Wheat free /Gluten free diet

As for those who say gluten free doesn't taste good, has bad texture, is ridiculously expensive, etc. - gluten free doesn't require you to simply substitute gluten filled products with their heavily processed gluten free replacements. You can totally enjoy gluten free or grain free, etc. by simply avoiding those kinds of products entirely or for the most part - just eat vegetables, fruits, meats, seeds, nuts, etc. etc. rather than swapping normal bread for gluten free bread, etc. If that's the only problem you have with gluten free I think the OP is fine to try it out for herself.
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This I follow a paleo lifestyle so I never use gluten free replacement foods. I stick to meat, veg, occasional fruit, nuts and seeds. It works for me and it's not that much more expensive than how I ate before. I save money on snacks and wine so it all works out. It takes a bit more preparation because you can't think "what's for dinner , I will pick up something from the supermarket "but on the whole it works for me. I have multiple intolerances and gluten/grains trigger my fibromyalgia symptoms so I have to eat this way. I recently returned to my standard diet and it's just not worth for me. Good luck with however you decide to eat. I have had criticism for my diet from downright hostility to being made fun off and called obsessive but I know it helps so I ignore it. I don't criticise how they eat so they shouldn't criticise me.

This thread is full blown potato

For the LOLZ
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/06/gluten-free-people-have-no-idea-what-gluten-is_n_5273980.html

Damn you beat me to it!

I try and maintain a gluten/wheat free diet. I have IBS and notice a difference in my symptoms if I avoid these things (as well as deep fried foods, beans and sometimes garlic ). If you don't have any dietary issues, there isn't really any need to give them up. Yes, you might feel less bloated, but it isn't a magical weight loss cure- gluten free versions of bread also often have higher calories due to the inclusion of nuts/nut flours. All of this 'wheat belly' stuff is yet to be supported either way by decent scientific evidence.

I'd love to be able to eat a pizza without feeling like utter crap, that would be awesome. Anyway, I digress. I dont really use wheat substitutes but instead stick to rice and potato/tubers/squash. I also very occasionally make bread with Spelt flour, which DOES contain gluten, but in much lower amounts.

Gluten is not just in wheat. It's in barley and rye too, so no beer if you give up gluten.

There are gluten free brands of beer. I forget what they are but they are out there.

Not sure why there is always so much vitriol towards gluten free.

Because people think it's a magic pill that will cause them to lose a ton of weight after giving up gluten.

The fact of the matter is that truly going gluten free isn't just saying "Oh, I'll just stop eating breads and pasta." You have to make sure that your food is prepared in a gluten free way when you go to restaurants. You have to read labels because there are ingredients that have gluten hidden in them, caramel color being one of them. My sister has celiacs and I wouldn't trade places with her for anything. She has a handful of restaurants that she can go to where she knows without a doubt that her food is being prepared separately. Sometimes she brings her own food places because she just can't be sure there hasn't been any cross contamination (ie: someone sticking a cracker into hummus that was specifically for her). She had to buy herself cookware because her food was getting cross contaminated.

I understand why people would want to cut down on gluten in their diet but to go completely 100% gluten free isn't worth it unless you have a medical reason for it.

The fact of the matter is that truly going gluten free isn't just saying "Oh, I'll just stop eating breads and pasta." You have to make sure that your food is prepared in a gluten free way when you go to restaurants. You have to read labels because there are ingredients that have gluten hidden in them, caramel color being one of them. My sister has celiacs and I wouldn't trade places with her for anything. She has a handful of restaurants that she can go to where she knows without a doubt that her food is being prepared separately. Sometimes she brings her own food places because she just can't be sure there hasn't been any cross contamination (ie: someone sticking a cracker into hummus that was specifically for her). She had to buy herself cookware because her food was getting cross contaminated.

I understand why people would want to cut down on gluten in their diet but to go completely 100% gluten free isn't worth it unless you have a medical reason for it.

Oh you are so right! I was recently diagnosed. I stopped eating gluten cold turkey - which was challenging as I ate a super high fibre diet with plenty of wheat and other gluten-containing foods. I didn't have any real information and ended up with the mistaken idea that things labelled gluten-free were going to be fine. Yeah, 10 pounds later I had to take a look into where I was going wrong!

It's been 5 months now and it still takes me an hour to do a small grocery shopping. I've never read so many labels in my life! I also discovered an intolerance to xanthan and guar gums, which are used as substitutes for gluten in some products.

One of the things I ran across after diving into research was a small list of companies who are using expired GF certifications. Meaning, their products are no longer guaranteed to the ppm levels they claim but they are still using the GF stamp on their labels. I trust nothing any more....nothing. Especially since the last "GF" item I ate caused a reaction so severe my boyfriend panicked and wanted to call 911.

Part of me is glad GF is a current "fad" as it has made everyone more aware of gluten and there are more products available if I should choose to purchase them. The other part of me is frustrated due to the fact that it's becoming commonplace. I worry that my need to ensure I don't come into contact with gluten isn't going to be taken seriously.

I see posts like the OP and wonder how simply going GF aids in weight loss. I didn't experience that at all (and neither did my sister and son, who also have celiac). I feel a little cheated. :grumble:

Without judging any of the other posters... if you wish FOR WHATEVER REASON to eat gluten free & want some support from others who are living that way, there is a Gluten Free forum group here on MFP. You are welcome to join us & I promise we won't tell you you are crazy, lol. We only give suggestions on yummy GF food (there's lots) and recipes and tips for travel & eating out or at events, etc

Agreed. Find some of the forum groups. Built-in signal to noise filtering.

