully don't tell waiters I'm eating gluten-free at a restaurant, because I know celiac sufferers can't just remove the bun from their burger or eat the hidden gluten in the sauce and not suffer, and by doing those things and saying its because I'm gluten-free it might confuse people. I'm lucky that in almost every restaurant in my town, dishes are labeled as gluten free. I choose those. Or I just ask them to replace the rice/pasta/bread with veggies. Being celiac or severely intolerant is so hard because of the consequences of being glutened. I'm glad my reaction is not so severe, and I can be gluten free without the stress of being ill.0 -
I'm intolerant to gluten.
I stopped eating anything with gluten.
It did not affect my weight loss.
It just made me not have hives.0 -
Well I certainly haven't been gluten free today!
i had scones for breakfast and a kitkat!
But, i also made gluten free scones which came out nicely. They were pretty high in calories but that is okay, i can definitely modify the recipe to work for us.
I think i am going to make gluten free muffins/scones and pack them with dried fruits and nuts for lunch boxes.
Tomorrow i am going to attempt to be totally gluten free... It might be Monday before i manage it though.0 -
FeebRyan, it's unfortunate that this wasn't your FIRST post. I think this thread would have gone VERY differently.I have never ever read a diet suggesting i cut out guluten. Perhaps its because i live in rural England and therefore have never read 'a trashy magazine from a grocery store' in fact, i've never even been in a 'grocery store'
There is something in my diet causing me extreme and chronic heartburn. It is all-consuming, i have to have daily meds to control it or i am literally constantly in pain with it.
My plan is to reduce gluten and wheat-based products. Not completely remove (yet) but so i can see if theses things exacerbate the issues that i have. My doctor is aware of this, not because i have 'asked permission' but i have discussed what i can do to find the issues causing my problems and I have decided that removing wheat would be one of them.
I am hoping that reducing the heavy wheat and gluten based products i eat, will reduce my heartburn and i can come off the medication. It is certainly not 'for weightloss' why would it be? its quite easy to lose weight AND have a balanced diet containing weight.
If anyone here has suffered chronic indigestion, they will understand how it affects weight again. You eat because you are constantly and continually reminded that you have an empty tummy, you are aware that the quickest easiest and cheapest method of controlling it, it to eat food.
I have noticed that my indigestion flares up hugely when i eat
cereals (like bran flakes)
toast
wheat based cake products
certain sauces
pasta
other grain based foods
spelt bread
So yeah... It just seems sensible to me, especially seeing it written down like that!
It isn't a decision i take lightly.
Thanks for the advice about the gluten free products being salty. I will look out for that though really i would like to find good replacements rather than alternatives. So jacket potatoes rather than sandwiches at lunchtime and so on.
mostly because i cannot afford things like 'gluten free bread' i will just have to stop making bread! Or make my own! They have a good range of gluten free flours etc in my local supermarket
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I'm not Celiac but have definitely benefited from going grain free. I didn't just cut out gluten, though. I cut out all grains. I have less pain, bloating, gas. I have lost nearly 80 pounds. I didn't add exercise until 50 pounds lost.
I think if you try it you have to give it 100% for at least 3 or 4 weeks to see the full benefit.0 -
I hear you. I did it as a suggestion by my Dr. after being diagnosed with fibromalgia. It took about a month but the results were wonderful. It hasn't cured it but it sure has helped. People ask me quiet often if it's hard and with all the gf products out there, it really isn't. Even Domino's now carries GF pizza.
Good luck with your adventure and please share if it works. :flowerforyou:0 -
Going grain/wheat free can be a very good thing. I have worked with a functional dietitian for years and she is finding more and more evidence that a great number of people have problems with grain; wheat particularly. All wheat in the USA is Genetically Modified (GMO) which has changed the composition of the product. In European countries that is not the case. Those who do not tolerate wheat in the US are able to eat it in Europe (this comes directly from a dietitian that works with Celiac patients and has two sons with the disease).
I have Fibromylgia and Chronic Fatigue; when I remove wheat from my diet my pain levels improves greatly. I say go for it. There is so much information available on all sides of this issue one has to just try it and see if it makes a difference in your life.0 -
I'm not Celiac but have definitely benefited from going grain free. I didn't just cut out gluten, though. I cut out all grains. I have less pain, bloating, gas. I have lost nearly 80 pounds. I didn't add exercise until 50 pounds lost.
I think if you try it you have to give it 100% for at least 3 or 4 weeks to see the full benefit.
I think you're right. I think as of this morning, I will try being totally gluten-free for a whole month!
Got tonights meal sorted, I think i am going to go back over this thread and add all those without gluten as friends so i can see meal inspirations etc.0 -
Good luck with your month Gluten Free. Its not as hard as it sounds, but it does take some effort. I have Celiac, so I don't have a chocie about it, but it does get easier.
Make sure you watch for hidden sources of gluten, like in soy sauce and canned soups. Some bbq sauces have it also. And someone mentioned Gluten Free pizza from a chain restuarant like Dominos, do not eat it. Its not safe for people with gluten intolerances. It will say somewhere in tiny print I'm sure. The pizza dough itself is made with gluten free flour, but its made in a kitchen with regular pizza, by someone who I'm sure is covered with wheat flour, and it goes through the same oven on the same pans as the regular pizzas do. its incredibly cross contaminated.
Ooh, Found it! This is from Dominos, in tiny print at the bottom: Domino's pizza made with a Gluten Free Crust is prepared in a common kitchen with the risk of gluten exposure. Therefore, Domino's DOES NOT recommend this pizza for customers with celiac disease. Customers with gluten sensitivities should exercise judgment in consuming this pizza.0 -
FeebRyan, it's unfortunate that this wasn't your FIRST post. I think this thread would have gone VERY differently.I have never ever read a diet suggesting i cut out guluten. Perhaps its because i live in rural England and therefore have never read 'a trashy magazine from a grocery store' in fact, i've never even been in a 'grocery store'
There is something in my diet causing me extreme and chronic heartburn. It is all-consuming, i have to have daily meds to control it or i am literally constantly in pain with it.
My plan is to reduce gluten and wheat-based products. Not completely remove (yet) but so i can see if theses things exacerbate the issues that i have. My doctor is aware of this, not because i have 'asked permission' but i have discussed what i can do to find the issues causing my problems and I have decided that removing wheat would be one of them.
I am hoping that reducing the heavy wheat and gluten based products i eat, will reduce my heartburn and i can come off the medication. It is certainly not 'for weightloss' why would it be? its quite easy to lose weight AND have a balanced diet containing weight.
If anyone here has suffered chronic indigestion, they will understand how it affects weight again. You eat because you are constantly and continually reminded that you have an empty tummy, you are aware that the quickest easiest and cheapest method of controlling it, it to eat food.
I have noticed that my indigestion flares up hugely when i eat
cereals (like bran flakes)
toast
wheat based cake products
certain sauces
pasta
other grain based foods
spelt bread
So yeah... It just seems sensible to me, especially seeing it written down like that!
It isn't a decision i take lightly.
Thanks for the advice about the gluten free products being salty. I will look out for that though really i would like to find good replacements rather than alternatives. So jacket potatoes rather than sandwiches at lunchtime and so on.
mostly because i cannot afford things like 'gluten free bread' i will just have to stop making bread! Or make my own! They have a good range of gluten free flours etc in my local supermarket
I honestly had no idea the friction it would cause lol
I didnt even ask 'what do people think about going gluten free' or 'do you think its a good idea to go gluten free'
I didnt ask for perspectives on it at all, i just asked for support and advice on my venture. Really its up to me what i eat and not up to other people to attack a person.
Other than this, i have found this forum to be wonderful, supportive and friendly.
Which i hope will continue
Today i have been 100% gluten free
I have eaten a surprisingly calorific smoothie for breakfast
had gluten free museli bar for a snack and half a one for lunch
hummus, rice crackers and lots of veggies for dipping for lunch
and my triumph
home made falafal, quinoa with veggies and hummus for tea (with a shop bought pita bread... i was planning on making chickpea chapati but couldnt find gram flour
)
Really has been an adventure today, it was not the very best it could have been, the food processor died at the end of the hummus and so it was a bit grainy, the falafal was a spur of the moment thing because the falafal mix we bought had gluten in it! and everything needed a lot better spices and herbs
But we made it, we ate it and we enjoyed it
Cutting out gluten has given me boundaries on food and made me think about making things myself, sourcing different foods i would never have tried and exploring. I think its good and even if at the end of the month we decide it is not gluten causing me problems, i will have learnt so much!0 -
Day 3 today... Feel like ABSOLUTE poo.
I feel like i have a really awful hangover.
Urgh!0 -
Those are normal detox symptoms of the body reacting to a change. Drink a lot of water, take a warm bath, try some magnesium, and just rest today. They can last anywhere from 1-3 days after a major diet change. Hang in there.0
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I have been gluten free for 9 months, I have never been celiac tested but I did it for health reasons. If you are only going to do this half heartedly, ignoring it when you go out, it is pointless. If you believe you have a gluten intolerance then it will have to be 100% of the time.
As far as helping with weight loss, it did kind of work for me, because I gave up the gluten, and a long list of foods I have been tested for and reacted to, I felt better and had more energy to exercise therefore weight loss and a healthier me.0 -
If you are doing this because of health reasons, I'd consult a doctor. If not for health reasons, it's quite pointless.
One needs a doctor's advice to stop eating gluten? Really? Firstly, doctors are not well educated in nutrition. Secondly, gluten is not necessary in our diets, especially today's grain products.
It's "pointless" to go gluten free? Really? You need to do more research before giving advice.0 -
I have Celiac Disease. I have no idea why someone without Celiac Disease would choose to go gluten free. It is a difficult diet to maintain and there are other health consequences. Please people, consult a doctor or a nutritionist before doing this if you don't have to!
Many, many people have health issues due to wheat/grains that go undiagnosed. They may be "minor" compared to Celiac disease but they still reduce quality of life. I can speak from experience on that. It's NOT a difficult diet to maintain. I eat no grains or legumes and I have no problem following my diet. I am enjoying the best health that I have had in years. Before changing my diet I had cravings, binging, depression, anxiety, weight gain, indigestion, acid reflux, infections, frequent colds/flus, a variety of pain, on and on.
What health "consequences" occur from eliminating gluten? Besides good consequences, there aren't any consequences. I've done lots of research and my own experience confirms this. Again, doctors are NOT the best resource for nutritional advice, they are victim to the same marketing campaigns and misinformation as the rest of us!0 -
This is rediculous!
You DO NOT have to be "only" Celiac to eat Gluten Free.
It's NOT some Hollywood Hype...that comment really got my goat.
Some people are seriously allergic to Wheat. I am one of them. I do not have celiacs, but I have a severe gluten intollerence and I have the note from my Doctor to prove it. I've avoided wheat since 2009.
Some of you really should be ashamed.
Absolutely Agree!!!0 -
Why? Unless you have a medical reason, it's just stupid. Of course, this is my opinion. If you go gluten free, and then decide it's not for you after a certain amount of time, it can actually cause issues for you. Why mess with yourself?
What issues? Please enlighten us.
No one that I have ever known EVER, including myself, has anything but good effects from going gluten and/or grain free. Yes, the pre-existing negative health issues will return when one goes back to eating gluten, but there won't be new ones caused by the switch.
I don't usually put people down but since you said it first, your post is "just stupid".0 -
I did an elimination diet where I cut out gluten, dairy, soy, eggs and corn for 4 weeks, then gradually reintroduced them.
Came to the conclusion that while I can eat wheat and dairy in small amounts, too much and I feel gross. I think eggs might be affecting me but it requires more testing. I was very strict about the elimination diet for those 4 weeks, but have laxed because now I feel I understand what the consequences of dairy and wheat are for me so I can decide what I want.
For me this has meant that I'm not "Gluten-free" since small amounts don't seem to bother me and I don't have to worry about cross-contamination as someone with Celiac would have to.
I haven't felt this has helped my weight loss, but I do feel more energetic, so it was a positive revelation for me.0 -
After I had my child, I started having awful heart palpitations, chest pressure/tightness, tingling extremities, joint and muscle stiffness, brain fog, lethargy, and a whole host of other problems. When I went to my doctor, they told me I was suffering from depression and anxiety and tried to put me on an antidepressant! They told me that severe depression can have "flu like" symptoms. I was not happy with this, and couldn't bring myself to take the meds. In my heart, something else was wrong!
I started researching my symptoms online and thought I had it pinpointed down to gluten intolerance. I eliminated all wheat and gluten from my diet for about a month. I felt a huge difference in my overall health, however, I was still having difficulty breathing.
I finally went to a board certified allergist and explained that I had it pinpointed to wheat or grains. He checked me for grass, wheat and corn allergies. Turns out I am highly allergic to corn! I have been instructed to remain gluten free for two weeks (eliminate all corn products, of course), and if I feel like it, try to reintroduce gluten back into my diet.
I am glad I went, because I was driving myself crazy trying to figure out what was causing these very unpleasant symptoms! Do I want to bring wheat/gluten back into my diet? I'm not sure...I may try it, and if I start having bad reactions again, then I wil definitely cut them back out.
It was worth every penny...I would never have imagined it was corn, and it explains why I have been so sick for the past 2 years!
Good luck to you. Through elimination, I really was able to pin it down, and I feel a whole lot better.
