Gluten-Free Diet

[k.hunter30]

Are any of you on the "G-Free" diet? Have you ever tried it? Know someone who's on it?

It seems like a very hard diet to stick to, having to eliminate wheat and grains. For someone who doesn't have the time to prepare many meals from scratch, would it be feasible? Are the gluten-free products much more expensive than "normal" foods (gluten-free pasta, bread, cereal, etc.)? Do they taste as good?

If you don't mind sharing, why have you (or your friend or family member) decided to go "G-Free"? Diagnosed with Celiac disease? Guessing you have Celiac disease? As a way to lose weight?

I'm researching it as an option for myself. Someone just bought me Hasselbeck's new book. But I'm looking for insight from some "real" people who have tried it. Sure, if I had a personal chef or made hundreds of thousands of dollars, why not give it a try.

Anyone familiar with it?

 

[maggiegrace1]

Kat..I know on my mommy board that people recommend Gluten Free cooking for Dummies book...

Also..this is a list of some of the foods that they use for their child who needs a GF diet
*veggies
* Fresh fruits
* Eggs
* hulless popcorn (Mike Sells brand)
* Rice Chex (Corn Chex are supposed to be gluten free by June)
* Rice cakes
* Rice pasta (tinkyada are the best by far)
* Applegate Farms hot dogs and lunch meat
* Homemade meatballs
* homemade chicken nuggets
* applesauce
* homemade muffins (sweet potato apple)
* 123 gluten free pancakes
* Dried and freeze dried fruit, Fruitabu fruit leathers
* Enjoy Life cookies and cereal bars
* Bob Evans sausage links.
* Sharon's fruit sorbets


They say that it is more expensive..but they get creative like grounding up rice chex to make bread crumbs and things like that

Good luck love!

 

[MouseMadness]

There's a girl on my daughter's volleyball team who follows a gluten free diet, and she seems to do just fine. :shrug: Lots of fruit and veggies, I think, and salads, sandwiches minus the bun, etc. Her mom said she rarely gets the specialty items (cake mixes and the like) but will on occasion.

I bet the cookbook would be your best bet.

 

[maggiegrace1]

There's a girl on my daughter's volleyball team who follows a gluten free diet, and she seems to do just fine. :shrug: Lots of fruit and veggies, I think, and salads, sandwiches minus the bun, etc. Her mom said she rarely gets the specialty items (cake mixes and the like) but will on occasion.

I bet the cookbook would be your best bet.

Yes, if you buy the specially made stuff thats where it gets pricey..but if you play around and make things your own way and get creative it can be okay.

 

[k.hunter30]

Thanks ladies! I may check out that book you suggested, Dana.

I've never really tried any diet before, and this one seems like a doozy for a beginner. I'm still going to do more research.

I guess this diet hasn't really caught on, taking into consideration the lack of responses. Oh well. :shrug:

 

[Master Yoda]

I am by no means an expert but it has always been my understanding that you only real reason to go gluten free is if you have celiac disease, which is for the most part acts like an allergy to gluten. Gluten is in no way bad for you unless you have celiac disease. It is simply the type of protein found in wheat, rye, barley and oats. Gluten is also a common food additive used primarily as a thickening agent and is also found in may vitamins and cosmetic products. For the most part most people that switch to a gluten free diet experience good results from it because of the sharp reduction in complex carbs associated with breads and pastas and not really the elimination of gluten. It is much easier and considerably less expensive and much safer to up your vegetable intake and reduce your bread and pasta intake vs trying to go gluten free.

 

[k.hunter30]

I am by no means an expert but it has always been my understanding that you only real reason to go gluten free is if you have celiac disease, which is for the most part acts like an allergy to gluten. Gluten is in no way bad for you unless you have celiac disease. It is simply the type of protein found in wheat, rye, barley and oats. Gluten is also a common food additive used primarily as a thickening agent and is also found in may vitamins and cosmetic products. For the most part most people that switch to a gluten free diet experience good results from it because of the sharp reduction in complex carbs associated with breads and pastas and not really the elimination of gluten. It is much easier and considerably less expensive and much safer to up your vegetable intake and reduce your bread and pasta intake vs trying to go gluten free.

Thank you. That is my (limited) understanding as well. Personally, if I were to start this diet it would be for the reason stated above. Though I have not gone through the diagnostic testing for Celiac, there is a possibility I may have it. I have many of the symptoms: stomach aches and cramps after eating, not overweight, occasional anemia, etc. However, I have heard of people trying it to lose weight. Whatever the reason, I'm just interested in hearing people's experience with it.

I've never been a fan of eliminating something altogether from a diet. All things in proportion, and all that. However, if it is an immune disorder, posing as a food allergy, I guess it's something to try.

 

[Master Yoda]

Thank you. That is my (limited) understanding as well. Personally, if I were to start this diet it would be for the reason stated above. Though I have not gone through the diagnostic testing for Celiac, there is a possibility I may have it. I have many of the symptoms: stomach aches and cramps after eating, not overweight, occasional anemia, etc. However, I have heard of people trying it to lose weight. Whatever the reason, I'm just interested in hearing people's experience with it.

