What's cooking with the glutenfree diet??

[Maria3667]

Hi y'all,

Several posters have mentioned being on a glutenfree diet.
Some say it improves their Sjogren symptoms.

Can anyone tell me why? 

My rheumy has never mentioned this - or any other - diet.

Thanks in advance,
Maria

[sherry]

In my case it wasn't the rheumy that told me to go on the diet. It was a chiropractor that used to be a chemist and tells me most auto immune problems are the result of a bad diet. I was telling him about my book the anti inflammation zone and he told me to get the book Eat Right for your Blood Type with recommends a gluten free diet.
I am not sure about anyone else but eating this way I have been feeling wonderful. My only symptom is the sleep problem. But other than that feel great. No Lupus or Fibro symptoms.
I have not been to a doctor yet that did not believe all my problems are because I am 60 pounds overweight.  I am trying with the gluten free diet but it is all a struggle.
Does anyone take mega doses of fish oil for the inflammation problems (auto immune) issues.
thanks
Sherry

[Calli66]

Hi y'all,

Several posters have mentioned being on a glutenfree diet.
Some say it improves their Sjogren symptoms.

Can anyone tell me why? 

My rheumy mentioned gluten-free to me---she says her RA patients do better going GF.

Some studies have shown that wheat and gluten have particular proteins in their molecular structure that are just "odd enough" to cause the immune system to notice and target. This activity produces inflammation. Some theorize that since wheat was only recently domesticated (in terms of human evolution--about 10,000 years ago), some of us are not completely adapted to it. This is more of a food sensitivity issue (different in scale than Celiac---where no gluten at all is tolerated).

Calli

[wednesday mc haggis]

it was my bowen therapist whose daughter has crohns who spoke to me about gluten, food intolerance , yeast in gut   she mentioned leaky gut , intolerance to food and additives can cause gut to leak protiens into the system that wouldnt normally do so, this then causes the immune system to see them as foriegn bodies and flare up and attack, apparently in MS the blood mistakes the gluten for the myelin sheath covering the neurones and attacks both.
by changing diet you take the catlyist out of the equation and symptoms lessen and resolve.

however i have read that ppl have withdrawn

   there is a school of thought that severe cases of auto immune are controlled by a paleolithic diet , lean meat nuts and veg, which is what our systems were designed to digest.

yeast over growth can cause alot of harm, so i started the candida diet, which is pretty dire, no cheese except cottage cheese ,dairy free ,no sugar , no grain, except rice one a week, no sauces, no sugar, lots of veg , lean meat and nuts.

I feel so much better for it i cant say, it is bland and boring and i hate the diet, but i am enjoying the benefits of it so much.

Google for gluten free online shopping , i know the UK has a supermarket online catering to egg free, nut free, gluten free, wheat free       

Im buying a candida cookbook this week i need some recipe ideas, so much i cant have on this diet , try ebay for gluten free cookboks  can get them reasonably priced there if second hand .

Hope your diet helps you , and you get some relief

T x

[missyb]

Hi Maria!
My Rheum had me go gluten (wheat) red meat and chemical/preservative free about 6 months ago. He told me that 80% of your immune response is released in the small intestine. While I may not be allergic to wheat, red meat or the chemicals and preservatives in processed foods, these food items create a bigger immune response than others. Therefore the idea is that if you are a person such as myself who has issues with an OVER active immune system by avoiding these immune system stimulating foods, you can help keep your immune response in check. I have to say it's a difficult adjustment, but anything worthwhile usually is. I am again very active and feel and look healthier than most of my "unsick" friends.

[ohiolady]

Missy,

Are you saying that you feel much better since starting the diet?  You mentioned looking and feeling better than many of your friends who are not sick.  I'm wondering, were you really sick and then improved greatly after following the diet.

Thanks,

Anna

[missyb]

Anna,
Before this I would wake up and feel like I had the flu and my feet were busted in 1,000 places. I had joint pain, fever, unbearable mouth ulcers, skin rashes, and miserable intestinal issues among a bunch of other things I don't care to to think about anymore!  I have been doing extremely well since I began these changes. I did back slide over the holidays, and it took me 2 months to get back on track  . I was so mad at myself) I started being GF, red meat and chem/pres free last July. Was feeling so well that once Thanksgiving hit, I guess I sort of forgot I had ever been ill. It started with some pie and didn't end until after New Years.....having the gluten back in my diet didn't bother until a few weeks had passed and all the familiar bloating, pain and IBS was back..I realized that my problems did not and will not magically go away and I basically threw several months of hard work out the window for a bunch of garbage food that did nothing but make me miserable uncomfortable and FAT.
Anyways, since NY I have lost some weight, toned up quite a bit. I have  not broken my promise to myself that the junk is just not worth my health. I've been hiking about 40 miles a week. My husband has really been complementing the changes a lot as are my friends, even my Dr was so excited for me at my check up last week. He was genuinely thrilled at all the initiative I've taken to get my health back. He said he's never seen me look so healthy probably about 8 times!
So for me, yes, it has been life changing..

