 February 28th, 2011
05:45 PM ET
Jennie Bragg is an Editorial Producer in CNN’s Money Unit. Previously - Gluten-free and well-fed: the sneaky stuff Fashion week has come and gone here in New York, but with all the models, designers and wanna-be fashionistas roaming about town just a week ago, I got to thinking a bit about trends. Like shoulder pads and last season’s romper, diets tend to go in and out of style. So what’s hot right now? You guessed it: the gluten-free diet. Popularized by celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Elisabeth Hasselbeck, the G-free diet is all the rage. Once a solution for those diagnosed, like me, with celiac disease, now 93% of gluten-free interested dieters have never been diagnosed with celiac, according to research by the Hartman Group, a consumer research group. So if you don’t have a gluten allergy or intolerance, why are you eating gluten-free? First, you have to consider the way you are eating. A gluten-free diet can be similar to many other diets if you do it right; it's high in protein, low-carb, lots of fruits and veggies. This all sounds very familiar. We have heard it from doctors, nutritionists, and weight-loss books for years. On the other hand, if you are simply planning to substitute gluten-packed foods with gluten-free foods, you may find the weight loss more challenging. Many gluten-free products substitute wheat flour with ingredients unusually high in carbohydrates, like potato, rice or corn starch. This can often lead to a spike in blood sugar, and according to many medical professionals, you may end up packing on a few pounds, rather than losing them. (Fashion Week models, don’t try this at home.) I did not go gluten free to lose weight - and believe me, I didn’t lose any. I was diagnosed with celiac disease and was trying to get healthy first and foremost, but I must say, the super-trendiness of this “diet” has worked in my favor. Thanks to millions of dieters testing the gluten-free waters, G-free products and G-free restaurants abound. While it may not be for everyone, I hope the gluten-free trend doesn’t go the way of the shoulder pad anytime soon. It is certainly working out for me. Previously - Gluten defined, Celiac? To heck with that! and The sneaky stuff |
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I have to say this. I was in a lot of pain. Terrible migraines that lasted days, joint pain, back, neck and shoulder pain, and I was exhausted beyond belief!!!...I was so depressed from being so sick that I decided that my life was not worth living but I had to live because of my daughters.
I exercised almost every day and I found some relief on it but it was not enough. One day that I woke up without the usual migraine I had a breakfast consisting in toasted whole wheat flour, milk and honey (south american breakfast). Less than 20 minutes later, I had a head splitting headache. That was my "Aha! " moment. I stopped eating anything with gluten and the relief came in a couple of days.
Two months later, I feel really good.... But if I, by mistake, have something with gluten in it, I'm sick for a week, so I have to be very careful. I read every label, I bring my own food if I'm away from home and I have informed my friends and family about it.
I had brainfog, so bad, some days I couldn't even think. I also have adult ADD. Since I am on a gluten free diet, the cloud was lifted and I am much more focus. I's been a blessing! My energy is back and I've lost some weight too because I am more conscious about what I eat.
I am so happy now, living pain free, that I don't even miss bread. less
Thank you for your post! I am in agreement with you that I hope that the sudden boom in g-free is not a passing fad. I was diagnosised with Celiac in July 2006. It was so tough in the beginning, but now, with all of the products, and manufactures coming out with g-free food, life has been so much easier. I really hope that it doesn't go backwards.
Gluten-free is indeed on the rise and it is not necessary for most people who observe it. Celiac disease is a real thing and thank God that we now have a much wider variety of wheat substitutes and creative baking techniques to provide the things we consider staples like bread. However, as the article confirms, most people are jumping on this bandwagon, convinced by number of new age health advisors who would like you to think that the bread you eat is causing everyone immunological responses and the water you drink is not properly ph balanced or contains the wrong mix of minerals or that you are lacking in amino acids.... etc etc.
I am so sick of some "experts' using a small % of the population to tell everyone else that this is bad. Gluten may or may not have its place– you have to decide for you. Don't blame all your health problems on it. There may be other livestyle modifications you should be making.
For the last 8 years I have been tested for everything, they thought I had lupus, I have a slow thyroid (take meds 7yrs now), they have put me on anti depressants (i'm not depressed), i've been diagnosed with IBS (since i was 8yrs old) I'm 45 now. Last year was the end of it, massive of tests, couldn't figure out why I couldn't digest anything, pain all the time, etc.
If it wasn't for the little girl on the view talking about her Gluten symptoms I'd still be sick. I took myself off of Gluten, Thank god I can cook. I made my whole family go GF, since I was so going to figure out why I have been so sick. My husband don't know the difference. My youngest daughter started growing and has had no tummy aches since we went GF.
I can't believe the difference in my health, I don't get sick anymore, I have no hives, pain, bloating, I feel wonderful. I do not eat any of the GF made products, we tried once to eat some bread, omg, sawdust. I just make my own when we have a hamburger. ITs not expensive, our food bill has actually gone down, time in the kitchen has increased about two hours a day, but I will not trade it for anything.
When I told my doctor what I did, she said that's what? wheat stuff.. OMG.. case closed, sometimes doctors are only interested in a blood test not what the patient is telling them. I think I'd rather go to the mechanic that listens to the car, tunes it by ear and the machine, than the machine alone.
To all of you that are trying to feel better GL, and to all of you that the tests actually came out positive GL also you had a better doctor than I did.
One reason we may be seeing an increase in sensitivity to gluten may be that there is a lot more of it in our food. Wheat particularly, has been bred for a high gluten content. It's what makes our modern breads so light in texture, and why we can make instant cakes. Grandma had to cream the butter and sugar and sift the flour three times to get a cake to rise. The bread she baked would be heavy by today's standards.
And if that isn't enough, we extract the gluten from wheat and add it to almost every processed food. There are even 'foods' on the market that are almost pure gluten.
It would be an interesting exercise to track the rise of gluten content of wheat and processed food against the increase in Celiac and other diseases.
Cake, the lightest and fluffiest of the popular baked goods use low gluten flour. Flour for cake, pastry, bread, pasta, pizza, etc. all have different gluten content, depending on the desired product. There are literally dozens of different flours out there.
I dont think they are trying to be sexy, I think they are being smart, gluten is a allergenic protein by nature, it is very hard to break down completely by the body so it is a natural sore thumb for the immune system.
I think the author of this article is very confused despite being a celiac.
It is called the gluten free diet because you dont eat gluten, thats it. It isnt a "diet" to lose weight, nobody said its purpose was to lose weight. I dont see anyone claiming that it is. Maybe it is possible someone would hear the word diet and assume, but that isnt what the author is saying.
