Gluten Free?

[raeoflyte]

I know at least Milee is embracing a gluten free lifestyle. I'm trying it, but need a little encouragement. I have discussed this with a doctor, but I'm essentially doing this as an experiment to see if it helps my skin issues. I don't test positive for any allergies, but when I'm researching gluten sensitivities tests it seems like no matter how many negative tests you get, you could still have an intolerance and just need to keep trying.

I know people who have had great results by going gluten free, and I'd do anything to get rid of the dry, itchy, legs that make me feel like a poster child for the next meth billboard. I guess I'm just getting frustrated that this is a 90-120 day trial to see if there is an improvement, and then if there isn't I should restrict my diet even more to see if its a gluten/dairy intolerance. All for something that may or may not show up on a blood test, and may or may not fix the issue.

Sorry for the rant. Any suggestions for me? Great gluten free results, or did you try and find it didn't affect anything?

[zibazinski]

Doesn't it make you lose weight?

[Epiphany]

I've been doing gluten free/dairy free for 3 months now because of inflammation. Gluten free is so much easier than dairy free and once you learn a few tricks it isn't so bad.

Many restaurants have gluten free menus and even if they don't, many will list allergies for certain dishes online. I check websites before going to a restaurant to see what I can have that way I'm not stressed when I get there.

There are tons of gluten free products out there now - many are good and many aren't. UDI's bread is king of all gluten free breads. you can buy it in the frozen section of the health food area at most grocery stores. I use it for toast, sandwiches and it is awesome. It's the only one that doesn't crumble and taste like crap.

Gluten can be in some sneaky things like soy sauce but all labels will state the bottom if it has gluten or soy or milk usually in bold print. The gluten free noodles are ok but recently I've found I like making my own zucchini noodles better. Slice thin with mandolin, let drain for 20 min. boil in water for one minute. I use for all pasta dishes.

It will make you feel better, loose weight. Hopefully it will also clear up your other skin issues. Good luck!

[milee]

Um, I'm not exactly "embracing" it, KWIM? Ain't no way in Hades I'd do this if I hadn't had a test that showed proof of allergy.

TMI alert - do not read on if you get grossed out. Sorry.

My Chinese Woo Woo Doctor explained that she likes to use the stool test instead of the blood test for the very reasons you mentioned. If you want to do the stool and genetic testing, this place does them: www.enterolab.com

[milee]

Not really. It doesn't impact all people the same way. I didn't have the classic symptoms. The clue was breaking a bunch of bones starting around 40 years old. Kinda weird for someone who'd never broken a bone in her life.

We think the allergic reaction was causing malabsorption, not exactly something I felt.

[milee]

And as for giving it a try, it really depends on what and how you eat now. If you eat mostly raw, unprocessed foods and don't often eat out or at other people's houses, you won't find it a big deal and it won't be difficult to try.

It can be really overwhelming at first. The menu planning is getting easier with time, but some of the substitutions are expensive and don't taste good so I'm starting to focus less on making substitutions and instead on finding foods that don't really contain gluten to begin with. I have a bread recipe that's tolerable and that's about the only "substitute" food I eat.

Eating with others is still socially isolating. I tend to not eat rather than make it a big deal. Won't hurt me, I've gained a few pounds since I started the gluten free thing. They'll come off again when I work it out, so I'm not worried.

[Formerly SK]

OP, have you been checked for yeast issues? My SIL has horrible yeast issues and has to be 100% off sugar (she can do a few sweeteners like maple syrup or agave but I think that's it). I know one of her main complaints is itchy skin.

I think the issue with "allergy testing" is that it only tests for one potential bad reaction to food. As Milee pointed out, there are other ways food can hurt you besides a histamine reaction. It can be really frustrating when someone feels chronically sick and can't find the cause. Also sometimes you need to be off a food for several months to really wean it from your system. It's a frustrating process.

[Epiphany]

Jul 17, 2012 11:15:12 GMT -5 @lonewolf said:

Many restaurants have gluten free menus and even if they don't, many will list allergies for certain dishes online. I check websites before going to a restaurant to see what I can have that way I'm not stressed when I get there.

I am totally blown away over how many people are finding that they are gluten intolerant. I wonder how many maladies are being caused by it.

Well, partially I do think it is a fad. It does reduce bloating and inflammation especially in the bowels so people who are maybe just sensitive to it, not actually allergic, see a positive response when limiting it. (this describes me)

I also have a couple of other theories: we are seeing more food allergies overall because of how overly processed our food is. We strip away nutrients, add a bunch of chemicals and our bodies are supposed to be ok with it. Foods with gluten tend to be very highly processed and changed from it's original form. We also tend to eat a lot of it - bread, pasta, highly processed carbs in every meal, every snack, everyday is probably too much overall.

[Epiphany]

Jul 17, 2012 11:24:55 GMT -5 milee said:

It can be really overwhelming at first. The menu planning is getting easier with time, but some of the substitutions are expensive and don't taste good so I'm starting to focus less on making substitutions and instead on finding foods that don't really contain gluten to begin with. I have a bread recipe that's tolerable and that's about the only "substitute" food I eat.

That is so true - better to just get use to eating different things rather than the substitutes. The UDI bread is the only sub I use

[Sam_2.0]

I went gf for a year before I got pregnant. Not sure if it was the intolerance to gluten, or the new healthy diet that helped out more. I did lose weight, but more because I just cut out starches instead of replacing them (DH won't touch rice, so that wasn't a good option). I lived on meat + veggies + fresh fruits as a dessert. I felt better within days, and lost about 20lbs (I am guessing from cutting out the junk more than anything). I had pretty serious GI issues before, and they seemed to clear right up with the gf diet.

Things didn't seem to bother me when I was pregnant, but now I am starting to not feel so well again. I've been kicking around the option of going gf again for awhile. Then again, I really just need to make healthier food choices in general. I guess its more the fault of having junk food 4-5 times per week instead of 1-2 times per month like I did before I would agree with a PP - I see it as more of a fad than a legitimate thing for most people (not saying its not necessary sometimes). It just forces you to eat healthier, like a low-carb diet does. Any time you focus on consuming fresh produce & low-processed meats, you are going to get a healthier result.

[milee]

...:::Well, partially I do think it is a fad.:::...

Me too. And that's a big part of why I wouldn't do something that drastic (go on a gluten free diet) unless I had lab proof I needed to. It's also probably why I don't discuss it with friends or make a big deal of it at restaurants - around here it's a trendy thing that the PITA people do to have an excuse to get special treatment.

...:::So, do you think going off the gluten caused the weight gain? If you're not using substitutes, I wonder why this would happen.:::...

I've gained weight because I felt sorry for myself and used that as an excuse to eat stuff or eat more volumes of stuff that I wouldn't normally eat. For a few weeks, I picked my favorite stuff that was gluten free and just ate as much of that as I felt like. My son and I have been having fun baking our favorite cookie recipes and making them with GF ingredients. It was comforting.

Since I'm normally very, very careful about the food I eat and exercise regularly, I don't usually have an issue with my weight. Eating whatever GF comfort food I wanted over the last couple of months is not being careful with eating and my waistline shows it. Again, I'm not worried because I'm starting to figure out the whole GF thing and find good healthy foods to eat and it will start to balance out and the 5 pounds will go.

[Opti]

OP, I'm curious about the dry, itchy flaky skin. Do you put on lotion or oil on your body every time after a shower or a bath? Also what makes you guess the dry itchy skin has to do with gluten?


FYI, I do use body lotion after every shower or bath. Even with this I have a harder time in the summer with certain patches getting dry and itchy. This is another reason I really need a man in my life and no I'm not kidding dammit. My arms aren't flexible enough to reach certain spots on my back.

If you are interested I can PM you some body lotion and spray choices I've found helpful. This time of year
I'm a big fan of Twinlab's NaPCA spray because it absorbs quickly. Currently on sale at Vitamin Shoppe.

