Why are you/your family gluten free??

I have been wondering this for a while. It seems like everywhere I go someone is gluten free. Why??? What are your symptoms??? Is this a fad or is it something real that cures every ailment under the sun. I am not belittling it for those that really do need it. But WHY does everyone need it?

Platinum Member Joined: Jan 01 2006 Posts: 48159

The emes is that people don't need to be gluten free. If they are so and don't need to be, they are getting way more sugar & fat then they need, and nowhere enough fibre.

Moderator Joined: Mar 29 2005 Posts: 18318

Huh? Many people do need to be (those with celiac disease, for example), and fiber is obtained through many sources like fresh produce, legumes, etc.

We're not gluten free but my son is horribly reactive to wheat in the form of skin rashes. His skin is still red and raw and dry as an elephant due to eating regular matzah on Pesach. Those are the places that aren't scabbed ezcema. Sad

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Gold Member Joined: Apr 16 2005 Posts: 1943

Well CM doesn't know much about a gluten free diet. I have celiac so if I want to stay out of the hospital I stay gluten free. Otherwise, severe stomach virus symptoms, an IV, steriods and osteopenia are what I get.

I eat a healthy well balanced diet, low in sugar and fat with lots of brown rice, fresh fruits and beans for fiber. Which is actually very similar to my pre celiac diet... but then I also ate whole wheat bread that eventually made me ill.

My dad had celiac as a baby. He was so sick they added a name. Now he took a blood test and the doctor said he doesn't have gluten sensitivity but if he eats gluten is arthritis acts up so he eats gluten free.

My sister and brother in law and a few other people in my family had testing done that said they have gluten sensitivity or intolerance or allergy not sure the right word I have to ask her. and they get severe stomach aches and other symptoms like colds etc. similar to allergies when they eat gluten. Even the small amount found in spices.

Gluten free can be very healthy as long as you are not replacing the wheat with high fats. Why should it not be healthy.

My father eats oats so he has plenty of fiber. they eat brown rice which has fiber and fruits and veggies have fiber not sure where anyone got the idea that they lack fiber.

Ok that's what I gotta say.

Moderator Joined: Mar 29 2005 Posts: 18318

I'm confused, amother. Celiac disease cannot be outgrown. Perhaps he was misdiagnosed?

No I just meant that my diet before I knew I was celiac was basically the same as after. Same healthy diet with the addition of whole wheat bread. CM was implying that people give up a healthy diet when they eliminate gluten. But that's not the case. I was healthy before and healthy after. Whole wheat bread and occasionally pasta was the only gluten I had before I was diagnosed. Of course now I eat brown rice bread.

Diamond Member Joined: Nov 30 2006 Posts: 2597

Gold Member Joined: Jan 12 2010 Posts: 2278 Location: US

I have the same question as the OP. She was asking about people who go on gluten free for general health reasons, not because they have to or are allergic. I've also seen people who are not gluten free but will be into spelt and just avoid regular bread and things like that.

Diamond Member Joined: Apr 29 2006 Posts: 4774

I also feel like going gluten free and/or wheat free is so common I wonder if it's all celiac or allergy related.
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You cannot technically "outgrow" celiac. But you can retest to see if your intestine no longer "reacts" to gluten. My daughter is now being retested after nine years and we are awaiting results. Why was the doctor willing? She was never ill or showed any reaction. She was originally tested because another child was diagnosed with celiac (he was really sick) and the whole family tested for it. If the blood test is positive, a biopsy should be done. Blood tests are only about 50% correct. A biopsy is for sure. My daughter has been eating gluten for almost a month now and seems totally fine. (you have to be eating gluten to be tested properly). B'ezh, we should have good results!

Platinum Member Joined: Nov 01 2009 Posts: 8258

I am going gluten free soon. My son was having lots of stomach aches so we did a gluten free trial. When I was gluten free my gas issues cleared up and my dermatitis of the scalp too.
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I wasn responding to CM's uninformed post not to the OP....but regarding the OP, some people believe they are gluten sensitive, a form of an allergy. Celiac on the other hand is an autoimmune response, not an allergy. So all those "extra" people you are wondering about believe their body is sensitive to gluten, somehow allergic to it. They usually have some very realy symptoms that get better when eliminating gluten.

Certain foods give me indigestion and gas in larger quantities so I limit them. Thete's not much difference but if I was not celiac I sure wouldn't go to the extremes that some do to avoid it, the way many of these gluten sensitive people do. But to each their own. We all have our "things" that we do.

Silver Member Joined: Dec 30 2010 Posts: 737

Platinum Member Joined: Jan 01 2006 Posts: 48159

I do not have celiac, colitis, or IBS- however I am gluten free, and have been for almost a year. I have also been sugar free for over 2 years. My main reason for going gluten free was b/c I noticed that I felt tired and sluggish after eating any starches.
It is entirely possible to be gluten free and be very healthy. My diet consists of small amounts of animal protein (organic/grass fed), mostly above ground veggies, and plenty of healthy fats (nuts, olive oil, avocados, etc). I also don't eat beans, legumes, or dairy. The first three weeks that I eliminated gluten, I felt miserable and sick. However, after that, I have never felt better. I have way more energy, don't feel constantly hungry, don't crave sugary foods, etc.
Veggies have plenty of fiber and carbs for those concerned.
If you are interested in reading up on the science behind gluten free and the benefits you can look at Robb Wolf's website and Dr. Ron Rosedale.