I have been gluten free for 4 years (before it became popular) and I have talked to a lot of people who are gluten free and of all the people I have run into nobody has ever said it was because they wanted to lose weight, they all mentioned sensitivity.
The author of this article/Jennie mentions that 93% of people who are on gluten free have never been formally diagnosed by a doctor. ok. But then she goes on to say if you arent celiac or sensitive then why are you on a gluten free diet ? whoa, whoa, whoa there. I hope everyone caught this huge manipulation there. She says 93% arent diagnosed by a doctor, but then tries to say that if you arent diagnosed, you arent sensitive. Huh ?
Just because you arent diagnosed, doesnt mean you dont have either celiac or gluten sensitivity. That is the most ridiculous assumption I have ever heard. But if you arent paying attention closely you will fall for her "con"
Listen, there are alot of people sensitive so alot of people should probably be gluten free. So I am not saying people shouldnt get tested. But, in addition I would never recommend that someone rely on what the doctor or a test says. The tests are known to be inaccurate and can be wrong. So go to the doctor if you want, but just because the test says you are ok, doesnt mean you are. Here is how you protect yourself. So, if you are curious if you are sensitive, then dont eat gluten for a month, see how you feel, then go back on gluten, see how you feel. If you feel better off gluten, stay off gluten.
Having been diagnosed with Celiac going on nine years now I am still amazed at people who view a GF diet as a weight-loss option. I know that when I switched to GF after my diagnosis, I ballooned when I incorporated (often higher calorie/carb) GF replacements into my diet (and this was way before there was the plethora of options that now abound) - well, that and the fact that I was once again absorbing nutrients correctly for the first time in my life.
I am all for people doing what they want in life but when it comes at the expense of diluting a serious condition is when I take issue. Believe me, if I could eat a normal piece of bread or pasta or doughnut for that matter I would. As a Celaic with multiple food allergies the ability to eat gluten would take one less worry off my proverbial plate :-).
Gluten Free Mike
http://www.glutenfreemike.com
Have you tried our breads? Best in the market, we use only ingredients of the hieghest quality, no rice flour, GMO and of course GF. Not only our production faciliites are strictly gluten free but also our offices.
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I think the biggest problem with all these celebrities and their fad diets is that when people like us who have Celiac Disease, when we go out to eat waiters don't take our allergies seriously. Some restaurants will ask you is it an allergy but for the most part, the restaurant industry thinks that a little bit of wheat won't hurt anybody.
Unfortunately for those of us with Celiac, gluten-free is here to stay. It's not just a fad it's a life long commitment!
Oh this is wonderful. now all the companies will jack the price up even higher now. I am a Celiac and I am one of the many that can tell you how expensive it is to buy Gluten free food. this is amazing that Spell checker doesn't even had the word ( Celiac ) in it;s data base. lol
I tried to go google-free once. Didn't work, couldn't live without the porn.
Have you ever tried to go spooge-free?
"Remember ladies, if you are going to stuff your bras with Kleenex, be sure and take them out of the box first."
I find it interesting that people gain weight on a gluten-free diet. I was diagnosed with Celiac about 2 years ago and have lost weight on this diet. I can't seem to gain any weight and I eat very healthy. Other than GF bread, pasta and pretzels, I don't eat the pre-packaged GF foods, mainly because I think they taste terrible.
One thing that bothers me about these articles, (I've read a few others recently), is it seems to trvialize it for those who have NO other options. It shouldn't be a fad, as it is a way of life for many people. I get concerned that after the "fad" goes, then there goes many GF options for those of us that need to eat gluten free.
I was diagnosed with a wheat allergy after my son was born 14 years ago. It is a nightmare. The constant questioning about everything that you consume that did not come from your own kitchen is enough to make you never want to eat out again. Restaurants still don't get it. They advertise "Gluten-Free" items but they don't disclose the ingredients. I went to one well known restaurant and when they bought my burger out with the bun on it(because they don't listen) I told the waitress that it had to be re-made,explained the situation(again!) and she went on her way. She returns,tells me that the cook explained to her to tell me that their bread was not wheat it was white so he did not know what the problem was. I began to explain but I just looked at her,told her to forget it and told her to take it off my bill.After that I would not trust them to make me anything. I have never been back.
So long as people don't eat SHMEAT when the go gluten-free, all will be fine. Read NOSHMEAT.COM first.
What gets me is people who self-diagnose themselves as Celiac...like my sister-in-law who decides to eat a pizza and all she gets is a "tummy ache, that's actually not Celiac but gluten-intolerant....then there's those who just have gluten allergies like my co-worker whose throat closes up when she eats wheat....but they still eat food with wheat in it like soy sauce and they don't get a reaction....then there's me, I will get violently ill and vomit if I have any wheat gluten, and I really do have celiac, had all the tests done and confirmed. But we all eat our own idea of a "gluten-free" diet...and we wonder why everyone out there is confused about this diet?
Self-diagnosing ANY disease bugs me. Doctors who listen to their patients, then diagnose without testing are irresponsible and should have their license revoked (yup! Got a chip on my shoulder about it because it happened to me. He is no longer my doc).
And before the nit-pickers create an algae bloom of responses, I'm talking about issues like Celiac's, diabetes, thyroid conditions et al.
I found out what foods I am and am not allergic to, that I have a treatable disease and other various assorted things – all thru testing & talking to my cooperative doctor. People, get tested before you make declarations about your health! Otherwise you're just show-boating.
Agree with me, I agree with you. I don't think people should go around self-diagnosing. I went to my doctor and was tested for Celiac, a very serious disease that causes internal physical damage and leads to malnutrition. My blood test was negative, but I was still having a very serious problem that was affecting my quality of life. I went to two doctors, and both told me nothing was wrong. Maybe it was just gas. (sorry to be explicit) It wasn't "just gas" it was a serious gluten intolerance and I believe I had to help myself because both of the doctors i visited were too busy or uninformed to guide me in the right direction. I cannot emphasize enough the change in my quality of life once I eliminated gluten from my diet. Let's be real. My stomach was constantly rock hard and I looked 10-15 pounds overweight. It was disgusting, painful, and not healthy. I am glad that I took the lead in my health.
