Comments on: Just How Strict Is That Gluten-Free Diet? http://www.glutenfreeguidebook.com/2008/05/19/just-how-strict-is-that-gluten-free-diet/ On the road with travel journalist Hilary Davidson Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:01:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Megan http://www.glutenfreeguidebook.com/2008/05/19/just-how-strict-is-that-gluten-free-diet/comment-page-1/#comment-231 Megan Wed, 28 May 2008 13:08:19 +0000 http://www.glutenfreeguidebook.com/?p=87#comment-231 Just for a different perspective - I haven't been diagnosed with celiac disease but I do find that I have problems digesting gluten. My problems aren't as severe as a celiac's would be but I do normally follow a gluten free diet. My reactions vary depending on the type of wheat and even the location (for example, I can tolerate a little bit of bread in Europe but not in Canada - they have different wheat there; I don't have a problem with oat products. On the other hand, even a tiny piece of naan from a nearby Bangladeshi place messes me up for a week). I think there are many people who do find that wheat bothers them but don't have full fledged celiac disease. In fact, most of my family (my mom, sister, aunts, cousins etc.) have varying reactions to wheat but no one has been formally diagnosed with anything (other than my uncle who was a celiac baby but now refuses to believe he has a problem). I've brought this up with my doctor but he pooh-pooh's it so I just continue to eat gluten free. Just for a different perspective – I haven’t been diagnosed with celiac disease but I do find that I have problems digesting gluten. My problems aren’t as severe as a celiac’s would be but I do normally follow a gluten free diet. My reactions vary depending on the type of wheat and even the location (for example, I can tolerate a little bit of bread in Europe but not in Canada – they have different wheat there; I don’t have a problem with oat products. On the other hand, even a tiny piece of naan from a nearby Bangladeshi place messes me up for a week).

I think there are many people who do find that wheat bothers them but don’t have full fledged celiac disease. In fact, most of my family (my mom, sister, aunts, cousins etc.) have varying reactions to wheat but no one has been formally diagnosed with anything (other than my uncle who was a celiac baby but now refuses to believe he has a problem). I’ve brought this up with my doctor but he pooh-pooh’s it so I just continue to eat gluten free.

]]> By: Hilary http://www.glutenfreeguidebook.com/2008/05/19/just-how-strict-is-that-gluten-free-diet/comment-page-1/#comment-221 Hilary Wed, 21 May 2008 02:35:37 +0000 http://www.glutenfreeguidebook.com/?p=87#comment-221 Talk about timely — a reader just alerted me to the fact that Oprah Winfrey's show today featured a 21-day "cleanse" that eliminates gluten from one's diet (as well as sugar, caffeine, animal products, and alcohol). The program was designed by Kathy Freston, author of Quantum Wellness. Oprah is doing the 21-day cleanse, and is featuring it prominently on her website: http://www.oprah.com/foodhome/food/cleanse/blog/blog_main.jhtml The reader also mentioned that, in response to a question from Oprah about how difficult it would be to cut out gluten from her diet, Kathy Freston said she didn't need to worry about eliminating gluten completely. I haven't read Quantum Wellness, and I have no comment on the efficacy of the cleanse (there are certainly many positive testimonials for it on Oprah's messageboard). But I worry that Oprah following a trendy diet — one that tells you to cut out gluten, but not completely — is going to make the gluten-free diet famous for all of the wrong reasons. Talk about timely — a reader just alerted me to the fact that Oprah Winfrey’s show today featured a 21-day “cleanse” that eliminates gluten from one’s diet (as well as sugar, caffeine, animal products, and alcohol). The program was designed by Kathy Freston, author of Quantum Wellness. Oprah is doing the 21-day cleanse, and is featuring it prominently on her website:

http://www.oprah.com/foodhome/food/cleanse/blog/blog_main.jhtml

The reader also mentioned that, in response to a question from Oprah about how difficult it would be to cut out gluten from her diet, Kathy Freston said she didn’t need to worry about eliminating gluten completely.

I haven’t read Quantum Wellness, and I have no comment on the efficacy of the cleanse (there are certainly many positive testimonials for it on Oprah’s messageboard). But I worry that Oprah following a trendy diet — one that tells you to cut out gluten, but not completely — is going to make the gluten-free diet famous for all of the wrong reasons.

]]> By: Heidi http://www.glutenfreeguidebook.com/2008/05/19/just-how-strict-is-that-gluten-free-diet/comment-page-1/#comment-220 Heidi Tue, 20 May 2008 16:59:13 +0000 http://www.glutenfreeguidebook.com/?p=87#comment-220 OMG -- I knew this was coming!!!!! I have seen comments on Gawker and Celiac Chicks that imply the perception of "gluten free eating" is a hypochondriachal lifestyle choice. Crap. I have even seen "gluten free" being made fun of in a kids' movie. FYI, the movie was Daddy Day Camp, and in it an annoying, overprotective uber-mom is seen fussing over little junior's snack which ir organic, GF, and a few other things. I was upset over seeing that as well. Please continue to patiently educate. One of my celiac children has a potentially fatal nut allergy as well, so it is pivotal that we are taken seriously when we describe our food restrictions. So, where's the scoop on SWitzerland???? :-) Heidi (NYC) OMG — I knew this was coming!!!!! I have seen comments on Gawker and Celiac Chicks that imply the perception of “gluten free eating” is a hypochondriachal lifestyle choice. Crap. I have even seen “gluten free” being made fun of in a kids’ movie. FYI, the movie was Daddy Day Camp, and in it an annoying, overprotective uber-mom is seen fussing over little junior’s snack which ir organic, GF, and a few other things. I was upset over seeing that as well.

Please continue to patiently educate. One of my celiac children has a potentially fatal nut allergy as well, so it is pivotal that we are taken seriously when we describe our food restrictions.

So, where’s the scoop on SWitzerland???? :-) Heidi (NYC)

]]> By: Aylena http://www.glutenfreeguidebook.com/2008/05/19/just-how-strict-is-that-gluten-free-diet/comment-page-1/#comment-219 Aylena Tue, 20 May 2008 07:10:50 +0000 http://www.glutenfreeguidebook.com/?p=87#comment-219 Hi Hilary, I've also noticed a trend towards eating gluten free as a lifestyle choice, rather than from medical necessity. In the blogosphere alone there are some new blogs whose authors have chosen to go gluten free to lose weight, get rid of headaches etc Here in South Africa, there is a cafe which sells "gluten free" pancakes made of spelt! When I pointed out spelt was not gluten free, the owner said all her gluten free clients can tolerate spelt!! Only those who choose gluten free, I think. It is so damaging in a country where the medical gluten free diet is so poorly understood. Hi Hilary,
I’ve also noticed a trend towards eating gluten free as a lifestyle choice, rather than from medical necessity. In the blogosphere alone there are some new blogs whose authors have chosen to go gluten free to lose weight, get rid of headaches etc
Here in South Africa, there is a cafe which sells “gluten free” pancakes made of spelt! When I pointed out spelt was not gluten free, the owner said all her gluten free clients can tolerate spelt!! Only those who choose gluten free, I think. It is so damaging in a country where the medical gluten free diet is so poorly understood.

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