[Wisconsin Beth]

I think you'd see results sooner than 90-120 days, probably more like 30 w/ more results the longer you stay on it. DH is doing gluten free, dairy free, sugar free and limited soy. Basically, lots of fresh fruits and veggies and grilling/broiling meat. Frankly, it's a PITA due to the time to shop and deal with his veggies. And it's expensive. He's also juicing most days.

He didn't have dry skin but his skin has cleared up with the improved eating.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

A friend of mine went gluten free last year. This took care of her GI issues 100%....issues that she initially thought was lactose intolerance. It didn't dawn on her that many times, bread was the vehicle for the dairy.

I know she has spent a lot of time and money for this diet. It is also not low cal, as many gluten free products are high calorie. I remember that she found a bakery that makes incredible muffins. She picked one up for me and it was very good, but well over 500 calories for a small muffin.

I'd only use it as a possible last resort. There is a lot of gluten hidden in products that you'd never expect contain it.

[raeoflyte]

Good point Milee--I meant that you didn't seem to be fighting it like I am! I read about that test too, and it sounds awful. But at the same time, I really hate the idea of keeping at this when I'm not seeing results a month in. Thanks for the link--I'll check it out.

I am also essentially not eating when we are out with people, or I'm spending a fortune to get a small gluten free pizza (or equivalent) and that is a pain too. I've always hated the gluten free breads, so at home I'm basically on a low carb diet with potatoes and corn. I'm in my 2nd trimester and still 6 pounds under what I weighed when I got pregnant. The doctor says the baby is fine, and isn't worried but I do get repeatedly questioned each appointment to make sure I'm eating since each time I go in she says I've lost another pound.

The doctor checked my thyroid at the same time that they checked for allergies and everything is good. One test came back positive for rheumatism, but the main test for that came back negative. I'm still going to a rheumatologist at the end of this month as its the only other thing I can think to try.

I found online a forum of other people complaining about insanely itchy legs, and a couple people said that cutting out gluten fixed it. So I talked to my doc and the OB and they said go for it...

I've tried just about every combination of soap and lotion from 100% natural, to store bought, to medical supply grade, to estitician or doctor recommended. Cut out all synthetic fibers in my clothing, use only free and clear laundry soap (and there is no change if we buy different brands of free and clear). Nothing has helped. I'm still open to suggestions, but I'm also tired of buying new products that end up doing nothing. The only thing that made a difference was a topical steroid applied twice a day, but once I was off of that it came right back.

I'll do some research on yeast issues. I've never heard of it until now. Sugar free sounds worse than gluten free, but if I knew something was working I'd have a better attitude about sticking with it.

[xia]

Jul 17, 2012 11:11:06 GMT -5 Epiphany said:

.

........................ The gluten free noodles are ok but recently I've found I like making my own zucchini noodles better. Slice thin with mandolin, let drain for 20 min. boil in water for one minute. I use for all pasta dishes. ........................
!

I’m not gluten free but I absolutely love zucchini noodles instead of pasta in pasta dishes. Also spaghetti squash is awesome.

[Opti]

OP not sure if you want to try this while pregnant but I found doing a rotation diet helped me find problem spots quickly. It doesn't tell you whether dropping food X will make you feel better in Y weeks. But it does give you an idea if you stay away from the food for a week and then load up on it in one day - what the issues of over-eating that food does to you. Years ago when I tested myself on dairy I felt like my joints were super swollen and walking up and down stairs was a trial for a couple days until it bled out of my system. I had other expected side effects but that one took me by surprise.

So if you took a break from avoiding gluten and went and had gluten for every meal one day if your legs itch even more it might be a clue you are on the right track.
If nothing changes odds are its not the issue you are looking for. HTH

[econstudent]

Regarding weight gain - whether or not you take in more calories, some people will gain weight and some will lose it. My nephew was a little over a year old when they figured out that he has Celiac's disease. One of his symptoms was that he was tiny and had stopped gaining weight (started losing actually--not good when you're 1!) because his insides were so damaged that he couldn't absorb anything. His body healed itself on the GF diet, and he started gaining weight and meeting milestones like he was supposed to.
Some people lose weight on a GF diet becasuse their body had been hanging on to "reserves" trying to get the nutrients it needs.