Edited to add: You can develop a serious allergy to any given thing at any time in your life! http://www.acaai.org/allergist/allergies/what-causes-allergies/Pages/default.aspx0 -
to update;
I have noticed a change in my energy levels, i seem lighter and more focused
I am constantly light-headed, its a bit disconcerting to be honest but i am told its part of the gluten come down!
I have been a bit achy in the evening, this could be due to lack of sleep however
I have been enjoying food more, have felt less hungry and have been noticing what i eat and when i eat it
So other than the crazy light-headedness and feeling like UTTER POO in the mornings. All positive! So far!0 -
I've been gluten-free for the past 2 months and there's significant changes! I didn't even have to change up my workout and it was minimal to start off with. It isn't the fact that you decrease the amount of gluten, it's that you increase the other variaties of food that you eat. veggies, fruits, nuts, all increased for the better.0
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A gluten free/ cassein free diet was recommended for my 6yr old daughter in order to improve her focus and concentration. She is diagnosed with ADD and I do not want to put her on stimulant medication. We can now tell whenever she's had gluten due to the changes in her behavior. Within 12 - 24hours of eating "old food" as she calls it her focus decreases. It takes 24 - 72hours to bring it back, depending on how much she's had. We had an (accidental) double blind study in the second week of school that proved this diet truly works.
My daughter decided that she wanted a second breakfast at school and went through the line at the cafeteria. The school provided a breakfast of regular cereal and milk each day for a week. By the second day my child's daily report on her behavior had become worse and the trend continued throughout the week. Neither I nor the teacher knew that she was off her diet in the mornings until Friday when I was asked to please send her with money for breakfast in the future. (Talks with the teacher and principal have been had over lack of supervision after drop off. Talks with my daughter have been had about what is expected of her after drop off as well.) In either case, it proves what we had noticed at home. The diet helps my daughter. It may or may not be helpful to you, but I don't see a down side to trying it.
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Thanks for sharing your experiences guys!
Today (day 4) i have been feeling really good, definite increase of energy, did feel a bit crabby earlier but have overall felt more content and happy. I seem to be less anxious and i have only just made the connection that my indigestion and my anxiety were linked somehow.
I have had quite a calorific day, i had a brownie with my coffee that came up at 500cal! I should have checked it really but hey ho, i have not been hitting my targets every day and have been exercising a lot so... not too worried!
But the best thing is that I DONT HAVE INDIGESTION!! and i have stopped taking my meds! This is the end of day 2 with my medication and it seems to be gone...
I can only pray that it is actually gone and this isn't some weird mind game.
I am told it will be a full 2 weeks until i see full change, if the last 4 days are anything to go by though, its definitely gluten that has been causing my issues and cutting it out is for the best.0 -
Going gluten free is a trendy thing to do as some brain dead Hollywood type have been suggesting it's the best thing since the discovery of fire. If you're one of the small percentage of people who would actually benefit from it then it's a good idea, the vast majority of people doing it are merely sheep who heard something on Dr Oz or read about it in the some trashy grocery store tabloid.
Please stop saying it's a "trendy" thing. The reality is that there are a lot of people out there who have given it up not because of a trend but due to health. You're prejudging people and assuming that they are all following a trend. I heard similar comments growing up where I was told that my allergies were all in my head and now that it's become a more respected medical profession people are finally taking it seriously. There are even people who end up in the hospital if exposed to wheat. It's definitely not a trend if you have diarrhea and massive bloating for days after only eating a tiny bit. I've run into a lot of people who have gotten their lives back after removing the gluten from their lives. Trust me - if you have this issue - it's a big problem. There are people out there who have been gluten free for over 30 years due to medical issues. The reality is that it wasn't a big deal to the market because no one understood that it was a big problem.
A lot of people give it up because of some sort of medical condition - it's not just people going "Well, that sounds so cool...I need to run out and buy a $7 dollar loaf of bread and pay like $6 for two gluten free pizza crusts". Your costs essentially triple as items are WAY more expensive.
I had to finally give wheat up because I was experiencing rashes that were out of control and also just a lot of bloating and other problems. Trust me, if it were up to me...I wouldn't be doing this - I miss my Panera Bacon Quiche. It's way too expensive and you have to look at everything to verify that you're eating healthy breads and you have to count calories. Trendy this is not - it's expensive and anyone doing it most likely has some sort of issue they are addressing like diabetes, allergy, IBS, Celiacs...
Basically, that 6% of the population is not minor chunk and we definitely need products to live healthy lives - it's finally nice to have someone cater to my needs. Trust me, there is a point where baking your own bread and preparing everything gets tiresome.0
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