Going gluten-free has changed my life and I am extremely thankful it is trendy. I have a gluten intolerance and for two years I lived in a perpetually bloated state, uncomfortable, and in constant pain. I looked 10-15 pounds heavier than I actually was! I knew something was wrong. But what? It was a horrible experience. I went to the doctor who told me nothing was wrong, I was perfectly healthy (which I was), but I knew something was off! So I did my own research o and tried removing gluten from my diet after reading something online. Literally within 48hrs I was a different person. Now, a year and a half later, I feel "lighter" (not because of the pounds but because of the bloating) and healthier and I now "feel" the gluten within minutes of unknowingly ingesting it. Please folks, gluten-free is sexy, cool, trendy, hot, etc! Keep it up! ;-)
VK, my wife used to be a professional baker and then with similar discomfort to yours, discovered she was highly gluten intolerant a couple years ago! What a nightmare for a baker! She felt just miserable for a day or two after any wheat. So about six months ago she decided to take her fabulous cooking and baking skills and share her solutions and recipes on her blog, gimmeglutenfree dot com. It does not solve all the issues when we go out to restaurants, but I'm loving the new creations coming out of the home kitchen here! I'm not gluten intolerant myself so I was pretty skeptical when she started making gluten free pancakes from scratch, now I won't eat any others, we are actually finding gluten free food can even be more flavorful!
I actively seek out gluten free bakeries and want to hug these bakers! Living in NY I am fortunate to have many choices and am glad to hear your wife is adding to the selection of gluten-free breads and baked goods! Thank her for all of us!!
I am gluten free due to allergies. there are plenty of items out there to eat, but they can get you fat. the best is to eat lots of fruits, vegetables and beans.
I tried gluten-free, at the suggestion of my doctor for inflammation problems. I gave up quite quickly. I disliked gluten-free products and everything was so expensive! Not fun. I feel bad for anyone who has to go gluten-free permanently. I hated every minute of it.
Jennie,
I enjoyed reading your post, and I agree, gluten-free is not going away! When I was diagnosed with celiac disease more than 15 years ago, I struggled to find tasty and nutritious options. Knowing that we can have both satisfying taste and true nourishment in our food, I experimented and have created my own line of snack foods called Mary’s Gone Crackers that today are available nationally. I especially appreciate your explanation of how unhealthy many of the refined gluten-free ingredients can be—that is often overlooked in this discussion. Fortunately we’ve made strides since I was first diagnosed, and increased awareness about celiac disease has led to more options than ever before. Thank you for giving it the spotlight it deserves!
I am shocked, SHOCKED that NYC still thinks of itself as culturally relevant!
The BIGGEST problem with this GF 'diet' is restaurants don't do the proper research of what's considered truly gluten-free. They feel if it doesn't have flout, then it's GF and okay. Which is NOT the case. Then you run into the problems of cross-contamination (Yes, those with celiac CAN get sick from eating french fries that shares the same fryer with chicken-fried steak or anything else battered and fried.
So, even though groceries and restaurants now proudly display "Gluten-free" do your research and keep asking questions. Don't just assume it's safe.
My problem with people selectively choosing to go gluten free (as opposed to we Celiacs or gluten-intolerants) is that they can go into a restaurant, tell the waiter/chef they are eating gluten free, and then do something dumb like cheat by eating a little something not gluten free and thus confusing the staff.
A waiter thinks, "But that lady just ate the gravy, and she said she wasn't eating wheat but that it was okay."
The trendy dieter says, "The salad's fine, I can pick out the croutons"
If I was allergic to peanuts, I sure as hell wouldn't tell the chef he can just pick them out of my pad thai. It's people that go gluten free and don't treat it seriously who are going to get the rest of us in trouble.
I hate it when I tell someone that I need gluten-free meals or would like a burger without the bread. They all think I'm on some kind of super strict diet. Well, I'm not. I have Celiac Disease and HAVE TO eat gluten-free. The high carbs in gluten free products is a big challenge for me, because I'm also considered to be pre-diabetic. I have to carefully monitor my diet. It's hard and not something I would have chosen to do.
I think the toughest part is bringing the awareness that Celiac is not your typical allergy. I can't pop a benadryl and feel better in an hour. I try to tell people it's actually doing internal damage to my lower intestine which intern will lead to other issues if my diet is left unchanged. People seem very surprised and unaware when I explain what eating wheat actually does. I'm not too worried about the "fad" of gluten free dieting. Those people will come and go but the rise in Celiac will only continue to grow.
That's because it's not a food allergy–it's an autoimmune disorder with a very specific trigger. I think when we start framing celiac disease by what it actually IS and stop explaining it as an allergy, the confusion will eventually dissipate.
I discovered a certain problem with white flour and I can't say it is celiac....but I feel better when I don't eat white flour in anything. I might do it once in a while....but not very often. I have never felt so good! I think someone told me it was the "stone-grinding" of the flour that has hurt our digestive tracts over the years...not sure...a friend of mine has a site that helps people find gluten free places to dine and where to buy gluten free food when you visit ski resorts. It is ultimate gluten free dot com and it is a small site...but maybe some people can add information to help them out. Going gluten free is good for you! I think it is great.
Gluten-free is sexy now? Really? That must make me Duke Hotstuff, himself.
Couldn't be happier than gluten-free is as big as it is. It makes life for Celiacs and gluten-intolerant folk so much easier.
I get what the author is saying and she's right – the more 'popular/trendy' going gluten-free becomes, the more choices those of us who must be gluten-free have in the marketplace. However, why anyone who didn't have a medical reason to avoid gluten would do so by choice because they think it's 'trendy' is not something I can comprehend. Frankly, it annoys the f*ck out of me. I have Celiac, and no matter how skilled I get at gluten-free baking or tracking down restaurants with good gluten-free offerings, it's still a big ole pain in the butt (no pun intended) to deal with! For some, being gluten-free is not a choice – it's a life-or-death matter. When those who are gluten-free by CHOICE (not because of a medical reason), preach their dietary dogma, my diseased small intestine and I want to strangle them and force-feed them Krispy Kremes.
I love you Jennie Bragg! Keep posting GF articles!
What a joke! There is absolutely no reason to avoid gluten if you're not allergic to it.
There's nothing sexy about a diet on which your doctor tells you to go.
No there's not, but that's not what the article is about. It's about gluten-free eating being a trendy, happenin' "thang" to do these days. The folks who have jumped on the g-free bandwagon without being tested and have not consulted a doctor have no clue what it's like to eat under doctors' restrictions.
Try soy-free eating some time (hypothyroid patients aren't supposed to eat unfermented soy). It's not easy.
