Comments on: Would You Pop a Pill to Eat Gluten Again?

By: Kristin

Kristin — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:27:35 +0000

I am both gluten- and lactose-intolerant. (There are other restrictions I have too.) When I go out to eat, I like knowing that I can order a dish that has very little dairy in it and pop a lactaid pill to counteract what little may be in the dish (butter that sautéed onions, for example). The lactaid only partially works for me, so I have only ever had a large dose of dairy once since being diagnosed with IBS. What it does do, though, is it opens up more on the menu for me, more options.
If a pill were made to help with gluten-intolerance, even if only partially, like the lactaid does for me (and the article seems to imply this pill might work similarly in efficacy), I would love to keep it in my purse, to have for those times when I am stuck unexpectedly out and have to survive on apples from a corner store (or something as satisfying).
I doubt I would eat a gluten-filled diet with the pill, but I would enjoy being social once again a little more, as food and sociality are hugely connected. Just not having to worry about stocks, sauces, or gravies would be terrific and I would like to find myself at a party unexpectedly and be able to have a beer with everyone else or not question a friend of a friend at a dinner party as to exactly what is in that soup? Or simply refuse someone who doesn’t speak my language when they offer me food.
I don’t understand why anyone who is gluten-intolerant would be against using it completely (if fully researched and proven safe). To me, the emergency flexibility would reassure me before leaving my house: knowing I can stay the night at a friend’s house, knowing if something happens, I can figure out a hunger solution. I worried when the snow piled up and I thought I was going to lose electricity permanently: would an emergency location I went to with a generator have food that I could even eat?
I suppose an analogy is this: I carry my inhaler with me everywhere, if I leave the house without it, I think about it and it stresses me out, even as I very very rarely use that little blue pump.
If not taking the pill is about eating healthy, the argument confuses me because eating healthy means what to people exactly? If it is about eating less processed foods, than yes and no: if I’m in a pinch, stuck out of the house and needs to eat, I’ll order my highest calorie meal I can to keep me going: french fries and a coke. Not exactly good for you or low on processing, but oddly enough contains the most digestible calories I can find on the menu, even if ordering this twice in a day might cause cramping.
Being gluten-free does lead one to read the labels and think about what you eat, so I can understand that argument, but only partially: this can be done with gluten as well.
I don’t want to ‘cheat’ on my diet, but I would love to be able to be flexible, to find a meal when I desperately need one, to be able to not ask what was put in a meal, to not have to refuse someone offering me a dish they made to thank me for work I did for them, etc… I think I would be more social knowing I had this flexibility in my life and I think I would be healthier as well, being able to eat full, substantial meals when I’m running low on energy/calories and not able to get home.

By: Felicia

Felicia — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:36:38 +0000

I would, in a heartbeat. For so many reasons. I miss rye, a lot. It’s my favorite bread-love reubens! I live in Seattle, and there’s this bakery down by the waterfront that has the best sourdough in the world. $2 for a 1lb loaf, still hot from the oven. My daughters and I would buy one, grab a little paper cup with whipped butter in it, and wander around the piers tearing pieces of it off munching it. You can’t replace memories like that by going to a gf bakery. It is not the same. But then, it would have been easier for me to give up meat than wheat.
Also, I’m a foodie and worked in the industry for 25 years-decorating wedding cakes, the whole nine yards. To not be able to go out to eat has crippled my social life, and I’m sick of the 3 restaurants I can count on-so are my kids.
And the expense!!! Having to buy certain brands of everything has almost doubled my grocery bill. I already ate very healthy, if anything I consume more processed foods now with the replacement gf stuff. I always read labels. I think some just adopt the “I do this because I want to” stuff and I for one just don’t buy it.
To each their own, but sign me up for the pill!

