cut out grains (not all carbs) and WOW

I'm sure you will be shocked that I do not have a sheaf of properly peer-reviewed, double-blind, large population, long term studies at my fingertips to prove the hypothesis. I apologize for that. The study of autoimmune diseases, especially in relation to diet, is in its infancy, and much of what I "know" is as a result of individuals experimenting for themselves as to the effects of gluten or grains on their autoimmune diseases. Even with celiac disease, the experts do not agree on what grains should be avoided; gluten grains seem to be enough for the majority, but some with "intractable" celiac continue to have symptoms triggered by other grains as well.

Obviously anecdotal evidence is not proof and is not going to satisfy anyone looking for solid, properly constructed trials. But unfortunately, most of what is out there right now is not proven, only speculative. There is so much - if you'll excuse me using the expression in this thread - chaff to be separated from the wheat. There are plenty of books out about anti-inflammatory diets, paleo, "Wheat Belly", and of course thousands of hits on the internet, but that doesn't constitute proof. There are sites such as Truly Gluten Free, Gluten Free Society, etc. which try to compile and distil some of this information for the public, but again, much of what they rely on is unproven, speculative, etc.

I'm not an expert. Having reviewed our family's health history with my dad, it appears that I am fourth-generation celiac. My husband and child are also celiac or gluten intolerant (my child is adopted, so did not inherit it from either of us, but his bmom, who listed her only health concern as "allergic to grass" - grains all being part of the grass family). I know, but cannot prove, and have no desire to try, that removing non-gluten grains after being only gluten-free for a few years eliminated my Sjogren's symptoms. I know many people in the celiac community who have the celiac-diabetes-hashimoto's triad, whose symptoms disappear when either gluten or all grains are removed. I know those who have been diagnosed with RA, fibro, IBD, chronic fatigue, migraines, mental illness, or a plethora of other diseases who are now symptomless unless they accidentally ingest gluten or grains. Some have additional trigger foods such as nightshades, soy, or dairy.

You can find communities of grain-free survivors all over the internet by searching any autoimmune disease and grain free, and read how it has helped their disease, lifestyle, or symptoms. But as much as I'd like to hold this out as "proof", I know it is not. It is only the weakest of evidence. For those of us who suffer the effects of an autoimmune disease or one of the other diseases more commonly accepted as being a result of gluten-intolerance, though, we can't wait for the science to catch up.

The medical community has failed us, often for decades, and still offers no solutions, but we now have a way to meet virtually, exchange ideas that have worked for ourselves or others, and much to our doctors' chagrin, jump wholeheartedly into unproven experimental diets and therapies and try the "experiment of one". It may be years or decades more before the research gets to the point where we can cite the study that settles the question once and for all. In the meantime, going a few months without grains is a small price to pay when we are already suffering a disease that the medical community cannot cure any other way.

<phew> Getting dizzy up here on my soapbox. Short answer - if you have an autoimmune disease, do some research of your own, see what you think of the studies that are out there, see what you think of what others have experienced, and decide whether you are comfortable making the trial yourself or not. Sometimes it takes years of an idea niggling away at you before something pushes you to take the leap. I knew I needed to try my son on a GFCF diet for several years before I finally broke down and did it, because I knew it would be hard and his diet was already limited. But I'm so glad I finally did, and thus ventured to take the first few steps onto the gluten-free path, which would eventually lead me here.

Where are your sources saying grains are causing autoimmune disease?

Crazy

I'm sure you will be shocked that I do not have a sheaf of properly peer-reviewed, double-blind, large population, long term studies at my fingertips to prove the hypothesis. I apologize for that. The study of autoimmune diseases, especially in relation to diet, is in its infancy, and much of what I "know" is as a result of individuals experimenting for themselves as to the effects of gluten or grains on their autoimmune diseases. Even with celiac disease, the experts do not agree on what grains should be avoided; gluten grains seem to be enough for the majority, but some with "intractable" celiac continue to have symptoms triggered by other grains as well.

Obviously anecdotal evidence is not proof and is not going to satisfy anyone looking for solid, properly constructed trials. But unfortunately, most of what is out there right now is not proven, only speculative. There is so much - if you'll excuse me using the expression in this thread - chaff to be separated from the wheat. There are plenty of books out about anti-inflammatory diets, paleo, "Wheat Belly", and of course thousands of hits on the internet, but that doesn't constitute proof. There are sites such as Truly Gluten Free, Gluten Free Society, etc. which try to compile and distil some of this information for the public, but again, much of what they rely on is unproven, speculative, etc.

I'm not an expert. Having reviewed our family's health history with my dad, it appears that I am fourth-generation celiac. My husband and child are also celiac or gluten intolerant (my child is adopted, so did not inherit it from either of us, but his bmom, who listed her only health concern as "allergic to grass" - grains all being part of the grass family). I know, but cannot prove, and have no desire to try, that removing non-gluten grains after being only gluten-free for a few years eliminated my Sjogren's symptoms. I know many people in the celiac community who have the celiac-diabetes-hashimoto's triad, whose symptoms disappear when either gluten or all grains are removed. I know those who have been diagnosed with RA, fibro, IBD, chronic fatigue, migraines, mental illness, or a plethora of other diseases who are now symptomless unless they accidentally ingest gluten or grains. Some have additional trigger foods such as nightshades, soy, or dairy.

You can find communities of grain-free survivors all over the internet by searching any autoimmune disease and grain free, and read how it has helped their disease, lifestyle, or symptoms. But as much as I'd like to hold this out as "proof", I know it is not. It is only the weakest of evidence. For those of us who suffer the effects of an autoimmune disease or one of the other diseases more commonly accepted as being a result of gluten-intolerance, though, we can't wait for the science to catch up.

The medical community has failed us, often for decades, and still offers no solutions, but we now have a way to meet virtually, exchange ideas that have worked for ourselves or others, and much to our doctors' chagrin, jump wholeheartedly into unproven experimental diets and therapies and try the "experiment of one". It may be years or decades more before the research gets to the point where we can cite the study that settles the question once and for all. In the meantime, going a few months without grains is a small price to pay when we are already suffering a disease that the medical community cannot cure any other way.

<phew> Getting dizzy up here on my soapbox. Short answer - if you have an autoimmune disease, do some research of your own, see what you think of the studies that are out there, see what you think of what others have experienced, and decide whether you are comfortable making the trial yourself or not. Sometimes it takes years of an idea niggling away at you before something pushes you to take the leap. I knew I needed to try my son on a GFCF diet for several years before I finally broke down and did it, because I knew it would be hard and his diet was already limited. But I'm so glad I finally did, and thus ventured to take the first few steps onto the gluten-free path, which would eventually lead me here.

Where are your sources saying grains are causing autoimmune disease?

Interesting. I find the term "grain survivors" to be a little dramatic. I don't think asking for sources about your opinions (which are stated as fact, not opinions) merits you getting on a soapbox. Just curious. I have autoimmune diseases. I went off gluten. I went off dairy. My symptoms did not abate or disappear. I find it interesting that everyone on the internet considers themselves an expert.

I believe one theory why diabetics find relief on this diet is that they are no longer eating high glycemic foods. Just a thought.

Everyone, and I mean EVERY ONE, is different. Your assertion that all autoimmune patients will be cured by this diet is very irresponsible. It worked for you. It worked for your friends and family. But it doesn't work for EVERY ONE.

I don't get why people get so attached to their diets and get so upset when it doesn't work for someone else. Chill out.

Bumping to read later>

I'm sure you will be shocked that I do not have a sheaf of properly peer-reviewed, double-blind, large population, long term studies at my fingertips to prove the hypothesis. I apologize for that. The study of autoimmune diseases, especially in relation to diet, is in its infancy, and much of what I "know" is as a result of individuals experimenting for themselves as to the effects of gluten or grains on their autoimmune diseases. Even with celiac disease, the experts do not agree on what grains should be avoided; gluten grains seem to be enough for the majority, but some with "intractable" celiac continue to have symptoms triggered by other grains as well.

Obviously anecdotal evidence is not proof and is not going to satisfy anyone looking for solid, properly constructed trials. But unfortunately, most of what is out there right now is not proven, only speculative. There is so much - if you'll excuse me using the expression in this thread - chaff to be separated from the wheat. There are plenty of books out about anti-inflammatory diets, paleo, "Wheat Belly", and of course thousands of hits on the internet, but that doesn't constitute proof. There are sites such as Truly Gluten Free, Gluten Free Society, etc. which try to compile and distil some of this information for the public, but again, much of what they rely on is unproven, speculative, etc.

I'm not an expert. Having reviewed our family's health history with my dad, it appears that I am fourth-generation celiac. My husband and child are also celiac or gluten intolerant (my child is adopted, so did not inherit it from either of us, but his bmom, who listed her only health concern as "allergic to grass" - grains all being part of the grass family). I know, but cannot prove, and have no desire to try, that removing non-gluten grains after being only gluten-free for a few years eliminated my Sjogren's symptoms. I know many people in the celiac community who have the celiac-diabetes-hashimoto's triad, whose symptoms disappear when either gluten or all grains are removed. I know those who have been diagnosed with RA, fibro, IBD, chronic fatigue, migraines, mental illness, or a plethora of other diseases who are now symptomless unless they accidentally ingest gluten or grains. Some have additional trigger foods such as nightshades, soy, or dairy.

