Wheat/Gluten-free

[JC]

"Italy, for example, helps people with celiac disease pay for the additional cost of gluten-free foods."

Ok, I'm moving to Italy....


LOL

[Karen]

I think you can deduct the cost of gluten free foods if you're celiac on your taxes. I *think*. Might be something to look into at least?

[Karen]

www.celiac.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=116&Itemid=207

I KNEW I saw this somewhere! For those with a gluten tolerance, though, I think you're out of luck.

[JC]

I read this in a neuroscience journal:
"[Gliosis] has also been associated with about 10% of patients with Celiac Disease or gluten-sensitivity (Archives of Neurology. 63(10):1440-6, 2006 Oct.). Gliosis damage to the brain in Celiac and gluten-sensitivity usually causes ataxia, peripheral neuropathy and/or cognitive impairment."

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME!! All of those lesions I have in my brain are glial scars caused by gluten!

[danniv]

Ladies do u know any good books for gluten free recipies and what not. Officially on gluten free bread which is lower in everything than my multigrain bread (which according to dieticians is meant to be great for u).

[KSA]

I have been so bad with my diet and I am paying dearly for it. Headaches, bloating, pain.....Halloween candy is being boxed up and sent to the soldiers over sea's. My face is broke out and I am a miserable mess.

Gluten free, and sugar free! I was able to eat and I got carried away with it. I guess I was thinking of all the times I was starving and wanted to eat. I have to learn how to control everything that goes into my body. I feel ten times better when I am 100% gluten free.

[KSA]

Jenaya have you ever had Ezekiel Bread? My sister swears that it is the best and I need to switch to it.

[Karen]

I try to avoid gluten whenever possible, but there are times where I know it sneaks in. Has anyone ever tried a digestive enzyme specific to helping digest gluten, either all the time or those rare instances where you know you're going to ingest at least a little? www.needs.com/product/NDNL-0807-02/a_Digestive_Enzymes

I know there are common things like Lactaid to help people that are lactose intolerant to process dairy, just wondering if anyone's had any luck with a similar digestive enzyme for gluten.

[Karen]

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204136404577206891526292590.html

Here's a great article about the range of gluten issues and the attempt to classify them. The article acknowledges Gluten sensitivities that are not Celiac! I know some doctors poo-poo the idea of food sensitivities, but hopefully that'll change in the future.

[loveshoes]

I am new to the wheat free/gluten free diet. I am changing my diet to help with any inflammation in my body from my endo.

I have given up all red meats ( upsets my stomach ), only drink rice milk or almond milk, no soy at all. I just can't go so far as getting rid of sugar and dairy. I don't consume alot of dairy ( like the new yoplait lactose free yogurts ) and some cheddar cheese.

What are your favorite gluten free foods? Some of my favorites are the maple granola from trader joes to mix into my yogurt, some of the chex cereals, found some cake mixes at the store from dunkin hines that say GF so will try those. UDI's brand breads from whole foods are great too. I eat a ton of fresh spinach with mushrooms, egg white for breakfast with spinach, mushrooms, tomato with light cheddar cheese. I really like the coconut yogurt as well from whole foods.



I have also started on coconut oil daily - 3 tbsp per day mixed into my GF hot cereal or even into my coffee ( I know it's bad for endo but I need 1 cup per day ). Is anyone else using coconut oil? I like the nutiva brand. How are you using the coconut oil? They also make a coconut manna which is like almond butter, I eat that by the spoonful as well.



What exactly does sugar free mean for the endo diet? Does that mean reading every single package of anything you buy and if it's got sugar, it's off limits? What do you use instead of sugar then? Doesn't bread have sugar in it? I'm not sure if I can do the no sugar thing.....figure giving up the wheat/gluten, soy, and meat is a good start.



thanks!

[JC]

Hi loveshoes! Cute name! My whole take on the gluten free thing is very different than looking for alternatives to gluten-containing foods we love.
I was diagnosed with celiac disease and so of course, I had to go gluten free. When I started researching what foods I can have and what I couldn't have, I started to notice a very strong pattern. Everything that has gluten in it has been processed. I took that as a sign that my body wants to eat natural and whole foods and that processed foods are just things we shouldn't be eating anyways. It's very easy to fall for the label of "gluten-free," especially when you're going through that initial "OH THIS SUCKS" feeling of changing your diet. But after I spent so much money on gluten free labeled foods I started to realize that most of this stuff had no nutritional value to it. I was only eating it because it was "gluten-free."
So if you think in this context: #1. Am I only eating this because it's labeled gluten free? #2 Is this healthy even though it's gluten free?
The answers to those questions can usually lead to you good choices. Like your question about being sugar free. If you stick to foods that grow out of the ground and haven't been processed, then you'll know what sugars to avoid. Sugars in fruits are fine and natural. "Sugar-free" and "gluten-free" cupcakes are full of other crap that is probably bad for us and I'd avoid it. Processed foods are the problem. If you're buying something that comes in a box then it has probably been processed and therefore, full of stuff we don't need. Plus things that come in boxes that are gluten free like cereal and gluten free breads are FULL of carbohydrates which is essentially sugar once your body processes it.
Going gluten, soy and meat free is a good start and I am totally happy to hear that you're trying the diet! My approach to this diet is probably really strict because I always stop and think, has this been processed and does it have a bunch of chemicals and unnatural stuff that I don't need? If you eat according to that rule then you really can't go wrong. If that's too strict for you and you need that extra boost of a yummy gluten free pancake mix then I'd say indulge every so often just so you can not feel deprived and then fall completely off the diet.