As for GF being a fad - I know that it is for some people, but this makes things SO difficult for people who have no choice but to follow a 100% gluten free diet. A few years ago, Walmart tried to get in on the fad by labeling canned tomatoes "naturally gluten free!" Of course tomatoes don't naturally have gluten in them. After my nephew got sick a couple times after eating them, she read the can more closely. On one side of the can was the "naturally gluten free!" label and on the other side was a note that said "may contain traces of wheat." She doesn't trust anything that Walmart marks GF anymore.

[Opti]

Also, since you said the steroid cream helped you might want to avoid foods that are known inflammatories. I understand from a friend this includes most nightshades - tomatoes, peppers, eggplant. I generally avoid them because of the connection they seem to have with dairy issues, i.e. avoiding them and dairy works better than avoiding just dairy. Actually the best for dairy issues is to avoid beef completely as well and after a year or so you get to notice the improvement. (Or so I've been told. A year is a long time.)

[Pants]

rae - while you are investigating yeast, please take this into account:

"The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology has strongly criticized the concept of "candidiasis hypersensitivity syndrome" and the diagnostic and treatment approaches its proponents use. AAAAI's position statement concludes: (1) the concept of candidiasis hypersensitivity is speculative and unproven; (2) its basic elements would apply to almost all sick patients at some time because its supposed symptoms are essentially universal; (3) overuse of oral antifungal agents could lead to the development of resistant germs that could menace others; (4) adverse effects of oral antifungal agents are rare, but some inevitably will occur; and (5) neither patients nor doctors can determine effectiveness (as opposed to coincidence) without controlled trials. Because allergic symptoms can be influenced by many factors, including emotions, experiments must be designed to separate the effects of the procedure being tested from the effects of other factors [5]. Several years ago, Crook told me that he had no intention of conducting a controlled test because he was "a clinician, not a researcher.""

Source: www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/candida.html

Yeast infections have only been proven to occur locally within the body, namely on skin or in orifices. You would know if you had a yeast infection on your skin - big rash like pimples or diaper rash, not dry skin. There is no proof of systemic candiasis, no test that can diagnose it, and no way to tell if you've "cured" it. It is often likened to multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome, essentially it's a catch-all for non-specific symptoms without any regard for cause and effect.

[raeoflyte]

I really like that idea Optimist! It sounds a lot better than waiting for 3 months, and then just cutting out more.

I actually had 2 tortillas this weekend and haven't had any change which I think is testing my willingness to stay with this even more.

Thanks for the link bsb. I will keep that in mind.

[Deleted]

I am totally blown away over how many people are finding that they are gluten intolerant.

I was reading on a blog that Italy, of all places, routinely tests everyone for Celiac disease and has a ton of gluten free options everywhere you go. Definitely on my travel list now! ;D

milee - my doctor sent me out for a bone density screening after breaking bones in my foot and ankle, and not having enough bone density in my jaw for a regular dental implant.

rae - you will feel better pretty quickly if gluten is bugging you. I seem to be having less eczema rashes now that I'm GF.

[Chocolate Lover]

rae, I've dealt with crazy itchy legs for ages and it never occcured to me that it could be caused by food, after all, if I have a food allergy/sensitivity (and I do) I react all over. I do also buy free & clear detergents but the main thing I've found that helps is Dove. I've used it since before they had the body wash and any other soaps drive me batty. Also, not such hot showers/baths and not every day since that strips you of the oils your skin needs. I recently found Dove lotion too and it does better than most other things I've bought.

Another thing I don't do is wear shorts. Ever. Even if it's 9 million degrees out. The skin on my legs touching itself and getting sweaty seems to set off the itching. Badly.

My worst case of irritation was when I was pregnant with my 1st. The stress sent it right off the deep end, I thought I'd scar my legs for life with the scratching. It reminds me of the urge to itch you get when you have chicken pox, you know you shouldn't but it feels sooo good. lol

Don't know if any of that would be helpful to you but it's all I have.