I've never been a fan of eliminating something altogether from a diet. All things in proportion, and all that. However, if it is an immune disorder, posing as a food allergy, I guess it's something to try.

I would start with your doctor as the symptoms of celiac are quite similar to many other diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, iron-deficiency anemia, diverticulitis, intestinal infections, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Blood tests and biopsies can begin to eliminate some possibilities and reinforce others. A gluten free diet will help celiac disease to my knowledge it will do nothing for the other aliments that have similar systems. Also if you start a gluten free diet before getting blood work it can throw off the level of the antibodies that are looked for when testing for celiac and result in a false negative test.

Bottom line....start with your doctor and go from there. With the symptoms you are describing self diagnosing will more than likely result in an incorrect diagnosis and possible harm to yourself.

 

[k.hunter30]

I would start with your doctor as the symptoms of celiac are quite similar to many other diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, iron-deficiency anemia, diverticulitis, intestinal infections, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Blood tests and biopsies can begin to eliminate some possibilities and reinforce others. A gluten free diet will help celiac disease to my knowledge it will do nothing for the other aliments that have similar systems. Also if you start a gluten free diet before getting blood work it can throw off the level of the antibodies that are looked for when testing for celiac and result in a false negative test.

Bottom line....start with your doctor and go from there. With the symptoms you are describing self diagnosing will more than likely result in an incorrect diagnosis and possible harm to yourself.

Thanks Richard! I really appreciate all your input! You're always so helpful, Disney-related or not.

Without getting completely into my health history, I've seen several doctors about my symptoms, had several tests, but still haven't been completely satisfied with the prognosis or treatments. Since Celiac is very often misdiagnosed as IBS or something of the like, I figured what's the harm in trying out a diet? (Other than the expected cost, and time and effort I just may not have ) But I absolutely agree, consulting a physician should be people's first step.

 

[Master Yoda]

Thanks Richard! I really appreciate all your input! You're always so helpful, Disney-related or not.

Without getting completely into my health history, I've seen several doctors about my symptoms, had several tests, but still haven't been completely satisfied with the prognosis or treatments. Since Celiac is very often misdiagnosed as IBS or something of the like, I figured what's the harm in trying out a diet? (Other than the expected cost, and time and effort I just may not have ) But I absolutely agree, consulting a physician should be people's first step.

Have you seen a GI specialist yet?

 

[k.hunter30]

Have you seen a GI specialist yet?

Yes. I was not familiar with celiac disease at the time. Wish I was... I would have asked more questions.

 

[Master Yoda]

Yes. I was not familiar with celiac disease at the time. Wish I was... I would have asked more questions.

You might want to make one more visit and ask about the blood test for it. The test looks for 2 particular antibodies (anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies and anti-endomysium antibodies). If those two antibodies are elevated then celiac is quite likely. The trick is though that you actually need to be eating gluten for them to be elevated. A good number of people with celiac tend to unconsciously stop eating gluten (they know bread and spaghetti make them fee sick so they don't eat it) and the test can show a false negative. Celiac is also hereditary. If one of your immediate relatives have it you have about a 1 in 10 shot of having it as well.

I know there is nothing worse than knowing you have a problem and not knowing why. I hope you have an answer soon. Let me know how things turn out.

 

[Tynk]

I have Celiac Disease and was diagnosed 10 years ago when I was 20. My mother also has it. Initially I had the blood test which came back negative ( I was still eating "normal" food ) so I ended up having a biopsy which showed that I'm Celiac. There is another test now too called a Gene test...if you dont have the Celiac gene your home free. Im Canadian so it was quite easy for me to get the testing I needed. I do have to say that it was not so easy for my mom, she spent most of her life being misdiagnosed and finally found out she was a Celiac well into adulthood. By this time the affects of the diease have really made an impact on her body.

There are 3 things to consider contemplating if a gf diet is something you need.
1 - it could be a wheat/gluten allergy
2- it could be gluten intolerance
3 - Celiac Disease


My mom and I both GAINED weight after starting the GF diet. Not a bad thing as we were both underweight and are now healthy looking. I make as much of my own food as possible as it is super expensive to buy pre-made items. If I want a loaf of bread from the grocery store its a frozen brick for $8.00. So I tend to buy a lot of mixes and bake often. Its not that bad. You just have to pick a day where you have some time and be okay with a recipe not turning out correctly every now and then.

Im very strict and read into everything. If I come across something that says "may contain wheat" its off limits. We have a great food label system that is on its way to getting even better. Right now if something is marked GF, it legally has to be and soon all allergens will be clearly listed on our labels.

I would caution going GF before any positive testing as it will mess up your results and you will not know if it is indeed Celiac Disease. BUT if you don't need an official diagnosis and going gf makes you feel better...go for it! =)

Here is my blog if you would like to read it
http://gluten-free-doll.blogspot.com/
It's basically a journal about my gf life. Nothing super special...just me and some recipes.