Gluten Free Diet

[Daunting]

Hi All.

I have been trying a gluten free diet since February 17, I have not been diagnosed with coeliac or gluten intolerance, but about a year ago I did go to an allergist who found that I took a reaction to wheat and my GI noticed it on my reports when he went through everything. So we thought it wouldn't hurt to try a gluten free diet, I really haven't noticed much of a difference even though my husband has, he feels less bloated and his bowel movements are consistent (hey I'm the one with the problem not him) shucks!!
Any way, Has anyone had any good results on the gluten free diet. Even if it helps me a bit I'm considering keeping the diet but I'd like to know how long it took to feel a difference and if there is a time to give up..

 

[nogutsnoglory]

If you don't feel better on it I'd encourage you to not give up a whole food category. I did try gluten free but didn't have any success. Most gluten free prepared products are full of junk ingredients and its far from a healthy lifestyle if eating those packages products.

 

[Beach]

That doesn't seem fair with the husband seeing the results! It shouldn't work that way.

From what I've read it can take anywhere from a few weeks, to some celiacs saying it took them a couple years to feel recovered from their condition. My guess is though you would have noticed a difference by now if eating gluten free was having a significant positive effect on your IBD condition.

Since being on a gluten free diet, and your husband doing well with it, you might take a look at the SCD diet. It's also gluten free, but more advanced with eating probiotic rich foods. Some have had better luck with it.

A couple nice threads about others following the SCD diet are ~

"Incredible E and the SCD"

http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=46434

&

"My journey with the Specific Carbohydrate Diet."

http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=45273

 

[hugh]

A lot of 'gluten-free' food is really bad, and can be full of other nasties (gluten is only one protein, the most well known one, but only one of many in grains)
You might need to be a bit more selective for a while and then add foods back in to see any results,
Have you considered SCD/Paleo?

 

[juljul]

Hi,
I agree with Hugh about the 'gluten free' foods. And they use these fillers, one of which could be xantham gum or guar gum, which are iffy and can still cause upsets. I am still trying to finds buckwheat flour in a regular shop but no one seems to stock it. Buckwheat pancakes are supposed to be delicious I haven't tried them as of yet. As with anything however, some people can be allergic to buckwheat. For those who can eat it (be careful not to inhale the flour), it is a complete protein like hemp seed, quinoa, and amaranth...amaranth flour can also be used to make pancakes. Buckwheat, amaranth, quinoa and hemp seed can all be worked into bread. You can experiment with different flour combinations but it is best to introduce one at a time to see how you react to each individual one.

Peace...

 

[acc929]

Hi there!

I think some people on here have a decent point about gluten-free *substitutes* (certainly many gluten-free foods are much better than many glutenous foods, as foods with gluten are just as weirdness-filled as many substitutes). It's too bad you haven't seen any results . I stopped eating gluten a couple months ago. For the first month I felt great - no brain fog, less bloating, no D. I went to Paris and ate a whole baguette in a day. After that I had one of my worst flares in a while, and have been flaring to varying degrees ever since. Are you keeping a food journal? I found that SUPER helpful in terms of figuring out what triggers me and what doesn't. I hope you feel better soon!

 

[badbelly]

I've been gluten free for a month or so and it's dang expensive! I've feeling alright but can't say anything about the diet for a few months till it has time to take. That and I can't really tell what with being on pred. I've read some books and done some research and I know it helps /some/ people who have a sensitivity to gluten. Figured why not.

 

[Daunting]

Thanks for your replies. :ghug:

I too have been on prednisone, for a few months now and I have actually been able to decrease my dose to 4.5 pills a day or 22.5mg which is the lowest I've been on since I've started, and that's to say that I've I had to go increase it once already since I did one taper. So maybe the gluten free diet is helping. I do know on Friday past I snuck a maple cupcake at work and had terrible gas and pain that same night and the day before, but can that actually be the cause - or was it in fact, that on the same day I decreased my prednisone by .5, my husband said I shouldn't of tried the cupcake the same day as of the decrease schedule but they looked so damn good standing there with maple icing.
I'm actually planning to stick with the gluten free regiment until after I am completely done the prednisone, if I ever get off of it. :eek2:

Yes I do agree some of the prices are insane, but not a lot of my diet has changed as per say, I was never a bread eater or a pasta eater, but its the label reading, I am super surprised that a lot of stuff actually contain gluten, but it is nice to know that there are some companies that are becoming more and more self aware that people are either intolerant to gluten or are celiac.

 

[Basmah]

I have been gluten free on and off for the last couple of months - just getting the hang of it. One thing I can say is because it's so expensive, I have been eating more natural foods and making my own seasoning for things. I only buy bread, crackers, and pasta from stores. Every once n a while I will treat myself to a box of cookies, but you will find that most candy and chips (even cheetos) are GF.

Update: Cheetos are no longer gluten free. I apologize for giving you this false information. Cheetos can go to hell (I am obviously very upset by this)

 

[hbrekkaas]

I'm gluten free due to celiac, so for me it makes a huge huge difference. I was really such when diagnosed so I felt better within days, but it took months for most of my symptoms to go away, then I was diagnosed with Crohns and started all over lol.

If I didn't have kids there would be no added cost for me because I don't eat any GF replacements. I just go without crackers/bread ect. The texture grosses me out. But I do have kids, and all 3 of them are GF for various reasons, so we buy pretzels, rice crackers, cereal, and Udis bread/bagels. And pancake and cake mix. Other then those things we eat naturally GF foods, but those things we do buy add up quick.