I also recommend checking out the Paleo groups, since you're going more of a whole-foods GF route.

I am gluten free through choice, though some tests I had taken showed that I had a wheat-intolerance, though I have heard there are no medical grounds to back this up. I eat gluten free 99% of the time, apart from the odd treat maybe every few weeks to monthly. Since going gluten free/wheat free, and properly looking at ingredients in foods about 18-24 months ago, I have lost over 3st, or 50 lbs whichever you prefer. I do feel much better when I don't eat it, less bloated and overfull, like feeling I have eaten too much. I do use some gluten free substitutes, though it is important to remember that these mostly don't have a less calorie advantage, in fact in some breads and biscuits the calories are slightly higher. I tend to have wheat free bread and pasta, around once a week each, and some biscuits each evening as a treat, while fitting into my daily calorie allowance.
I do believe there are some positive health benefits, but unless you have to, I don't recommend cutting it out completely, as this could lead to a greater intolerance overall, like if I don't have wheat/gluten for over a month, I tend to feel quite sick the next time I do, but this passes. Best of luck with your journey/decision

Cutting out Gluten has nothing to do with your weightloss. All it means is that you were eating at a calorie deficit.

I think that everybody works differently, I had previously followed a calorie controlled diet, weighing and logging with MFP, along with exercise and experienced little to no weight loss.. a pound here and there etc. I had also tried atkins, and slimming world, with no weight loss. Gluten free for me has been positive and I do believe it has contributed to my weight loss...My weight also increased when I introduced it again briefly to 'test your theory' while still eating at a deficit.
Different ways for different bodies

Of course your weight is going to increase when you introduce carbs back into your diet. Your body retains more water to break it down. It doesn't mean you gained fat just from eating bread again.

No. The only time I tried low carb I had no energy at all. Just lift the things and eat the food and have PATIENCE! No need for fad diets unless there is a medical reason.

Gluten free does not equate to low carb.

Red herring is red.

I make some gluten-free desserts because I found a great blog with recipes for them. The desserts tend to be lower calorie, fat, sugar and higher protein than their wheat counterparts (due to many, many substitutions). That being said, I buy the flours in bulk (at the Bulk Barn), so it's really not that much more expensive (what's expensive is the sweeteners, protein powders, and extracts). Now, if I tried to cut out bread/pasta and everything else with gluten, I'd be spending a lot more money. Honestly, if you don't have a medical reason, I wouldn't cut it out as a "diet". For me, if I make something that's gluten-free or vegan, it just happened to turn out that way. If the recipe looks good, I'll give it a go, but I wouldn't go out of my way to cut out gluten.

Going gluten free when you do not have an allergy is a bad idea. The reason being, while there is no gluten, it makes up for it using other ingredients. The sugar and calories are higher than something that would have gluten. So essentially, if you are eating gluten free because of an allergy you are fine, your body has to shift to deal with it. You may not loose weight though. If you are eating gluten free as a 'diet' your body goes what are you giving me and goes into overdrive. Most reviews I have read about it being used as a diet, people have gained weight.

I'm gluten free because I realized I have an allergy. My stomach does not look as swollen and bloated anywhere near as much, my migraines have cut down a wonderious amount, my digestive track is normal for the first time in my entire life, but I have not lost any weight.

diet- bad
allergy- good

you can always try cutting carbs?

Going gluten free when you do not have an allergy is a bad idea. The reason being, while there is no gluten, it makes up for it using other ingredients. The sugar and calories are higher than something that would have gluten. So essentially, if you are eating gluten free because of an allergy you are fine, your body has to shift to deal with it. You may not loose weight though. If you are eating gluten free as a 'diet' your body goes what are you giving me and goes into overdrive. Most reviews I have read about it being used as a diet, people have gained weight.

I'm gluten free because I realized I have an allergy. My stomach does not look as swollen and bloated anywhere near as much, my migraines have cut down a wonderious amount, my digestive track is normal for the first time in my entire life, but I have not lost any weight.

diet- bad
allergy- good

you can always try cutting carbs?

If you go gluten free, you do not have to opt for gluten free products (very over prices), you can just eat other normal food that doesn't have a gluten content (or if un-avoidable a very low content).

I'm just interested as to what health benefits gluten gives us, or on the flip side why would it be unhealthy to gut it out of a diet (when you do not have a recognised allergy)?

If you ever find out, please let me know. All of the arguments I've seen against it that are more than just "because it's a fad" have been the exact same as above and assuming that "gluten free" equates to "replaces gluten products with gluten free analogs." Nix that assumption and what's left? Interestingly, even the "it's a fad" stems from the same assumption most of the time.

If you ever find out, please let me know. All of the arguments I've seen against it that are more than just "because it's a fad" have been the exact same as above and assuming that "gluten free" equates to "replaces gluten products with gluten free analogs." Nix that assumption and what's left? Interestingly, even the "it's a fad" stems from the same assumption most of the time.

I do not eat wheat or dairy due to dairy allergy and wheat making me sick to my stomach. I do not replace either with substitute products because (a) it isn't necessary and (b) they are ridiculously expensive. Having said that, I have found good luck with the new Paleo fad's recipes as they do not include wheat or dairy.

Good books to read:

Grain Brain - Dr David Perlmutter
Wheat Belly - Dr William Davis

Thank you so much... I love your eloquent post. I do not use any substitutes and I just eat whole foods. I dont really think of it as low carb either because my veges and fruits have carbs. I just do not eat grains, sugar or processed foods. It has been the best decision I have ever made health wise and I will NEVER go back.