Any experience with gluten free?

[HeatherS]

My stomach has been bothering me so much lately I'm trying to go gluten free.  It is SOOOO expensive if you buy any of the GF products!  I seem to be having some issues with milk too so am using lactaid for that.  Has anyone tried a gluten free diet and noticed any benefits?

[mshistory]

We're on a GF diet because both of my daughters have Celiac Disease. We also had to switch to Lactaid because my older daughter was still complaining of stomach pain, and I remembered reading somewhere that many people with CD have trouble processing lactose until they're intestines heal. It has definitely helped them both!

I only eat what they can eat, and I have not noticed any difference in how I feel since eliminating gluten from our diets. But to be fair - I'm not as strict about it as I am with them, so I know my diet isn't 100% gluten free (then again, I don't have celiac disease so I'm not sure it matters!)

GF products marketed to be "gluten free" are expensive, but we really don't need them. Aside from spending more on our pasta products (we love pasta so that cost has doubled since the quinoa/corn blend we like is twice the price of wheat pasta) and the girls macaroni and cheese (which is also twice as expensive) we just eat a lot more potatoes and rice to replace the wheat/gluten products. As for bread - Whole Foods has a light white sandwich bread in their freezer section that, once toasted, is really good but at $5.50 for a small bag, we don't eat bread much anymore. Turns out my kids are perfectly fine just wrapping a slice of turkey around a slice of cheese 

I hope you find your diet helps!

[Blessed1jts]

Hi Heather!

I've been gluten free for about 7 months now and I can honestly say that it has made a HUGE difference in the way I feel. Not only did I drop gluten, I also eliminated soy products, and grains. It took about a complete six months on the strict diet to notice that I am about 95% symptom free. It's amazing what food does to our bodies and since I've changed my eating lifestyle, I realize the manufacturers and reststaurants are causing us more harm. I make a habit to shop the outer parameters of the store (staying away fom processed foods).

My twelve year old loves the new diet (even though she's not required to eat it). Prior to my celiac diagnosis, we ate out about 5 times a week (no fast food, either). Now, she'd rather stay home and eat what i cook. My eighteen year old is a bit different... He wants his fried chicken (LOL).my hubby also loves the gluten free diet.  He's considering going gluten free, also (as he's notice benefits from eating this way). I've found so many wonderful recipes on different sites (including instagram). It's a lot of fun and not difficult, either.

Yes, it can be a bit pricey...but, who can put a price on our health and how we feel? As mshistory wrote, you do not have to purchase all things labeled "gluten free". Although in the beginning it my be helpful. Eventually, you will know what you can and can't eat. Once you get it down, you will "whip" through the store without a problem.

Anyways, I've been long winded as this is something very dear to me. I just remember how sick I was for about 5 months. I NEVER want to go back in that direction. NEVER!!

Take care and let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

[cargillwitch]

I think it may SAVE money!

By pass the " ready -made" gluten free junk- most contain readily absorbable sugars - and substitute with more vegetables .If you add beans you soak and cook your self, nuts and seeds you buy in bulk you may find you are eating more nutrient dense food and the grocery bills going down.

It made an incredible difference for me with my "IBS" symptoms( which I really feel now are Sjogrens related)

[Sooki]

I went gluten and dairy free almost 10 years ago.  There is nothing I've done since then that packed the wallop that GF did.  It took away my joint pains for about 7 years.  The big knuckle knobs stopped growing and over a couple of years, reduced to nothing.  Going dairy free settled my stomach and intestine problems - it wasn't the lactose in the milk, but the milk proteins - present in all diary except possibly butter.  I use hazelnut or almond milk instead.

Baked products marked GF are expensive and not especially healthy - they usually replace white flour with some other grain plus the equivalent of cornstarch.  You'll feel better if you skip things made with flour altogether, and save bought GF items for transition time and special treats - substitute with veggies and fruits (and nuts).  Cook rice and polenta for grains, use corn tortillas - potato and tortilla chips for junk.  And when you want bread, there are lots of recipes for homemade GF breads which are quite good, as opposed to store-bought which is only edible when toasted or grilled.  Pamela's bread mix is good and pretty easy, when needed.

My disease progressed very slowly over those years and several years ago, I had to add plaquenil and then cellcept to my diet strategy.  But with meds, I can control most of my symptoms.  When I slip and eat gluten by mistake, I get a new symptom - usually a new tendon/joint pain - that goes away in a week or so but remains in the repertoire to return when there are flares or med changes, etc.

I hope your GF diet helps with your symptoms.  In any case, I applaud you for being proactive and searching for ways you can be in control of your symptoms.

[Sleepy In Seattle]

Being GF and cow-product-free (I do eat some goat's milk stuff now and then) has helped me - not a ton, but about 60% I'd say...which is worth it! I am now also trying to stay away from soy. I am not super-strict, but I maintain the diet probably 98% of the time. I do not have Celiac, and my doc feels that having tiny bits of those foods now and then helps prevent me from becoming super-sensitive to them and/or developing true, dangerous allergies to them (as opposed to sensitivities - which suck, but at least they're not life-threatening!).