I've been eating gluten-free for about a year. I had digestive and health problems that went away when I cut out gluten. I notice when I've eaten accidentally eaten gluten, as the digestive problems come back. Beneficially, since I am forced to make informed choices about what I eat, I've lost about 30 pounds. I have a lot of trouble when others are cooking for me (when visiting relatives or traveling, for example), as others often aren't aware of what is in the foods they prepare and serve.
I assume that this is going to be a lifelong issue for me. I appreciate the increased number of gluten-free items at stores, but worry that it is going to go away when the next fad diet arrives.
I'm allergic to cats so I don't eat them. Horses however are a totally different story!
HA! Way to stir the pot!
Know what else is sexy? Children on the back of milk cartons. Oh, yeah.
LOL! Bloodhound Gang is hilarious!
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/bloodhoundgang/alapdanceissomuchbetterwhenthestripperiscrying.html
P.F. Chang's has an AMAZING Gluten Free Menu!!!
PF Changs also has won awards for being among the SALTIEST food available in a restaurant.
Burn!
LOL!...not really a burn. I understand where Joe's coming from. I have Celiac disease so I appreciate PF's menu, but like all restaurant food, it shouldn't be consumed daily. I weight lift 5 days a week, take 3 spin classes a week and dance professionally so I can afford to treat myself to some salty food. I'm sure Joe enjoys salt as well.
The one good thing about all those celebs and others jumping on the bandwagon is that more GF food will be produced and maybe the price will decrease! I HAVE to eat GF..as well as soy free etc...it is not fun...and it is NOT sexy. I suffer debilitating consequences when i consume gluten and soy. It has destroyed my digestive and immune systems which are finally in repair. So for people to make light of this is quite offensive. I wish people who didn't know anything about the subject would just remain silent..but then again this is America! The best to all of you who suffer with celiac and all food allergies...the awareness will help us all.
There's nothing sexy about having celiac disease, or even worse, pretending you do.
93% ...that is staggering. I was diagnosed with celiac disease 25 years ago when no one seemed to know what gluten was. Yes, the more people know about it, the easier it is to navigate a gluten-free life, but calling it sexy is a bit dangerous. Glomming onto the stories of celebrities publicly go on a chosen gluten-free diet as if that makes it "in" or "sexy," frankly makes it very hard for us celiacs be taken seriously. I think it is CRUCIALLY important for all people (particularly those in the food service industry) to realize that though some high-profile people may want to be gluten-free, there are others, like me, who have a medical need to be on our doctor-prescribed diet for life. It's not a fad to us, we're not doing this on a whim or pretending we need to be on this diet so we can be like Gwyneth. We have a serious medical condition and when we eat anything that we didn't personally make, we have to take it incredibly seriously to maintain our health.
Thank you, CJ. I, too, worry about the trivialization of the gluten-free diet in the media when it is critical for those with celiac disease. Since my diagnosis, I've had more than one discussion with people who don't realize that I risk persistent damage to the lining of my small intestine that can lead to a myriad of cancers. Funny that the insurance companies all know about celiac and raise their premiums accordingly but the chefs and waitstaff who can help me stay safe in restaurants seem so blase.
T1tt1es and beer please
Honestly, there are many foods to eat if you are gluten-free. I eat gluten-free in addition to being vegan and soy-free for other allergies I have and I eat alot. I've even written a bunch of cookbooks just to let others know its not down to eating grass! But this is not a weight loss diet and if you gorge on gluten-free baked goods, you could pudge up a bit like I initially did.
In other words you don't get enough protein. You better load up on the amino acids or you'll die of anemia like Brittany Murphy and her husband.
If we stop babying our kids so much and sterilizing everything anyone touches maybe we wouldn't have all this crap. If we slept in the dirt, were promiscuous with each other, ate whatever we felt like, smoked weed all day, and never worked out we'd be alive much longer and have zero ailments.
Certainly have a hellova lot more fun.
That's what I'm talkin' about.
"He's out to prove he's got nothing to prove."
Napoleon, don't be jealous that I've been chatting online with babes all day. Besides, we both know that I'm training to be a cage fighter.
At Rex Kwan Do, we use the buddy system. No more flying solo. You need somebody watching your back at all times. Second off, you're gonna learn to discipline your image. You think I got where I am today because I dressed like Peter Pan over here?
[points to Kip]
"Are you guys having a killer time?"
Why do you love me? Why do you need me? Always and forever... We met in a chatroom, now our love can fully bloom... Sure the world wide web is great, but you, you make my salivate... I love technology, but not as much as you, you see... But I STILL love technology... Always and forever. Our love is like a flock of doves, flying up to heaven above... always and forever, always and forever... Why do you need me? Why do you love me? Always and forever...
"Hey, you guys wanna see my video?"
Come on baby, light my fire!
I'm with you, MicG!
I've been gluten-free since May 2010 and it's made a significant difference in my health. Prior to discovering I had the celiac gene I was diagnosed with a ridiculous array of illnesses - IBS, irritable bladder, rosacea, shingles, lupus, fibromyalgia, arthritis, etc - just for starters! Dr. Aukerman at OSU in Columbus is conducting research into this illness and has helped thousands of others as he's learned more about gluten and its impact. He now teaches other doctors so they'll be more aware of it, and able to give a quicker diagnosis. Mine took 11 years and had me visiting doctors from Cleveland to Los Angeles. The IgA tests are not always accurate so don't rely on them. I encourage anyone who is having health issues, and especially immunological disorders, to have the DNA test. It's made a HUGE difference in my life.
The best diet for all, is one that is balanced, low carb, low saturated fat, and moderate protein. The level of consumption, is the primary factor in weight gain, if the right foods are used.
Just look at our closest relation, the primates. Their natural diet, often consists of primarily specific leaves, from trees, with fruits and nuts, as the main additions to that.
No, primates do not eat potatoes, rice, or pasta. Nor do they eat large amounts of meat, even if they are predatory.
Humans pride themselves as superior to other creatures on this planet, but they don't even have the good sense to observe how other creatures survive. Humans are egotists.
This is a blog, not a manifesto. Looks to me like the only egotist here is you.
People who say they don't care what people think are usually desperate to have people think they don't care what people think. George Carlin
Modern primates don't eat lots of meat, but our ancestors did. The increased consumption of meat is one of the primary changes to the human diet that allowed for greater brain size. If you want energy bang for your buck animal protein and fat is the way to go.
Our ancestors ate meat when they could trap a mastodon at the end of a canyon and kill it. Conversely, they ate grain they gathered by hand. Not a lot of either. They were subject to local conditions in ways that today's population isn't. They ate what they could get their hands on and none of it was guaranteed. I think each person finds a diet that works for them and they're not all going to be the same.