You can find communities of grain-free survivors all over the internet by searching any autoimmune disease and grain free, and read how it has helped their disease, lifestyle, or symptoms. But as much as I'd like to hold this out as "proof", I know it is not. It is only the weakest of evidence. For those of us who suffer the effects of an autoimmune disease or one of the other diseases more commonly accepted as being a result of gluten-intolerance, though, we can't wait for the science to catch up.

The medical community has failed us, often for decades, and still offers no solutions, but we now have a way to meet virtually, exchange ideas that have worked for ourselves or others, and much to our doctors' chagrin, jump wholeheartedly into unproven experimental diets and therapies and try the "experiment of one". It may be years or decades more before the research gets to the point where we can cite the study that settles the question once and for all. In the meantime, going a few months without grains is a small price to pay when we are already suffering a disease that the medical community cannot cure any other way.

<phew> Getting dizzy up here on my soapbox. Short answer - if you have an autoimmune disease, do some research of your own, see what you think of the studies that are out there, see what you think of what others have experienced, and decide whether you are comfortable making the trial yourself or not. Sometimes it takes years of an idea niggling away at you before something pushes you to take the leap. I knew I needed to try my son on a GFCF diet for several years before I finally broke down and did it, because I knew it would be hard and his diet was already limited. But I'm so glad I finally did, and thus ventured to take the first few steps onto the gluten-free path, which would eventually lead me here.

Where are your sources saying grains are causing autoimmune disease?

Interesting. I find the term "grain survivors" to be a little dramatic. I don't think asking for sources about your opinions (which are stated as fact, not opinions) merits you getting on a soapbox. Just curious. I have autoimmune diseases. I went off gluten. I went off dairy. My symptoms did not abate or disappear. I find it interesting that everyone on the internet considers themselves an expert.

I believe one theory why diabetics find relief on this diet is that they are no longer eating high glycemic foods. Just a thought.

Everyone, and I mean EVERY ONE, is different. Your assertion that all autoimmune patients will be cured by this diet is very irresponsible. It worked for you. It worked for your friends and family. But it doesn't work for EVERY ONE.

I don't get why people get so attached to their diets and get so upset when it doesn't work for someone else. Chill out.

I think you should take your own advice and chill.
Also how long did you go gluten and dairy free? Have you removed nightshades?

I was going to ask the same thing.

A mere 30 days or even a couple of months is not long enough to merit saying a person was gluten free. Depending on the amount of damage done in the body, it take take as long as 6 months to 2 years to really heal the body.

Especially if you have an autoimmune disorder such as RA, chronic fatigue or Fibromyalgia.

And nightshades are a big kicker when it comes to inflammation and pain.

Have you talked to your Dr about changing your eating or asked for a referral to a dietician or nutritionist that specializes in autoimmune disorders?

Any Dr that doesn't recommend making dietary changes or even acknowledging the connection between the foods we eat and how we feel would have me running the other direction and fast.

bump

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/#axzz20eTj1xqv

Check out the site above for more info on Paleo. Some dairy is allowed (in moderation).

I am pretty much a newbie on here still and today I am 10 days old, about 7 days ago I started cutting out wheat and sugar.....and today I realized that I feel great, so if it takes 2 years for my body to heal then I guess I'm in it for the long run......not saying I won't ever have a pizza again or into a bag of chips. We are all human after all.

I cut out eating grains 20 days ago, yes, even oatmeal, and am really amazed at the difference. I have more energy, sleep better and a few stubborn pounds are gone. Also with cutting grains, I have more calories available for steak and fish. Are these improvements all due to cutting out grains? Well, I havn't really changed anything else and I was eating pretty clean before cutting them out. I am eating more protein foods like meat and fish. I use to eat oatmeal on a regular basis, sprouted grain breads (ezekial), whole wheat tortillas, hamburger buns, etc.

I am not suggesting anyone do this, I know there are those who consider grains a required food group (it really isn't) but I don't see or feel a downside and only positives so far. Do I miss them? It is a bit inconvenient as I like making hamburgers and skipping the hamburger bun changes the experience and I love carne asada tacos...but eventually I will still eat an occasional bun or taco.

Give it a try for 21 days and see if you feel better.

Alright, I'm going to try this for 21 days!!!

6 days in, full on carb flu, but I lost 3 lbs!!!

That's fantastic, SgtMindy. Thanks for sharing your results.