[loveshoes]

Thanks!

So would you say Chex cereals are bad then? What about the vans GF frozen waffles? I'm eating this hot cream of rice cereal as well. I haven't bought alot of boxed stuff that says GF. What about the UDI's bread that is gluten free? I was going to pick up the G free diet book by Elizabeth Hasselbeck to learn more. So far my diet is pretty much:



Breakfast - the 2 egg whites with some veges and light cheese

Lunch - fresh spinach salad with mushrooms, light dressing, banana usually after that

Mid afternoon snack - sugar snap peas/hummus, or 1/2 avacado or a kiwi, any type of fresh fruit, sometimes a yogurt/with trader joes GF granola, blue diamond dark chocolate flavored almonds, orval redenbockers salt/pepper popcorn ( supposed to be one of the lowest calorie ones they make, I do need to switch to just plain w. coconut oil and some light seasonings )

Dinner - fresh chicken or salmon, sometimes just a bowl of rice, sometimes a bowl of cereal - we're not a big dinner family so it's pretty slim pickings for dinner



I drink about 5 bottles of water per day, 1 cup of coffee so I feel like I'm really trying hard. As I mentioned before, I'm taking the coconut manna 3 Tbsp per day as well.

I cleaned out my entire pantry of anything that had wheat flour in the ingredients.



I just feel that there isn't alot to eat - I need to buy some books to find more options. Oh - spaghetti squash with ragu sauce is good too. I'm going to try to get rid of salt next - I love salt, going to try maybe sea salt and mrs. dash

[JC]

Well so far it looks like you're doing well! I highly recommend gluten-free cook books. They give you so many ideas to try and they are all really good. I have Elizabeth Hasselbeck's book. It has recipes in it but it's more about how to live the gluten free lifestyle. It's cool because she brings up things you'd never think of like how to deal with social situations where people pressure you into eating stuff you're allergic to. I think her book is more relevant for people who have celiac disease because our consequences of eating gluten can be quite extreme.
I also have this cookbook called, "The Gloriously Gluten Free Cookbook," by Vanessa Maltin. This book is really awesome if you're looking to break out of the norm and make something quite spactacular. It's more like fine dining type recipes like risottos, things with wine sauce, and different ethnic dishes. I love that cookbook because it gives you something different but the ingredients can get a little expensive.
The other book I have is "Gluten-Free Diet, A Comprehensive Resource Guide," by Shelley Case. This book is good for educating yourself on stores, gluten free companies, and product names. They do have recipes too.

The chex cereal I'm not a huge fan of If you look at the nutritional facts on the side of the box, it's literally ALL carbohydrates with little to no nutrients. It tastes fun and it reminds you of being able to eat what you want, but it really just contributes sugar to your diet. I haven't tried gluten free waffles but I imagine it's the same situation as the Chex cereal. I have eaten Udi's bread and it's pretty good but again, it's pure carbs.
Overall I think these foods are fine to have every once in a while but if you want to get really strict with it, just avoid anything that has been processed. To quote celebrity trainer Julian Michaels, "Only eat it if it grew out of the ground or if it has a mother." LOL

[loveshoes]

Thanks so much for all the great tips! I will def. check out Elizabeth H's book. I love Jillian Michaels! She's obviously doing something right with her body! Yes, you're right, I don't eat the UDI's bread often. I don't eat the waffles often either, 1x every 2 weeks if that.

I do need to get more educated on the carb thing - this is hard. I need to buy some quinoa and test that out maybe with some I used to love the trader joes israeli cous cous - that's a no no going forward. I do love the Tj's gone banana's chocolate covered frozen bananas for a treat every now and again.

[jtean]

I definitely recommend learning to cook with quinoa. This page has a lot of good recipes for quinoa:

glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2008/09/quinoa-rice-side-dishes.html