Gluten sensitivity and/or Celiacs

[EscapeArtist]

Recently I've discovered that I'm either gluten intolerant or a celiac. I haven't gotten the testing done, but my mom has gluten sensitivity, it's suspected that my dad has it too, and I've been sick every day of my life with the symptoms.

Speaking of symptoms.... Depression and anxiety are extremely common symptoms. It is suspected that more or less than 30% of the American and Canadian population are gluten sensitive, although it's hard to tell because 99% of celiacs and people who are gluten sensitive never realize it.

Coincidentially, there was a 4 month gap where I decided to eliminate bread items for no reason really. During those 4 months, I was more confident than ever. This might have been because of dramatic weight loss, but I felt invincible and so, so unusually confident.

As soon as I picked up a cookie and added bread items back into my diet, I sunk immediately into depression and stopped going to school out of fear. I hadn't gained any weight back, so... well I think it may be the bread.

I think it's definitely worth looking into, gluten sensitivity is extremely common, (seeing that man is simply not adapted to glutenous grains yet) and is beginning to be thought as the cause behind many cancers, psychological diseases (depression, anxiety, ADHD, autism, epilepsy, schizophrenia, irritability and impulsivity), diabetes, and well, I have a list of hundreds of other things.

Of course not everybody will have it, but seeing as it's suspected to affect 30% of the population, and seeing we all have at least one severe symptom, ANXIETY, I thought there was a very probable chance that many of you may be sensitive to gluten, which might be aiding to your anxiety. Some of you might already be diagnosed..which I'd love to hear about.

 

[coyote]

What we eat definitely has an effect on our mental and emotional state as well as our physical health.

We wouldn't think of feeding our prized pets something other than what they would recognize as food. So why do we feed the human animal a bunch of chemicals in a box with a picture of food on it and think she'll be ok?

Processed grain products - wheat, corn, etc. - weren't on the menu before we became "civilized." And that's only been for 10,000 years or so....out of 100,000 years or more of human development. The more civilized we become, and the more we engineer our food, the less healthy we become as a species.

If you took a paleolithic man to the grocery store to find food, what would he pick out?

 

[PunkRotten]

I think its a little too bold to say gluten is responsible for all these illnesses. Its true, food can affect our emotions. Like when some people eat sugar, they experience a high, then a low. People have an addiction to certain foods. But gluten is worse on physical health than mental. When I saw this topic I though you were going to talk about physical health, maybe bloating, cramps, or lots of gas or something, which gluten is often responsible for.

Maybe get yourself check out thoroughly before making statements like these. See a gastroenterologist and a dietician.


Plus when talking about mental/emotional health, its often a result from enviroment, circumstances, upbringing, and beliefs, moreso than what you eat.

 

[EscapeArtist]

Hmm well they are just my experiences. Personally I know it has this effect on me, because I cry immediately after eating it lol.

I believe that what we eat has a drastic effect on our mental and physical health, as well as exercise.

I'm not saying it's responsible for all of these illnesses... not every case, that is, but it is responsible for a lot of them.

And I'm not saying that gluten causes all of the anxiety, but that it can amplify it, and it certainly does for me. Doesn't mean cutting it out is going to heal you, but I think for some people it might help. I really believe it can have all of these harmful effects because we are not anywhere near adapted to grains. Plus I've done a hell of a lot of
research over the last year

 

[PunkRotten]

Get checked out like I said. I plan on getting checked out soon too cause of bloating.

 

[beals]

I'm pretty sure I have a gluten sensitivity or Celiacs as well. I'm constantly tired and have really bad post-nasal drip that worsens after I eat a big meal with bread in it, like a McDonalds hamburger..whoa, that makes the back of my throat crazy with mucus lol. I've been trying to cut back on the gluten to see if it will help my symptoms but I'm having a hard time, as most of my favorite foods contain gluten. Your post definitely makes me want to try harder, I never thought the gluten could also be contributing to my anxiety! Wow, that would be amazing if that was part of the source. I'd love to hear more about your experience, or anything else you'd like to share. I'm going to start up my gluten free diet again today and try to stick with it long enough to see any kind of results for my symptoms. Any tips to stay on the diet would also be appreciated!

 

[Feathers]

Okay, I'm bumping this thread cause I just found it Will post more later...

I think people are different and may have different causes for sa/anxiety/depression or any other problems... It's good to check if you might have celiac or gluten sensitivity though.. even official doctors here say it's getting diagnosed more and more... (and where I live, at some hospitals there's a long waiting list, so if you're gonna get tested, it may be good to apply soon)

I think it might have to do with what the wheat is going through before it gets to people's plates, and maybe with everyone's exposure to computer/monitors/EMR. (?) There's an article where they tested old blood for celiac/gluten sensitivity and people didn't have that! Why are so many people getting it now?

