Jill E.
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9121
posted
There are numerous national and local associations, organizations and websites dedicated to celiac disease. This is the best place to find out about the gluten-free diet.
Gluten is the protein found in Wheat, Barley and Rye - but oats are usually avoided because they are usually contaminated with wheat.
When I went gluten-free, I joined all the major national celiac disease associations as well as my city's local support group. I bought many books that are updated frequently which explain going gluten free, list brand name foods and beverages that have been checked to be gluten-free at that time, etc.
There is a new book "Living Gluten-free for Dummies" by Danna Korn that I would recommend.
The new federal labeling laws went into effect in 2006. Labels must now list the top eight allergens. That includes wheat, however it does not include barley, rye, oats.
You will rarely see the word "gluten" on the label - although sometimes you will see "wheat gluten." So read every label for wheat, barley, rye and oats.
Wheat also includes its various forms including spelt, cous cous, semolina, durham, etc.
Barley or barley malt (sometimes just listed as malt) can show up in surprising places such as to sweeten herb teas or even some rice milks.
Corn and rice are OK. So are a few other grains such as amaranth and millet.
Hidden gluten is the tough part. Wheat is in soy sauce although there is wheat-free tamari sauce. Usually restaurants thicken soups with flour so I rarely order soup in restaurants. Stuff like that - the obvious gluten is easy to spot - no pasta, bread, croutons, flour-dredged foods, breadcrumbs, cakes, cookies, etc.
Gluten-free is not the same as yeast-free. Many gluten-free products are very high in starch and sugar.
If you have a Whole Foods store near you, they have an excellent selection of gluten-free products, including foods from their own gluten-free bakehouse.
Jill
-------------------- If laughter is the best medicine, why hasn't stand-up comedy cured me? Posts: 1773 | From San Diego | Registered: Apr 2006
| IP: Logged |
Looks like I need to do some serious reading and research.
I have also seen alot mentioned about food allergies, this is tested thru the blood right?
If so what is the name of that blood test.
I have been tested for enviromental stuff - but not tested for foods, even tho I do present some food allergies, it would be nice to know what they are if any.
Posts: 374 | From NJ | Registered: Aug 2006
| IP: Logged |
bettyg
Unregistered
posted
lady, my food allergy test was performed by MERIDIAN LAB for $95 i believe.
from my newbie links:
B12 deficiency symptoms , THE GLUTEN FILE from Lymetoo/TUTU
Colon problems; see www.celiac.com I discovered thru food allergy testing, I'm ALLERGIC TO: WHEAT/RYE as well as casein...cow's milk, egg whites, garlic, etc.
IP: Logged |
mlkeen
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1260
posted
Almost all regular boxed and prepared food and soups have wheat in them. This includes all breads, pasta, snacks and cake stuff unless it says GLUTEN free on the pack and usually is a lot more expensive.
Gluten caused inflammation( arthritis) and mal-nutrition in me. It was the cause of annemia and other issues.
Eating gluten free I have no pain at all and my vision is improving. I've been on vacation and gluten free has been much easier than last year. Resturants are better informed and more willing to sub than in the past.
I also eat a low yeast diet, I go easy on the beer and spelt bread. I try to do low sugar but this is harder on vacation, easy at home. I have taken 50 mg of diflucan every 4 days while on the trip just to be on the safe side. I'm feeling great and not looking forward to going back to work.
clairenotes
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10392
posted
Gluten is a sticky substance that provides the elasticity in bread.
A naturopath once told me that, for some people, gluten can become like glue inside. I think about my husband's back, which for years seemed very stiff when I tried to massage it. After a few months off of gluten products, this normalized. Not sure of the connection, but it seems possible.
But this was clear -- my daughter's ezcema and asthma cleared after stopping all gluten products. And she never became ill even in the winter when classes would become half empty due to illness. Add the wheat back in and these problems would return.
Many health issues improved after I stopped eating wheat, also.
I am not sure what causes this wheat sensitivity except that I think 'leaky gut' plays a part. Also, it may be cultural, too. Some, like the germanic cultures, seem to do better with wheat. Might look at a blood type book.
Claire
Posts: 1111 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2006
| IP: Logged |
They have a good variety of glutenfree stuff, deliver ptomptly and are not too expensive.
Living glutenfree didn't make any difference to me as far as my symptoms are concerned. MSG free is more important to my body, but that's just me
Take care,
Sonja
By the way: Watch your detergents and cosmetics for wheat contents. I use Avalon and Burt's Bees stuff for my skin.
Posts: 35 | From Arizona | Registered: Dec 2006
| IP: Logged |
Foggy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1584
posted
What symptoms did many of you experience that were resolved with the gluten free diet?
Posts: 2451 | From Lyme Central | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Fatigue, GI upset, rock in the gut feeling, constipation, tingling in the arms and legs, depression. I have all those things with lyme but the gluten made them twice as bad.
I like Delphi Forums celiac group the best.
Posts: 293 | From healdsburg, ca , sonoma | Registered: Feb 2005
| IP: Logged |
This is yet another thing that this forum has taught me about that I didn't know.
Thank you all for being so willing to share your different experiences with this and others means that have helped you in some ways.
Posts: 374 | From NJ | Registered: Aug 2006
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic