Gluten-Free Diet: a Cure for Some, a Fad for Most

celiac disease

For several months I have had bouts of diarrhea and vomiting off and on. I had stomach cancer 6 months ago and my whole stomach was removed. I have lost 25 pounds and have very little energy. Could I possibly have celiac disease? My doctors have not mentioned it could be the cause of my problem.Thank you for any information you can give me.

Differing diagnosis

I was diagnosed back in Sweden (about 20 years ago), where Celiac Disease is much more well known by doctors. However when I moved to the US, I started cheating and eventually ended up with life threatening anemia. I went in for a gastro endoscopy and colonoscopy, and the Doctor said "there was no sign of celiac sprue". Well in spite of that I decided to be very strict with my diet and got better, a dramatic change. Now I still can't take up enough B12 and D and need liquid supplements, but I guess what I'm trying to say is that in my experience with all the doctors that year (about 2 years ago) is that the knowledge they have about Celiac Disease is very incomplete.

Gluten Free

My son since the age of 3 started having intestinal bleeding. After numerous specialist, an allergist suggested he go on a gluten free diet. We did, and have seen a huge difference in his health. My son fell into the category of gluten intolerance since the celiac test were negative. He still has some issues to address but is making improvments. There are so many products now for those having to adhere to this diet. I always tell me that we can find a substitute for anything that he is craving.

If gluten-free diets becoming a fad might have it's benefits as well as a possible downside.

My tests results for Celiac were negative, but I'm still convinced I have the disease because as soon as I cheat on my gluten-free diet, even a little bit, I immediately experience symptoms. In my case, I have lost five pounds which is not good because I was already too thin, possibly due to an overactive thyroid.

I'm glad more gluten-free products are becoming available, and if being faddish results in more options for those of us who need the products I'm not sure why that should be seen as a problem. I really missed having pancakes until I found Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Pancake Mix;it is an absolutely wonderful product. Unfortunately for me, I am also diabetic and need to carefully control my sugar so I try to limit my indulgence to once or twice a week.

One problem I have buying the products is that they are so expensive. The gluten-free breads I have found available cost between five and six dollars a loaf. I am also lactose intolerant, and lactose-free milk costs about $4.50 a half gallon, well above the price of a gallon of regular milk. I live on a fixed income, and for me, it's a hardship to pay such prices for my dietary needs.

My hope is that as more people realize they have these food-related problems not only will more products be available but that the prices will level off and be somewhat more affordable. But perhaps the increased demand will result in the prices going up. I don't know.

The fad on backs of people actually suffering is annoying

My local health food shop is now litterally plastered with huge labels under many products that say gluten free. This is very annoying, because that message reigns supreme in shop now. And now products labeled that way are priced up, even though it's just cornflakes which don't go through a special process making them gluten free, corn doesn't contain it naturally.

It also feeds into the meme, that gullible people not affected by gluten intolerance begin to think that this is something which they should avoid. So here we have a situation where regular products get priced up on the back of people who are actually suffering from intolerance, besides, those giant labels are very disruptive when trying to spot something I'm looking for.

celiac disease

I just recently was dignosed with Celiac disease. I have been battling with medical stuff for the past 5-6 months and now it is all making sense. I recently found out as well that my thyroid stopped working ... my iron levels were extremly low!!! It all ties with Celiac. The disease attacks your immune system over time with left untreated. So in my situation I gained weight due to my thyroid. It is a tricky disease to dignose. I had my 2 children checked for it as well with it being a geneic disease. I am excited that I get to meet with a dietican so I can get some guidence. It is overwhleming to know what can and can't I eat !!!! My Dr shared with me yesterday that this is starting to get more common. I think it just boils down to everyone has it .. but to what degree and for some their bodies just can't take the wheat. Like a Diabetic can't do sugar!!! We can't do wheat ... which is in EVERYTHING !!!! LOL For all these years I thought I was being healthy !!!! When all I was doing was putting "posion" in my system !!!!!

I have EPILEPSY and have found articles recommending that no gluten or wheat should be eaten. I have limited my comsumption of wheat products off and on for years, but I went beserk on cookies last Christmas. I had lots of brain fog and it was frightening. I have gone as close to gluten free as I know how to do for the last week. I had a really "iffy" night last night, but I hope it will help.

I have had ROSECEA, with pustules, for about 5 years. My formerly beautiful skin has been pretty beaten up. Perhaps the condition is in remission, OR, the gluten free diet has completely cleared up my face!!! It's only been a few days.

I hope we're on to something.

God bless!

I have never been officially diagnosed with anything but have suffered with constipation my entire life. I decided last March to try a glueten free diet. I am now regular as clockwork. I lost 15 pounds and do not have that full bloaty feeling. My husband joined me in April and has lost 40 pounds. We both were not as disciplined as usual over the holidays and have suffered with lethargy, constipation and weight gain. We are back on track and feeling better daily.

I do not believe human bodies can handle the amount of gluten now see as part of a "normal" diet. As cavemen, we started out with protien, fruits and vedgetables. Wheat was introduced to help stretch food sources as populations grew.

I am grateful that I discovered gluten free and will employ it the rest of my life.

celiac disease and obesity

I found out less than a year ago I have celiac disease. Knowing that it's genetic I educated my family about it. My little sister who is only 19 years old and close to being morbidly obese decided to try the diet because of some digestive problems she was having. Within two weeks she had dropped ten pounds and saw her digestive problems going away. It has now been four months that she has been on the diet and her life has changed emmensly. She has lost over thirty pounds and found that she was not hungry right after she ate. She also found that she was not depressed and irritable anymore. I have found out through my research that most doctors do not even see celiac as an option for someone who is obese. This is the same story when looking up symptoms of CD online.The reason why I am writing this is to show people that you don't just have to be skinny and malnourished to have celiac. I think that if more people knew the link between obesity and CD they could see that as an option and get tested.

non-celiac

I have to agree! After being TORTURED with massive migraines 4-10 times a month, I attempted a gluten free diet to see if it would help. Within 2 months my living hell ended, and the migraines vanished. I had no other symptoms, and no doctor would test me for gluten intolerance. I know what worked, though- so I'm not going back!