[Billydude]

I'm on it not to help Sjogrens but because I was tested postive with Celiac disease.  Celiac disease is also basically an auto-immune disease and can cause many Sjogrens like symptoms if left untreated.   For many of us its just one more auto-immnue disease that comes in combination with another.   Its genetic as my Mom and brother also have it.
Steve

[irish]

My hubby has celiac disease and has been on the diet since 1978. It is true that there can be sjogrens like symptoms. It is also known that people with celiac disease can have neuropathy(which hubby has), joint and muscle pain(hubby has) and any other symptom that would most likely accompany any autoimmune disease. Also, people with celiac disease can also be diagnosed with Sjogrens. These autoimmune diseases sure to like to run in a pack.

Also, years ago I went on a red meat free low fat diet and I felt so good when I was on it. I am trying to get back into the groove again. It is really hard though when I am home all the time and close to the kitchen. It was much easier to eat this diet when I was working as I could take my lunch and not cheat. Actually, I didn't feel like cheating. I ate a lot of pasta also and I got so I just craved pasta. Sure lost weight on that diet!!!! IRish

[TerriJ]

The naturopath I see put me on a diet with no sugar (or cane products), no dairy only goat milk or cheese, no soy, no artificial sweeteners and no eggs.  I think it would be a good thing for me to try the gluten free diet.

I am taking fish oil, evening primrose oil, ALA, vitamin D, B-12 (liquid,) L-glutamine, Oxicell etc.  It's been a few weeks.  I haven't noticed a difference.

I'm getting a baseline exam from my optholmologist so that I can start Plaquenil soon.  Otherwise I'm using Tramadol for pain.

What symptoms of SS mimic Celiac Sprue? 

Terri

[Sadrian]

Can anyone recommend any books on this diet?

Wednesday, how many days have you been on this diet now?  So things are still getting better then?

Has the diet helped with the dryness symptoms or just fatigue and pain?

I'm glad to hear only positive things that you write and wish you continued success!

[wednesday mc haggis]

sadrian

i came off diet to get myself food intolerance tested, no point testing if you not eating any trigger foods  , boy do i wish i hadnt , symptoms came back worse and my mood shot to florr, im back on it you ll know.

I have ordered a few candida cook books, but since none have arrived yet from online , i cant say if theyre good or bad.have to say im feeling better again today, now its beginning to shift from my system.

How long it takes to feel any difference im not sure if thats indivudual or not, i know ive read it can take about a week for trigger foods to leave the system, but id say it was slow progress, each day just feel a littel stronger and better , also id say food issues were as individual as SJS itself, what might work for one, might not work for all, but its worth a go .

Once i gte the book through, thought they are just cookbooks, i googled the other info myself , i ll let you all know if theyre any good

T x

[Soccer Mom]

I too was helped by going on a gluten free diet. When I was first tested for Sjogrens my rheumy also tested me for for the gene and the antibodies associated with gluten sensitivity. I tested positive for the gene but negative for the antibodies and was told I was non celiac gluten intolerant. My SSA and SSB antibodies were very elevated as was by beta-2-microglobulin which confirmed the Sjogrens.
My Rheumy gave me the choice of trying a gluten free diet before putting me on plaquenil. Fortunately for me after being on the gluten free diet for four months the antibodies and beta-2-microglobulin dropped dramatically and I didn't have to go on plaquenil. The best part though was the chronic fatigue along with the joint pain and brain fog dissapeared. I still deal with some Sjogrens issues but I have not had a flare since I started the gluten free diet almost 3 years ago.
Celiac.com has good gluten free recipes, though I find I do better staying away from gluten free baked goods and sweets. Eating a whole foods diet rich in whole grains, lots of fruit and veggies is what works best for me.
It's definately worth trying for anyone who hasn't yet. Just rememeber it's important to be strict with the diet and stick with the rule "when in doubt go without", because even a small amount can trigger the immune system.

Wish you all the best,
Sandra

[wednesday mc haggis]

sandra

thnakyou for that info and encouraging news, truly glad to hear your doing well sinc emaking changes to diet, good to know that its workign for you and your fatigue and brain fog have cleared, always nice to hear something is working for someone

T x

[Sadrian]

If anyone lives in areas of NY, PA and NJ  Wegman's has a pretty decent gluten free section that is very reasonably priced.  My mom and I just went there (inspired by Wednesday's) and bought a lot of stuff.  I ate some rice crackers tonight with some hummus!  I would love to go all the way, but I am lacking so much discipline.  I think I need to see a dietitian.

Also, can someone explain the tomato restrictions?  Wednesday, is this a gluten free?  Or a yeast free?  Or both?  (sorry I am still putting this all together.)

Soccer Mom - your success is super encouraging.  I am going to pop on over to celiac.com in a bit!