@Diva
I agree that a proper human diet is a varied one. We are not 100% carnivores (few animals are). However human groups are documented that thrived on very high diet of animal protein, organ meats, and fats (Inuit for instance). I merely took issue with his argument that we should eat little meat because other primates eat little meat by point to our the fact that our ancestors increased brain size by eating more animal protein.
I'm not saying this because I love my steak and fear for it's safety at the hands of evil Vegans (silly).. I say it because We are eating way out of proportion in the modern SAD (standard american diet).. Massive amounts of grains (grass seed, meant to be eaten by plant eaters with gigantic digestive systems), industrial seed oils (processed canola, soy, etc), and processed sugar (a far cry from fresh fruits only available to our ancestors when they happened to be in season).
PrimalOne: The statement "The increased consumption of meat is one of the primary changes to the human diet that allowed for greater brain size" has no basis in fact that is supported by any anthropological evidence.
And animal protein and fat are relatively poor sources of usable energy; Certainly fat molecules are very efficient storage devices of energy, but to make that usable for cells requires many pathways. Since the brain only uses glucose, getting carbohydrate energy is the most efficient method to do so.
So ... let me get this straight ... in order to make an extremely flaccid point, you have completely ignored thousands of years of dietary evolution and pounced on the assumption that we are directly descendant from apes. KUTGW, Troll.
LOL..."flacid point" Well put.
I know I laughed on that one too.
Rick McDaniel: Prehistoric humans probably didn't eat potatoes or pasta, but humans now live longer than they ever have, so there is no evidence that eating these foods does anything but prolong life.
My wife is gluten intolerant and she also is a vegetarian. Those are two practices that often work against each other. Meat is an option for gluten-free people while breads are an option for vegetarians. Since she won't eat meat and can't eat breads she is very limited in her diet (and by extension I am too).
Bill, i am a veggie and have Celiac, so i understand your wife's issues. i dread it when i get asked out to a restaurant because it usually means a sub-par salad with no dressing. you are eating GF too? it's not ideal, but my partner and i cook separately and have our own labeled utensils and pots.
Bill, trust me when I say I feel your pain. Gluten free and vegetarian often do conflict, but I will tell you that if you are willing to experiment and get into the kitchen you can really make some fantastic meals. We've been able to make "meatloaf", " "chik'n" pot pie, burgers and even the mother of all impossible dishes..."chick'n" fried steak with our meat eating – gluten filled friends chomping down unaware and loving it. We are chefs by profession but just like everyone else starting out we were utterly battered by the limited choices we were afforded. I really can't stress to you enough how important a simple search can be on the web. Type in Vegetarian and Gluten Free forums and you'll find some great places to get some outstanding recipes and be well on your way to some outstanding meals!
I have been g-free for two years and have certainly not lost any weight. The main reason for gaining some weight is that I am not sick all the time anymore. For the first time my body is actually absorbing the nutrience from the food I ingest instead of rejecting it. I haven't gained much, but I certainly will not complain.
Well, I don't know about sexy. but for most of us, it is essential for quality of life. I amnot sure of the value of this piece. People misuse the word "sexy" as if it say sexy equals popular. Going gluten free for those who have not been diagnosed with Celiac Disease may center around the fact that a GF diet has been known to help autistic children as well those who are just gluten intolerant, or allergic to wheat. I also want to add that some of us, including myself have actually lost weight, because of you do the diet correctly minus the processed GF foods, you are primarily eating a healthier diet.
thank you so much for this post! I was just diagnosed with celiac disease, and I believe that the 'trendiness' of the G-free diet has made it easier for me to find foods that I am able to enjoy eating. And while I have found myself eating more protein, fruits and veggies I don't know if going G-free will help you lose weight, but it's definitely a healthier way to live for us celiacs :)
Why would anyone want to go Gluten Free if they didn't have to. I have to for very real medical reasons. I still get all stressed out when going to a business conferences or out dinner with frineds because I'm never really sure if there will be anything I can eat. At least when going out with friends I can checkout the menu before hand. I've spent many conferences leaving the function to forage for food on my own thus missing networking opportunities.
Been there, done that! It was awful and the last one I went to, Bam! Somehow, something got onto my plate. Misery.
I don't have celiac but I've been gluten-free for a long time and feel a lot better since. Haven't been sick either, not even a sniffle since cutting out all grains (no gluten-free grains either). The human body wasn't made to digest grains and a low-carb diet is not sustainable for both health and sanity reasons. Check out "the paleo diet" and "the primal blueprint" if you want to learn how to eat the foods that nature intended the human animal to eat.
Grok on Hunter! Grok on.
Agreed. Paleo/Primal is the way to go. My family and I do the same. I'd also add 'the healthy skeptic' to the list as I find his info very thorough.
Congrats on winning the stupid award; quite an accomplishment given the level in this subject.
Did you happen to note that we can't digest fiber? EGAD! Stop eating everything with fiber! That's perfectly within your line of (stupid) reasoning. So, no fruits, vegetables, seeds and legumes!
Typical 'baby with the bathwater' reasoning. Find one issue with an argument and throw it all out as silly. Grains are a very recent addition to the human diet (only 10,000 years at most, which is nothing evolutionarily) They are not for us, they are grasses. We don't have the equipment (multiple stomachs, grinding teeth, etc.) to process the toxins therein and we suffer when we eat them. The idea of a Paleolithic diet is to look at the diet of the hunter gatherer human and model our diet on it. I.e. let's eat what we're supposed to eat: fish, meat, organ meats, some nuts, some fruits, some green stuff.... No grains, no industrial seed oils, no industrial processed sugars, etc.
PrimalOne: Incorrect; grains and grasses have been eaten presumably since prehistoric humans began gathering. There is no evidence to suggest otherwise. Tooth markings and coprolites corroborate this. We certainly have grinding teeth for this purpose, our molars, and they allow us, along with our incisors to be very effective omnivores. There are diets that vilify cruciferous vegetables, but the vast majority of people shouldn't avoid cruciferous vegetables. We should be eating grains, we should be eating meats, we should be eating vegetables and fruits.
In many cases with regard to the processed sugar argument, the sucrose molecule that is eaten is the same as the sucrose molecule pre-refinement, so there is no reason to avoid processed sugar, either. The problem in first-world societies is the over-consumption of these sources of energy.