I kinda gave up on testing tho and am just going gluten-free.. Maybe not the wisest but I just felt soo sucky I had to do something

Coyote are you saying I'm not civilized enough to eat grains?

(that is debatable )

 

[GreenEyedRedHead]

I discovered I'm either gluten intolerant or celiac about a year ago. Never been tested, but I did an elimination diet for a month, and when I ate gluten after that, there was no question. I think because of how much better I feel when I avoid gluten, my intolerance is pretty bad. I can tell within a few hours if I accidentally eat something with gluten. It is a hard diet to stick to. You have to do a lot of research. I found it's easier to focus on what you can have, rather than what you can't. There are so many alternatives now for people who need to eat gluten free.
I do wish I hadn't told people at work about it though. 9 out of 10 people think it's ridiculous. I work at a restaurant, and we even have a gluten free menu! Yesterday, one of the girls at work said that I wouldn't have any problem with gluten if I limited how much of it I ate. For example, one cookie versus a whole bag. People are so ignorant. I just smile and nod. It's no use trying to explain it unless they're genuinely interested.
Not sure if gluten has a direct impact on my anxiety, but it does make me feel extremely tired and therefore depressed.

 

[WeirdyMcGee]

Celiac runs in my family; almost all of the women on my mother's side have some degree of sensitivity.
Crohns and colitis are also very common as well as liver/autoimmune disease.

I am one of the lucky ones who gets to have all of the above!
I had no idea all through highschool and kept bottles of pain meds in my locker to pop pills all day because I was ALWAYS uncomfortable; always sick, always bloated, always in pain. Now I can't take pain meds without them being a high dosage because they do nothing for me; same goes for gravol and antacids.
It wasn't until college that my aunt had gone to see a natropath for her crohn's and was told to go gluten free-- was almost completely CURED just from the diet change; that I considered the change in diet for myself.
I had extra tests done and it was revealed that yes; I do have Celiac, among other things.

It's extremely difficult to go gluten free all the time just because of the money aspect.
My mom still insists on making regular pasta (and ALOT of it) because it's cheap and quick to make and healthy; even if it bloats me up like a puffer fish and nearly kills me.
So, I often go without food because we don't have the money to do two options for each meal; it's either one or the other-- doing two would be a waste of food.
Vegetables are expensive, gluten free alternatives are regularly 2 times as much as non-gluten free foods; and then we get to the lactose intolerance which means I drink water and can't have cheeses/milk/anything with milk or cheese in it/no yogurt or ice cream... and I've found lactaid does nothing for me.
So, I cut alot of foods from my diet completely and eat when I can; sometimes eat things I'm allergic to and get sick just so I can fill my stomach for a few minutes.


I could complain for hours but I suppose that would just be silly...
Instead, I will say that I empathize with any of the other celiacs on forum and stress that anyone who feels bloated after eating wheat products be tested because NOT feeling sick after eating is a wonderful feeling.

 

[Lea]

According to the tests I don´t have it, but my intestine is damaged in "unspecific way reminding of celiakia" but they said it likely isn´t.. also the tests proved it. But why is it damaged then? I shouldn´t have milk intolerance either.

 

[Lea]

I think there are plenty of cheap alternatives for gluten free diet - potatoes, maize (tortillas for example), rice, legumes, nuts, fruits, meat, vegetables, eggs, buckwheat, millet, etc. (well not all of them are cheap).

 

[WeirdyMcGee]

I think there are plenty of cheap alternatives for gluten free diet - potatoes, maize (tortillas for example), rice, legumes, nuts, fruits, meat, vegetables, eggs, buckwheat, millet, etc. (well not all of them are cheap).

It's true when you look at a list of alternatives, it can look like alot; but not all rice is gluten free.
Meat and vegetables are both more on the expensive side; eggs ARE cheap and a great alternative unless you are sensitive to them as well.
Corn tortillas can be a fun alternative but without meat or vegetables to put in it... what are you left with?

So, you have to be creative! (especially if your food budget is $10/week)
haha

Shopping lists are a MUST.

 

[Phoenixx]

I'm not a celiac, nor am I fully allergic to gluten, but I am intolerant. I used to be able to eat gluten a few times a week and feel fine even after being diagnosed with food allergies. Very recently though, I've noticed I can only get away with about once a week. Anything more makes my insides hurt and I feel sick. Bleh.

Sure there are plenty of alternatives when going gluten free. If your body is even more sensitive, like mine though, then things get tough. Somewhat gluten free, corn free, wheat free, AND rice free? Yeah, it sucks, but I still find plenty of ways around it, even though it's more work. It's how you get better at baking. Oh, and like Weirdy said, it's how you get better at being creative too!

It's true when you look at a list of alternatives, it can look like alot; but not all rice is gluten free.

^ I don't eat rice, but this surprised me. Never knew that. Wonder why that is?