Allergic to Gluten

**SpeedFiend** · 10-08-2007 03:54 AM

Um, Yeah.
So maybe we can share our thoughts and ideas on this.

**heffebomb** · 10-08-2007 04:50 AM

heh, funny. My gf started to make a batch of seitan when I saw this thread

**SpeedFiend** · 10-08-2007 02:03 PM

i have heard 1 to 2 percent so im surprised not more of you guys know of this

**antman** · 10-08-2007 08:33 PM

*cough* vulgar *cough*

**lexx** · 10-08-2007 10:23 PM

I know of it. but I don't exactly have an opinion.
I guess it... sucks? I don't know. what do you want us to say.

**VulgarDisplayCFH** · 10-08-2007 10:54 PM

It sucks, I take medication.

I can still eat it. I shouldn't, but I do.

**dirtyhippy** · 10-08-2007 10:58 PM

i dont particularly have an opinion on it either because i am not readily informed about it... i understand it and i understand how it affects people but its just one of those things you hear and kinda brush off... its like people who are addicted to nuts, i dont really have an opinion on that because im not in the same boat...

but i can understand that it is probably difficult to find things that are gluten-free... i'm working on my veganism and i understand the struggle with dealing with people who are either interested.misinformed and i understand the problems associated with finding "friendly" food (especially when going out for dinner or going to a friends)

**VulgarDisplayCFH** · 10-08-2007 11:04 PM

The best way to eat is to 'eat primal'

Eat only natural foods. No foods that were made by man.

**Blackmore** · 10-08-2007 11:05 PM

I have a cousin who is allergic to gluten, lactose intolerant, allergic to all nuts, hes got some rare disease.

**dirtyhippy** · 10-08-2007 11:30 PM

i choose to take 'eating primal' one step further and eat nothing that is made by animals (especially man) and it works well for me

**doingtheunstuck** · 10-09-2007 12:06 AM

Keep in mind: There is a big difference between a gluten allergy and a gluten intolerance. The latter is along the lines of Coeliac Disease, where the former is an actual allergy that can be deadly. One tends to cause discomfort. The other, much rarer one, does a lot more. It is an important thing to keep in mind.

If you're referring to the more common intolerance, often in the form of Coeliac Disease, then you're in luck. There's a buttload more food out there made for you in mind and it's getting better every year. Those with Coeliac Disease should generally stay away from the obvious things like Wheat, Kamut, Spelt, and other common grains that contain gluten. There's also the issue of cross contamination to consider, as gluten can be spread in an airborne fashion. Thus, things grown next to a wheat crop can cause symptoms, depending on the crop and the sensitivity in the individual. Oats are a weird one. Most oats are already "bad" because they're grown and/or processed near wheat. Even if they are not, however, they contain avenin, which has been shown to cause symptoms in some. It's all a matter of individual sensitivity, however, and that can also change over time.

My usual recommendation to anyone who is in the process of having to change their entire diet is to try a whole lot of absolutely new food. When I was in high school, a lot of kids all spontaneously decided that veganism was the new cool. Unfortunately, they tried to eat the same exact thing that they ate before, but eating entirely special fancy new "vegan" alternative versions. The problem with that is that, 99% of the time, they were disappointed. Every time they ate a vegan faux-chicken nugget, they were expecting what they'd grown to love. The same thing happens with people who are trying to cut out gluten. You go to eat your tapioca/rice/sorghum/xanthan gum bread and bite into it... are you expecting it to taste or feel like a fluffy, soft wheat bread? You shouldn't. I'm not saying you should totally abandon the idea of your old favorites, as like I said earlier, more and more "gluten free" products are coming out and actually being good. What I'm suggesting is that you should really try and make new favorites. A good example, if you're gluten free, is to try and get into a lot of Thai cooking. So long as you avoid things like premade peanut sauces with tamari (which can be gluten free, but usually contains wheat in such products), Thai cooking is easy to tailor to your diet... and if it is relatively new to you, then all the better.

Wow. I typed a lot. I'm not actually gluten free, but well... I work at Whole Foods Market in West Vancouver. I am the bulk buyer now, grocery stock boy before that and maintenance before that. Way back when I was in maintenance, I noticed that there was a severe lack of knowledge regarding a lot of restricted diets, including gluten issues, on the grocery floor. Thus, I took it on myself to learn as much as I could. I've spent a month long eating entirely gluten free, even to the extent of the alcohol I drank. There are a few items that I ate during that period that could have been cross contaminated, but given that I have no sensitivity, I can't say. I did stay pretty strict though. Basically, I've amassed a decent amount of info around the subject. I'm a little confused by this thread, as it seems to be asking for an opinion on the subject. Do you have an opinion on lactose intolerance? I mean, other than that it really sucks if you like dairy products and find yourself in that situation? There are definitely those who are choosing gluten free for some proposed health benefit and I don't see that in an eye to eye fashion, but everyone is free to eat what they eat, so long as they don't act like dickheads about my diet.

I will say one thing: I've spent a portion of my life as a vegan. Going out to eat while on my gluten free thing was a billion times harder than when I was a vegan.

**faceless.13** · 10-09-2007 01:45 AM

One of my friend's entire family (for the most part) has a gluten allergy. Hasn't effected them much, other than they all had to quit drinking beer and switch to hard liquor.

**lexx** · 10-09-2007 07:44 AM

Originally Posted by dirtyhippy

i choose to take 'eating primal' one step further and eat nothing that is made by animals (especially man) and it works well for me

but my cat cooks the best bread. You'll hurt its feelings if you want have a slice

**dirtyhippy** · 10-09-2007 12:06 PM

lexx i may just have to break my own rule and give it a shot... aslong as your cat wore a full body hairnet

**SpeedFiend** · 10-09-2007 02:26 PM

The Fish is cool for me right now. Thanks a ton guys.

**Michael Billings** · 10-09-2007 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by faceless.13

other than they all had to quit drinking beer and switch to hard liquor.

For some odd reason, that made me laugh a fair bit.

Lots of interesting things I had never heard about in here. I like it.

**doingtheunstuck** · 10-09-2007 05:30 PM

Just to note, there are gluten free beers out there! Even with BC's mediocre beer selection, I've had a couple. One was oat-based and was guaranteed to have used oats that were never processed or grown near wheat/kamut/spelt/etc. The other was rice based and similar. Unfortunately, I can't remember the names and they are not going to be the kind of thing you'll find at your average liquor store. Honestly, if you have a Whole Foods nearby, they might be a good place to check. I've only been to a couple of the US stores, but they both had an awesome selection as far as alcohol and the staff will hopefully be a bit more knowledgeable about restricted diets in relation to their products than at a typical liquor store.

**faceless.13** · 10-09-2007 05:55 PM

I'm not allergic to gluten, I don't even have an intollerance to it, but in my opinion Liquor > Beer.

however, if we're all broke, 40s and tall cans. Mickey's and 211 Steel Reserve.

EDIT: Hey Bilzo, do I get any type of extra features or anything for making the mod laugh? and where in AZ are you located?

also, I don't think I'll post for a while, I've got 222 posts.

**denis6902** · 10-09-2007 05:57 PM

some autistic people need to be on gluten free diets, as stated by some of them as having hallucinations compared to LCD standards.

**faceless.13** · 10-09-2007 06:02 PM

Anyone know how to contract an allergy to gluten that will do nothing but make you hallucinate? all I'd have to do is eat some bread and class would get much more entertaining.

(and so much for maintaining a post count of 222. I've been here for 11 months and don't even have 250 posts.)