Gluten??? May be TMI for some.

I had a baby about 2 months ago. During my pregnancy I was on a low glycemic index diet and I did GREAT - weigh 20 lbs less right now than when I got pregnant. However, having a 3 year old and newborn has cause me to stray from the low glycemic index and I'm eating more foods with gluten in them. Now I'm very bloated and gassy ALL the time and I'm wondering if this could be a gluten sensitivity. I read that a good way to figure out if you have some sort of gluten sensitivity/intolerance is to go gluten free for 2 - 4 weeks. But there is a plethora of information out there and I'm not sure the best place(s) to turn for information/resources.

Anyone have tips for going gluten free? What's your favorite website/book to reference?
What's your experience going gluten free and having PCOS?

I appreciate all input/advice.

Replies

  • Meikmeika
    Meikmeika Posts: 108 Member
    I look forward to reading other's responses to this post. There's also a gluten free group here that's awesome.
  • Dragonwolf
    Dragonwolf Posts: 5,600 Member
    The easiest way - eat fruits, vegetables, nuts/seeds, and meat; don't eat things that come in a package and have an ingredient list that lists more than just the item (ie - sometimes peppers are in a package and have an ingredient list that just states "peppers"); and avoid "gluten free!" products (they often have a lot of crap in them and aren't really worth it). Consume dairy if you can tolerate it, but remember that casein sensitivity is often found with gluten sensitivity. Stick to the whole foods on the perimeter of the grocery store (or, even better, forego the grocery store for farmer's markets, farms, and butcher shops).

    Eating out is where it gets hard. For that, scout ahead and find the places that are either going to naturally be gluten-free, or can properly accommodate it. Ask for a gluten-free menu, or check out their website for gluten free options. Make sure you make your dietary requirements known and make it known that you're intolerant. Don't be afraid to stand up to those who treat it like you're just following some fad. Avoid anything fried, as it's usually breaded, and even if it's not breaded, it's usually fried in the same oil as breaded items. When it doubt, go back to the basic foods - grilled chicken/steak, egg dishes, steamed veggies, etc.

    Check out websites and cookbooks that follow things like Atkins, Paleo, ketogenic, or raw vegan diets for meal ideas. These are often safe options that will require little, if any, altering, because they will by nature not use grains for a variety of reasons.

    If you do find yourself wanting to include things like baked goods into your diet, look for recipes that use non-grain flours, like coconut flour, almond meal, or tapioca starch, or flours from grains that aren't typically cross-contaminated by gluten grains, such as rice flour. Almond flour is also a popular one for crusting chicken.

    If you get packaged food, try to find companies that specialize in gluten-free, or at least that process their gluten-free products in exclusive facilities. For example, Moondance Desserts and Enjoy Life are two companies that sell things like chocolate chips, cheesecakes, cookies, and brownies that are gluten free and made in exclusive facilities, so cross contamination is pretty much non-existent (if it happens, it would have to be in their suppliers).
  • ktsimons
    ktsimons Posts: 294 Member
    The thing to remember is that it WONT kill you to go gluten free for a few weeks...you do not need "wheat" to live...you do need carbs of a sort, but they can come from fruits and veggies and other non gluten starches. I actually have a diagnosed allergy to 7 different grains so I don't eat "replacement" foods...most of the "replacement" foods have at least one of them in there - so I tend to make my own baked goods...coconut and almond flour are a great option for me - google some paleo dessert recipes.

    If you DO have a gluten intollerance, you will know within 2 weeks or so (at least i did)...my joints even stopped hurting! After about a year of gluten free eating, I am able to eat limited amounts of dairy again, which is also a lovely change...

    I agree with everything Dragonwolf says - eating out is a bit difficult, but it isn't impossible! The only thing that I really miss is Sushi - soy sauce almost always has gluten and even if I bring my own gluten free brand, the knives and the board all still have traces and I react to it...

    Try it...just for a few weeks and see what happens. Good luck!