I eat and cook gluten-free for my fiancée who has Celiac disease. It is very real and causes lots of problems for those with it. Eating gluten-free is the only solution. I hope the companies out there now making GF foods continue after the trend wears out...we are really enjoying it at the moment!
i respect allergies but people on any diet that restricts certain ingredients, should not come and say that theyre "allergic" to said item just to avoid eating it. For example: person walks into an Italian restaurant, ask for somthing with out garlic, or 'hard cheese', why did they come to eat Italian in the first place? Most things there come with that... same goes for shell fish allergies if you have that then why go to a place that specializes in seafood (other then fish) on the East coast theres a chain of hamburger restaraunts called five guys who use peanut oil for cooking their fries and to get around the whole peanut allergey they have peanuts in the restaraunt for people to grab and eat, its a subtle warning and works IMO
Or they could just order the Italian food without items they are allergic too. It sounds like someone is being a little lazy in their chosen profession. If that were the case, people wouldn't come to your restaurant & this is not the type of economy to go around screaming that you don't want people to come to your restaurant.
I love all the new products out for a gluten free diet. It is wonderful for my son, who can have so many good options of good stuff to eat. He doesn't feel left out with these products, and my wallet is SO much better off since I can get gluten free products at Wal Mart rather than the health food store. However, I am so fearful that this is going to turn out to be a fad, like the low carb diet, and all these nice products that my son enjoys are going to be gone within two or three years.
Amen to the truth of ppl using this way of eating to loose weight, you absolutely gain due to the higher carbs! I was 103 pds before knowing I had celiac 15 yrs ago and plunged up to 162 and am fighting hard to get down to 140 since being diagnosed. So good luck to those that think a way to survive is a Gluten free diet as you kill your pancreas as its over producing insulin! I laugh as you pack on the pounds and this is why gluten free is so expensive it is much more costly to produce so the supply and demand of these products are making the prices sky rocket! Try simply fruits, veg, LOW carbs, lean protein!!! Not even exercise is keeping my weight off....I had to simple stop the carbs by going fruits and veg w/very lean protein. And eating wheat and gluten free is like a drug....just like a diabetic you will crave the sugars, the more you crave the more you eat.....!!!
Gluten sensitivity isn't always celiac. Those of us with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis often do better on a gluten free diet. Some of us have official diagnoses, some of us not.
FYI: If you have celiac and are having trouble with weight, I would encourage you to get your thyroid checked, since the two go together. Check out http://www.stopthethryoidmadness.com for more information.
I do gluten free for my daughter for ADD, and it has done wonders. Her grades are up, and she's no longer having behavioral issues at school (not bad ones, just inability to concentrate and get her work done). It's been great for her, and it's not that hard to stick to if you know where to start and how to bake. And, no, it is definitely not a way to lose weight.
I don't understand the obsession with baking in GF cooking. I pick up a GF cookbook and it's all breads and muffins and cookies. How do people eat so much bread, gluten or no?
I'll tell you why: because warm breads and cakes and cookies are the soft core crack of the modern age. It's all sugar, it's all bad for you, it all turns to paste in your intestines and inflames them.. don't do it people!
My family and I eat a 'paleo' or 'primal' diet which is essentially meat/fish/eggs/nuts/(some)fruits/leafy veggies and dairy, and we've never felt better. People shouldn't stop with the gluten: all grains are bad for humans. This includes Corn Barley Wheat Rice, etc. Do not eat them. Cattle have many stomachs and a hugely large digestive tract to deal with grasses, we don't have either of those things. Grain is for making beer and spirits and that's it. =)
The reason they focus on breads and baked goods is because the main ingredient in baked goods is wheat flour. It doesn't really make sense to put our a gluten free cook book for recipes that doen't use wheat flour to begin with anyway now does it! Breads are exactly what people with Celiac disease need recipes for!!
Cattle don't eat grains. They eat grasses.
@Joe in Colorado
Yes. Exactly. Cattle should eat grasses only but they are also fed grains by humans to make the meat fattier, grain finished as they say. Still, what are grains but very large artificially selected grass seeds? Grasses protect themselves with toxic chemicals designed to prevent their own digestion. Herbivores get around this with specialized dental and digestive equipment, which we don't have. It's no wonder there's so much gluten intolerance. And those are just the people who have symptoms bad enough to go looking for the cause. I'm sure that many others are suffering, not knowing that the grain in their diet is slowing killing them.
PrimalOne: I agree with you that all grains are in the grass family, and all grasses have gluten. However, "all grains are bad for humans" is incorrect. Grains are very healthy for the vast majority of humans who can eat them. The majority of humans in prehistory who were living the "paleo" diet ate more carbohydrates and fats than any meat protein. Also, an excess of meat protein comes with it an excess of saturated fatty acids, which lead to coronary artery disease, a condition those in prehistory didn't need to think about because their life expectancy wasn't long enough for it to become a factor.
I don't think that the blood tests are always accurate. I know many people that have symptoms, get tested it comes out negative, but all their symptoms stop when they stop eating gluten. I think way more people are gluten sensitive or intolerant, but might not have the IgAs for the test to come out positive. I think they are understanding that it causes a gut reaction, so when gluten and casein is cut out, autistic children do much better. I think for many that follow what the 'stars' are doing will not continue the diet, but those that know its a problem will never go back to gluten again. So it may fade some, but never will it be totally gone.
I am glad to see that so many people are becoming aware of how to handle gluten free products in restaurants now so those that have a really sensitivity to it can enjoy eating out without getting sick!
I am one of those - my blood tests were perfectly normal, and I was definitively told that I am NOT gluten intolerant. However, a gluten AND casein-free diet worked wonders for my health, even reversing (yes, I mean reversing) advanced osteoporosis. I doctor I worked with after the fact told me that the blood tests are only indicative of a small sub-set of gluten intolerance issues, and the only way to accurately identify gluten intolerance in the lab is the ever-popular stool test.
For the record, we eat much, much better now than before, because we have been forced to think about our diet, and to prepare more foods from scratch. Packaged foods are, indeed, limited and expensive. Homemade foods are much tastier and better for our health.
We certainly have come a long way, baby. When my son was diagnosed just over 6 years ago, I had no idea what gluten was. The only problem is can foresee with the "sexiness" is, like this author said, if it's a fad, won't it go out of style? I'm enjoying the greater availability of GF foods these days, and it makes it much easier to follow the diet on a budget. Either way, like Jennie Bragg, we're in it for the long haul! Nicole Hunn http://www.glutenfreeonashoestring.com
I choose to live gluteus free. No one likes it when someone randomly bites their butt, so I will not take part.
