next »

[lesliethequeen]

Read an article recently that talked about many food issues...I already posted about the McGrilled Chicken Sandwich and the Almond milk(On WDYE), but I also found the part on a Gluten-free diet interesting.

Gluten-Free is everywhere these days and I think people get caught up in the newness of it. But just because it's there doesn't mean it's for you. the article asked if you to ask yourself, "Have I been diagnosed by a doctor with a disease that calls for a a gluten-free diet?" If the answer is no, then ask, "Do I have the symptoms that would need me to go to a doctor to see if I have a disease that needs a gluten-free diet?" If the answer is yes - go to the doctor! If the answer is no, then the gluten-free diet isn't for you.

Gluten is not a bad thing unless you have Celiac disease, or other similar diseases. Plus, gluten-free foods are often higher in calories and generally much more expensive than the regular foods they are meant to replace. I have no idea how gluten-free got to be such a big deal, but many people are jumping on the GF wagon who don't need to and who could be losing both money and healthy options because of it.

Just thought I'd share. I have been getting rid of lots of mags because of the move so I can't give you the exact mag, but I really don't read nutty stuff and with my nutrition background I had really been wondering what all the gluten-free craziness was about since we learned in school that only a select few had to eat that way.

[greebo115]

Hey Leslie, you make a good point - I don't understand why anyone would jump on that bandwagon without good reason because it is actually quite hard to go completely gluten free.
Also, for us freaks....gluten is a protein! As long as we are able to digest it without issues, it actually can count towards our protein totals.

[auntb]

I think in a word it's -Advertising. Lots of people see it and think " oh if they are making all this stuff it must be good right?".

[lesliethequeen]

Two great points. Gluten is the protein in wheat and grains and advertising definitely leads us astray!

[Dr_Adventure]

I have been playing with cooking "bread" with soy isolate, gluten flour and other whole grain flours - I was surprised at how much protein gluten flour has -

[lesliethequeen]

How did the bread turn out? Because gluten is the stuff that makes the dough stretchy and the bread rise.

[saucywench]

well I just made Rob gluten free pizza crust last night and it was freakin incredible.
-Mel

[Indykitty]

Gluten can cause gas even if folks who aren't over sensitized to it, so tread with care. Also, there are a lot of articles out about it and it looks like the allergy could be pretty common.

http://www.allergy-details.com/gluten-free-diet/gluten-allergy-symptoms/

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=7&ved=0CGEQFjAG&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ibstreatmentcenter.com%2FArticles%2FWangenGIG08.ppt&ei=OGFGT5LQMOqfiQK1w6XaDQ&usg=AFQjCNGv1Keiveskt63SmJlDxNzTb9olVw

[lesliethequeen]

Interesting article.

I think any time you might have an allergy, then you should give avoidance a try. My poor Child was allergic to milk but no one would believe us. She spent a lot of days on the BRAT diet (Bananas, rice. applesauce and toast)(These are the least allergenic foods) while we added foods back one at a time to see what she was allergic to. Nobody believes the parents.

The article is a little over the top, though. 3.3% isn't a common allergy. That means that 96.7% of people don't have the allergy.

If you have the symptoms, give it up for awhile and see if it makes a difference. That's the best way to figure out any allergy. Be sure to keep a log of symptoms and differences, that way you can give it to your doctor to help them diagnose you. 

[Indykitty]

I'm logging my food and my weights because I have crazy fluctuations and I know some of it is directly related to simple carbs, but evidently not red potatoes.   I've baked with gluten though, doing low carb and it will gas you like crazy, but I can't quite get what it is that swells me up the most. It is frightening though.    

This one mentions the edema. http://www.springboard4health.com/notebook/health_food_addiction.html

[kristi-bisti]

My son was tested as sensitive to gluten.  Not a true allergy per se, but his body is unable to fully digest it.  I think that is the main problem with gluten these days... that our bodies have not kept up with the progress of food and has a hard time dealing with the new things we throw at it.   I have heard that the wheat we currently grow and eat is, if not a GMO type of wheat, then definitely hybridized with a form of protein that our bodies have a hard time with.  "wheat belly" is a book that recently came out (which I have not read) that discusses this a bit more.

As for my son, taking him off gluten really helped his behaviour issues - ADHD.  Alas, the constant fighting with him about what he would and could and wouldn't and couldn't eat have led us back to a "normal" diet, but all things being equal, I would still have him gluten free.

[Dr_Adventure]

The bread I made was great I made little muffins and it is very good and chock full of protein.

[lesliethequeen]

Okay, Dr A, get that recipe on the Food Stuff section so we can give it a try!

I think you did the exact right thing, Kristi-B. You took him off, noticed a big change both on and off the gluten and tried to change his diet. Is he a teenager? You'll never win with teenagers! 

And Ms. K - you know it bothers you, so don't eat it. That is how it works. My daughter tried to eat milk Low-Fat products for years, thinking she had outgrown her Lactose Intolerance - NOT! (There are allergies and intolerances - allergy=hives, rash, your throat closing up so you can't breath. Intolerance = makes you sick or gives you pain. Neither are good) She now knows she has a choice - use Fat-Free products (I have no idea why she can tolerate those) or have gas cramps and that Dia-what's it word that I can't spell.

I have an intolerance to Caffeine...does that stop me from eating chocolate...sadly, no. Gave it up for two full years - pain-free - and one day had a candy bar and it was down hill from there! I believe that chocolate is the food of Satan!! I am very bad when tempted... :oo

Sorry, I'm posting too much...I could talk about nutrition forever...Our bodies are incredible...Have ever wondered why your stomach can digest a steak but doesn't digest itself? Amazing...

[Indykitty]

Leslie, sadly I have the same problem with carbs you do with chocolate! I try to feed that craving with other good things, but sometimes it gets me and when it does, boy does it ever!  Can you post too much?  Nah! 

[kristi-bisti]

Okay, Dr A, get that recipe on the Food Stuff section so we can give it a try!

I think you did the exact right thing, Kristi-B. You took him off, noticed a big change both on and off the gluten and tried to change his diet. Is he a teenager? You'll never win with teenagers! 

Unfortunately, no.  He is only 6 years old right now and was only 5 when we were on the diet!  What does that mean for me when he is a teenager!!!?!?!?

[lesliethequeen]

On the day my first granddaughter was born, she had such attitude we became very afraid. My daughter and I looked at each other and said "What will she be like as a teen?" She is 15 now and all of us, including her brother and 4 little sisters are scared to death of her! 

Too bad we can't project our knowledge into them so they will get the whole thing...he would feel so much better!