The fewer grains I eat, the better I feel. It's kinda like that "Paleo" diet people love - I mostly eat veggies, fruit, and lean meats/fish (except beef).

It's not that hard to do at home once you get used to it...at first I really missed baked goods...but after a few months I just got used to it, and now I don't even really want baked goods. Which DOES save money, because the GF stuff IS expensive!!!!

It's a little harder at restaurants...I end up eating a lot of salads.  But it's worth it to feel good!!!!

[valene2009]

Blessed1--you say it really helped you ... do you or did you have the really bad sicca symptoms like dry eye and mouth?? those are mine and i was curiuos if your diet helped you with those symptoms? it is wonderful it helps with achiness and ibs (i have neither) but wascurious about the sicca..thanks ~~~~!!!!  and congrats!

Ps i am grain and soy and dairy free too...  tried gf for 3 months..thanks

[valene2009]

sleepy--how does it make you feel better? just curious. i tried GF, dairy and soy free over 3 months.. still am dairy and soy free... i did have more energy but besides that didnt notice any difference..my main issues are the burning dry eyes and dry mouth.. did it help you with that? maybe i didnt give it enough time?  thanks!!!

[jazzlover]

I think it may SAVE money!

By pass the " ready -made" gluten free junk- most contain readily absorbable sugars - and substitute with more vegetables .If you add beans you soak and cook your self, nuts and seeds you buy in bulk you may find you are eating more nutrient dense food and the grocery bills going down.

It made an incredible difference for me with my "IBS" symptoms( which I really feel now are Sjogrens related)

-
EXACTLY... do not buy all the "white" junk food. Eat the GF breads in moderation. Cookies when you just have to have one. Eat proteins and vegetables.

The GF diet helped me a LOT.

[sjenny]

Going grain, dairy, soy and coffee free has made a HUGE difference for me also.  Restasis restored moisture to my eyes, but as I went on the new diet, mouth and nasal dryness also gradually got better and better.

Avoid the gluten free products, the rice, corn and other starches just send your blood sugar sky high.  According to Dr. William Davis of Wheat Belly fame (he has a great blog on the Internet), its OK to bake with almond flour, coconut flour and ground flaxseed.

Eat meat, fish, chicken, fruits and veggies.  You will be surprised at how much less hungry you will be - according to Dr. Davis, wheat eaters consume 440 more calories per day than the wheatless.

[Blessed1jts]

Hello Valene2009,

I did not have severe dryness when I was first diagnosed in eyes or mouth.  So, it's hard to say.  I have; however, been seeing one of the top Neuro Opthamologist in the country - Rosa Tang because I was initially thought to have had optic neuritis.  I had an appointment with her on Thursday of last week and she told me my eyes were extremely dry, but the inflammation had decreased.  The weird thing is, I did not know as I do not have many symptoms.  She prescriped Substance () Eye Drops and I will be going to have punctal plugs placed in my eyes on this Wednesday.

With regards to my mouth, I do notice dryness, but my ENT said it's really not that bad.  So, I drink lots of water (which I find makes it worse) and Bolthouse Farms drinks. They are really yummy and add much needed moisture to my mouth.

The only other issues I have are minor rashes (from the sun).  However, living in Texas, how do you get away from that.... 

Take care,

[valene2009]

what are Substance eye drops??? never heard of them..

[Blessed1jts]

I was mistaken... it is Systane Eye Drops.

[mikaela]

For those who have been diagnosed with Celiac or  Gluten Intolerance, may I ask if your blood tests showed negative?

I understand that there are some patients who have negative bloodworks but with the celiac or gluten intolerance conditions.  The only confirmatory tests for these patients could be a biopsy. 

One of the many (many) tests for my neurological pain was  Gliadin IgG/IgA and IgG/IgA Transglutaminase.  The results were negative.  The laboratory clinic used  "Deaminated Gliadin".  I read that when a patient shows neurological symptoms, the "deaminated" version should not be used.

With all the challenges I am going through everyday with my various symptoms,  as much as possible, I want to avoid another invasive diagnostic procedure as  I am due for a lung biopsy by July 31. 

Any inputs will be appreciated. 

[lori]

Ive been gf, dairy and suposed to be sugr free for about 1 yr now.

ive had ibs my whole life... wish I had known gluten made my ibs worse...

i was told by a natural doc that autoimmune folks need to be gf, dairy f and sugar free....

i cheat on the sugar part...its hard not to... but i dont over do it either.

coconute milk and maybe feta or an aged cheese onmy salad....

someone said she eats gluten every now & then so she wont develope a full blown allergy ( im intolerant not celiac or allergic)   .....anyone have any more  info on that??