I think its insane that someone would choose being gluten-free on purpose. I hate having to live this way. It sucks. I actually have lost a lot of weight because there is nothing left for me to eat anymore, so I just don't most of the time.
Sometimes it may seem that way, especially if you have favorites you eat often...and then get tired of, only to find you haven't any back-up options. It's a matter of continually looking and trying new things. There's _lots_ out there. Remember, it's a matter of what you can eat, not what you can't eat. The latter is quite small in the scope of things. Good luck.
Thanks. I'm not Celiacs, just have a very bad gluten sensitivity. I'm also off dairy and yeast according to my doctor, so that is why I can't find anything left to eat. Its nice that gluten free products are available in major supermarkets, but all of them contain yeast so I can't eat them anyway. Its a plus for real Celiacs though.
My wife recently went gluten free because she breaks out in hives when she eats wheat...she was already a vegetarian beforehand, so it became really hard at first to find foods she can eat... But really once we learned to substitute all purpose gluten free flour with pretty much anything you can bake, and rice noodles instead of wheat noodles, it really hasn't been too bad.. We do live in an area though where gluten free bread, muffins, etc are readily available....It's brought the price of groceries up a bit for us, but it's been better on our wallets in the long run because we find ourselves cooking more instead of eating out...
Good for you, Chris.
I always feel sad when I see postings like this. There are many great meals to be had on a gluten free diet and I hope that you find a way to once again love the foods you crave. I am vegetarian and gluten free and enjoy many of the foods that I loved before becoming either. It's not easy, you have to learn to get back into the kitchen, but if you miss foods and the joy they can bring....there are solutions out there. Not eating is just as bad as eating gluten. Both damage your body, your mental health and your quality of life!
Thank you so much for your post. We need more people to explain that going gluten-free is not a weight loss solution but those of us with Celiac Disease.
Gluten free is not a weight loss solution because most people simply substitute one grain for another. They use rice flour or other refined processed grains. They keep the sugar, the grains and the industrial seed oils and wonder why they still feel bloated and don't lose weight. If you want real weight loss... don't do this. Eliminate grain based foods entirely. We don't have multiple stomachs nor incredibly long digestive tracts like all the other animals that eat these things. We're not adapted for it. Tubers are still ok on occasion if you think you really need carbohydrates. (you don't)
My family and I don't eat them much though (the occasional sweet potato) we do eat fish, nuts, a variety of meats, seafood, (some fruit when its in season) and lots of fermented foods and dairy. I have never felt better and have lost more than thirty pounds doing this. That's how you lose weight and feel better. Read up on Primal / Paleo type diets. (and guess what I'm not out here plugging some website like every other poster)
The "paleo" diet is nothing more than a misconception. Yes, it's healthier than what most Americans eat. But most diets emphasizing health and portion control are. The paleo diet harkens back to a day where people people didn't die of cancer or heart disease or diabetes because they ate mostly meat and a few fruits and nuts. The problem? Two-fold: one, those days never existed. Gathering in most societies was the dominant source of food, not hunting. In fact, people have been eating grains well before recorded history–in the midst of the paleolithic era, grains were common. And two, the reason so many modern maladies are rarely found in prehistoric peoples is because most of them didn't live long enough to die of them and because most medical problems couldn't be diagnosed. They also got a lot more exercise and didn't live in a world polluted by factories, cars, and what have you.
Whole grains are great–full of fiber, protein, and minerals. Many people who have a gluten intolerance or a wheat allergy can still handle other grains like rye, barley, and spelt (because they have different, more easily digestible forms of gluten and less of it). And many more people don't actually have a problem digesting grains, but believe they do and thus experience psychosomatic symptoms of gluten intolerance.
@Anomalous, there are some errors of fact in what you claim. It is really best not to present your opinion as though it were fact. To suggest to anyone with celiac disease that they can tolerate the gluten in some grains is ill advised and actually not true. The condition is caused by an inability to sustain an enzyme that makes digestion of gluten possible so “easier to digest” is irrelevant.
While some early cultures were gatherers, others were primarily meat eating hunters. People in some areas ate different grains (like rice) that did not include gluten. In some places the people ate a great deal of fruit, in others it was seldom available. That is why some inherit, passed down from their ancestors, the condition that we know as Celiac disease.
Since the effects of Celiac can be so very damaging it really is best to be cautious in giving out advice to people who may have this condition. It doesn’t matter much for those who are just indulging in a diet fad, but anyone with a real issue needs to avoid the poisons that hurt them, regardless of their being good food for others.
Ruby: The protein structure can be different within glutens, and so the physiological effects can be different. There is a great deal of evidence in the food science community regarding psychosomatic lactose intolerance as well as gluten intolerance; when people think they can't digest it, they manifest symptoms of indigestibility. This creates a cycle of avoidance. And as far as the meat-eating component, the majority of calories in prehistory came from carbohydrates and fat, not from meat protein, regardless of the region.
So it seems as though there is a major misunderstanding of what coeliac disease is. It is NOT an allergy. It IS an autoimmune disorder. What follows is an explanation of the basic process by which this autoimmune disorder is associated with a food item – namely gluten protein – and thus incorrectly regarded as an allergy.
First off there is a growing body of evidence that ALL people (yes you too) have an immunological reaction to gliadin (see: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1954879/?tool=pmcentrez) a protein found in the gluten protein group. The reaction is what's referred to as a general, interleukin(IL) 15 non-adaptive immunological response. In other words it appears as though ALL human beings may have a general immunological reaction that regards the gluten protein as toxic. So what's the difference between a ceoliac and everyone else? The answer is rather simple: ceoliacs have an ADAPTIVE immunological response to gluten. The difference is a rather complex immunological distinction but it can be generalized to something like this: a non-adaptive immunological response is a non-specific attack against an "unknown/undefined" invader (e.g. swelling associated with simple contact dermatitis) whereas an adaptive immunological response is specific to a known/defined invader (i.e. there are threat-specific antibodies). The end result is that with ceoliacs the body generates "antibodies" that attack the stomach where the gluten is being absorbed/digested. This results in a variety of adverse affects related to immunological responses including gastrointestinal issues (the stomach villi are almost always destroyed in undiagnosed ceoliacs), swollen lymph nodes, aphthous ulcers and many other issues related to the body attacking itself.
Many questions still remain in terms of those that are diagnosed as gluten-intolerant. Are they just more sensitive to the general IL-15 reaction that everyone has to gluten or are they launching an adaptive response like the ceoliacs?