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 03:50:29 +0000

Being diagnosed less than 1 month ago, I would definately take a pill. I have always enjoyed healthy eating, so that’s not a problem for me.
However, the inconvenience of being gluten-free is completely frustrating. Having a busy schedule and not being able to just grab something to eat wherever I may be… can’t eat at social gatherings, personal or business… it is truly a challenge & one that I am still learning. I think if a pill does become available, I wouldn’t give up a gluten-free diet, but would definitely take advantage of the benefits for eating out on occasion and any event I may otherwise be starving at!

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 28 May 2010 06:29:42 +0000

I think I would take a pill, one like a beano pill, on rare occasions. I have to agree with most of the posts that gluten intolerance has led me to a much cleaner and reasoned diet. I didn’t realize the lack of focus on my diet led to a lifestyle that was to geared towards convenience foods. No wonder I felt like garbage so often.

I think I would save a gluten tolerance pill for the occasional birthday cake and possibly eating out every now and then.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Fri, 21 May 2010 22:54:21 +0000

Absolutely not. There is nothing I miss, nothing I would cheat for, not even if I had a pill that assured me I would have no reaction. I would, however, take a pill when I eat out to avoid worrying about cross contamination. But there is nothing with gluten that I’ve not been able to create GF, even to the satisfaction of my non-GF friends.

I do agree with the comment that a pill would ensure more people were diagnosed with CD. Awareness would increase, since our medical system is totally based on money. But I don’t think it is likely these newly diagnosed people would choose GF if they can take a pill and keep eating their same diet. People don’t like change. Unfortunately, I know people with CD who won’t eat GF because they don’t want to change their diet. It’s unbelievable to me, but it happens.

Why can’t they make a pill that stops the IGE reaction to dairy? If there was a pill that would allow me to eat dairy without a reaction, I’d totally be up for that! I miss cheese more than I have ever missed any gluten containing food.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Wed, 19 May 2010 13:14:47 +0000

I would take the pill. Absolutely.

Reintroducing gluten into my diet wouldn’t necessarily mean eating more processed, less healthful foods.

Eating gluten free has made me more aware of what I’m eating. And of course I’m healthier now, not only because I can’t eat out as much, can’t eat a lot of fried foods, or baked goods, or processed food, but also because I’ve healed and can now absorb all the nutrients I need from the food I do eat.

If a pill were developed that allowed me to eat gluten without compromising my digestive system, I don’t see why any of that would change.

On the other hand, I would want to absolutely know that the pill would do me no harm.

By: Mary

Mary — Mon, 10 May 2010 21:03:05 +0000

I agree with Hilary and everyone else that agrees with her. If I’m not meant to eat bread, then so be it. At least I know it saves me from quickly digesting empty calorie pastries, bagels and other easy “on the run” food when I’m hungry. I’m 100% sure I’d be 20+ pounds heavier if I didn’t have Celiac and who know what other problems that might cause. I am interested in a celiac pill for when I go on vacation and am not sure of what’s in the food. Other than that, gluten-free is the way to go for me!

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sun, 02 May 2010 12:17:52 +0000

Sounds crazy to me. I would take anything, and then eat bread, muesli, pizza and beer every day.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:30:41 +0000

I would take the pill. Absolutely.

Reintroducing gluten into my diet wouldn’t necessarily mean eating more processed, less healthful foods.

If a pill were developed that allowed me to eat gluten without compromising my digestive system, I don’t see why any of that would change.

On the other hand, I would want to absolutely know that the pill would do me no harm.

By: Claire

Claire — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 05:07:55 +0000

i have been diagnosed for 3 years, and would LOVE to be able to pop a pill! the first two years, i was fine! but recently all i want is something that could cure me! even though i see that some people don’t think its difficult, i do! i can’t go to parties were everyone is drinking beer, i can’t go out to the local pizza parlor with my friends, i feel rude not being able to eat any of the dinners when i go to my friends houses when there parents make things, it makes everything so uncomfortable! my school has nothing i can eat, i can’t wait till my mom doesn’t have to make 2 dinners!

i got goose bumps of excitement even thinking that there may be hope!