Personally, I don't think that gluten-free diets are a fad. The fact of the matter is that anything that kicks on an immunological response – adaptive or not – is bad. And there is literally a treasure trove of non-gluten containing grain alternatives out there that also provide enhanced nutrition (perhaps most notably quinoa). I recommend that everyone, not just ceoliacs, stay informed regarding the latest research into this fascinating subject.
Cheers.
I have bad IBS and my doctor put me off glutens, particularly in whole grain form. My gut feels much better but it's very tricky trying to avoid whole grain foods in a time when they're the main trend on the shelves.
You may try sprouted wheat or other grain bread etc. which are easily available in natural food stores. These can have 5gm to 8gm of proteins with good source of fiber. Also get your vit-D level checked which is generally low specially if you live in mid-west or in colder weather. Make sure to have your multi-vitamin (whole food).
My son and I eat gluten-free, because gluten that is added to foods all comes from China. I remember what happened with everybody's pets dying and babies dying because Chinese gluten was substituted with a poison.
I think the popularity of the GF diet trivializes it. A local pizza place touts making a GF pizza in their flour filled kitchen. While that's fine for those who want to leave gluten behind, it'd make me ill for 3 days. And anyone who think starches are low cal and low carb, think again!! I initially lost weight (and have kept it off) because the ease of cake, cookies, pizza, bread plus all the products gluten is in, evaporated and save pasta and crackers, I never replaced them. Not to say a package of Pamela's Ginger cookies doesn't make it home here and there, but the price tag keeps it down to a dull roar. It took a while, but today (9ish years later) I don't feel deprived and my gut and migraines are vastly improved. When the last kiddo moves out (she's talking about June) this household will go completely GF. Now I just have to perfect bagels and English muffins for my husband!
Looks like my original comment got mangled. What I meant to type was "We need more people to explain that going gluten-free is not a weight loss solution but THE ONLY SOLUTION for those of us with Celiac Disease." I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 1981. Going gluten-free 30 years ago saved my life.
Can celiac disease be mistaken for a gluten allergy by any chance? My roommates been thinking he was allergic for awhile now.
I think the author of this article is very confused despite being a celiac.
It is called the gluten free diet because you dont eat gluten, thats it. It isnt a "diet" to lose weight, nobody said its purpose was to lose weight. I dont see anyone claiming that it is. Maybe it is possible someone would hear the word diet and assume, but that isnt what the author is saying.
I have been gluten free for 4 years (before it became popular) and I have talked to a lot of people who are gluten free and of all the people I have run into nobody has ever said it was because they wanted to lose weight, they all mentioned sensitivity.
The author of this article/Jennie mentions that 93% of people who are on gluten free have never been formally diagnosed by a doctor. ok. But then she goes on to say if you arent celiac or sensitive then why are you on a gluten free diet ? whoa, whoa, whoa there. I hope everyone caught this huge manipulation there. She says 93% arent diagnosed by a doctor, but then tries to say that if you arent diagnosed, you arent sensitive. Huh ?
Just because you arent diagnosed, doesnt mean you dont have either celiac or gluten sensitivity. That is the most ridiculous assumption I have ever heard. But if you arent paying attention closely you will fall for her "con"
Listen, there are alot of people sensitive so alot of people should probably be gluten free. So I am not saying people shouldnt get tested. But, in addition I would never recommend that someone rely on what the doctor or a test says. The tests are known to be inaccurate and can be wrong. So go to the doctor if you want, but just because the test says you are ok, doesnt mean you are. Here is how you protect yourself. So, if you are curious if you are sensitive, then dont eat gluten for a month, see how you feel, then go back on gluten, see how you feel. If you feel better off gluten, stay off gluten.
Sally, I think you may need to re-read Jennie's article. She has no agenda and is not trying "con" anyone into anything. Were you under the impression that she worked for some secret Gluten-free lobbying group? She's just a blogger who works in CNN's Money Unit. If these even were a race, she'd have no horse in it.
While your experience is obviously different, I have met many people who have tried a gluten free diet in attempt to lose weight and it seems that the author has too. By helping put to rest that misperception in this article, she indicates that she agrees with you--it is not a weight-loss diet. You claim that she asserts that if you aren't diagnosed with celiac then you aren't sensitive. If you re-read the text, she just doesn't say that. She lists a variety of reasons why non-celiacs may be on the diet, but never indicates that you aren't gluten-sensitive if you aren't diagnosed. She is merely posing a question, not making any kind of statement when she says "if you don't have a gluten allergy or intolerance, why are you eating gluten free?" She then goes on to answer that question.
I have no horse in this race either, I just think that people with poor reading comprehension need not become haters!! Try the crack-free diet, Sally.
@Sally:
I completely agree! I have been tested for just about everything under the sun; I've had allergy tests for animal proteins, eggs, dairy, gluten, etc. and had an upper endoscopy and a biopsy of my stomach to test for Celiac disease-everything came back negative. But if I drink a glass of milk (even lactose-free) I get horrible stomach pains. I'm currently a vegan & trying the gluten-free diet for a while to see if it helps, because even after cutting out dairy & animal products, I was still having issues. I also had a doctor once suggest that I may have GERD (gastroesophogeal reflux disease) but no tests were able to confirm it.
So just a word to the wise: don't blindly believe what the doctors tell you. Think for yourself, do your own research, and by trial and error, figure out what works best for you! Not saying you shouldn't get tested, but if the results are negative, don't just give up and think it's all in your head; excruciating stomach pain and heartburn are NOT in my head, and I didn't wake up one day and say to myself, "OH gee I bet dairy and gluten and animal products are causing my stomach aches, so therefore that IS the problem! I'll never eat those things again!"
It is much more complicated than that. It has taken me about 5 years to figure out what foods do and don't work for me, so for anyone to have the nerve to say it's "all in your head" to ANYONE with food allergies or intolerances; sadly, you are naive and ignorant and simply don't know the facts; you just believe whatever you read online and see on the news.
If you actually talked to a human being in person who suffers from food allergies/intolerances, you would know the hell they have been through and would never dare say such things.
(side note to Sally: as you can probably tell this is not all directed at you & I actually agree with you. Just wanted to clarify)
thank you
my daughter has celiac, she loves the fact she can go to a few rest. now, and the stores are stocking up on some things that she likes, If you do ot need to be on a gluten-free diet don't. But for her she is a happy camper now she is 9 years old. thanks