29 replies to this topic

[Erin]

Hey Everyone - I went to a Naturopath a few weeks ago b/c I've been gluten-free for 2 1/2 years, but still accidentally get gluten & get sick all the time! She recommended I omit meat & dairy from my diet (in addition to a lot of other things, including a detox & adding many herbal supplements). I had considered being a vegetarian (but still eating eggs & dairy) for many years, but after I was diagnosed w/ Celiac I abandoned that idea b/c I was already so restricted by omitting gluten. Well, I lasted for 8 days with no meat, dairy, or gluten. I felt good. Nothing miraculous like a massive amount of energy or anything (although I didn't crave sweets AT ALL). But, due to scheduling & food options when I was out of the house, I got a salad at BK w/ cheese on it & grilled chicken. I had a little bit of gastrointestinal problems the next morning, but not too bad. Then, at my husband's office party 2 days later, I had a little grilled fish with several vegetable side dishes & rice. The next day I had some of my usual gluten symptoms (feeling like I need to "go", but being "stopped up". Also - my husband told me I had "sick" breath - a symptom he noticed last time I had a gluten attack). So.... I probably got trace gluten at his party. Or possibly the meat, or added dairy ingredients in the food didn't sit well with me.
A friend of mine who is a vegan, read the book you mentioned - The China Study. That is why she is a vegan now. She's been very supportive of me switching over, but knows I have a lot of challenges b/c of the Celiac. If anyone wants to keep in touch & communicate about Celiac & Vegetarianism, I'd love to! I need all the support I can get. I'm so tired of being sick all the time.
If you want to contact me directly - defuji@earthlink.net.
Thanks! ~ Erin

[CarlaB]

Erin, you might try determining if it's the meat or the dairy that's bothering you. I would guess you got glutened at the office party. Dairy/casein is something many celiacs have a problem with in a very similar way to gluten. No sense cutting out meat if it's not really bothering you as it's a good protein source.

[AndreaB]

Did the vegetarian diet full of gluten as a protein source give me more damage (just a thought)?

I've often wondered if my vegan diet (only 3 years), with lots of gluten and soy made things worse with me and my family. Some of us also have problems with beans so we've gone back to the meat based diet. We only by natural meats, the best you can buy. For me, I've found that I don't have to eat as much on a meat based diet as I did before on a vegan diet. We are intolerant to gluten, soy and beans for the most part. Some of us are also intolerant to dairy so all of us are dairy free.

An interesting article called The Answer is found here.

I believe the author of this has some very good points. I haven't even read the whole thing yet.

I've heard great things about China Study but haven't read it.

I think both kinds of diet can be healthful as well as unhealthful. A lot depends on how your body is and what it does better with. Obviously, protein is important. I had learned that most people get too much.

BTW, I tested low for b-12 and even got injections just before resuming the meat based diet again. I was on a multiple as well as having b-12 fortified "milks" and cereal to boot. Something was going on with me not getting enough on the vegan diet.

Anyway, the long and short of it is.....listen to your body. If you need meat, find some you can eat. If you don't then don't worry about it.

[alfinkel]

For ethical reasons, I've been vegetarian for 18 years and vegan for 2 years. I found out (blood tests positive, endoscopy/biopsy 100% conclusive) i was a celiac around 4 months ago.

My symptoms were mainly terrible heartburn, arthritis, and depression.

i've had my ups and downs on the diet, and the downs have come after specific instances where i can figure out where i wasn't careful enough (eating out, at relative's house). Overall, though, I've been doing better.
i spoke with a nutrionist and a GI specialist and am doing very well nutrion-wise with Tofu, brown rice, many beans (especially chick peas-- my fave), blackstrap molasses taken daily as a supplement, and more nutbutters. I've had lots of bloodwork done at the hospital and all of the nutritional markers they can measure (folate, vitamins, etc.) show up very well for me. I also take a good quality gluten-free vegan multi-vitamin, Cosamin Ds, and Calcium Citrate.

i am a 26 year old male athlete, and have had zero problems getting enough and varied enough protein...
you just need to be educated and fastidious about what you're eating. I do, however, miss my veggie burgers and seitan stir-fry!!!

As many of those on this board experienced, my downs have been much worse than prior to me starting the gluten-free diet, since my body is no longer so used to it. But, I'm working hard to eliminate that damn gluten as completely as possible.

if i do develop problems with soy, i would do my best to stay vegan, and in a worse-case scenario eat low-level bivalve invertebrates, which to me is better ethically (and probably health-wise) than dairy. I'm very much hoping to avoid that, i do love my tofu and edamame.

Of course, everyone's body is different and I don't mean to imply that those that struggle with the dietary limitations wrong or weak... This is just my take on things...

Best of luck to you.

[Rachiebaby]

My doctor actually recommended to me to try the vegan lifestyle until I've finished my healing, and then, if I want to, to add meat back into my meals. He said that because cows, pigs and chickens are generally grain-fed, they can carry the gluten in their system and it ends up in the meat. I tend to be super sensitive, even needing to make sure there is no gluten in my lipgloss, so maybe he was just being overly cautious. Anyways, thought I would share at least...

[CarlaB]

My doctor actually recommended to me to try the vegan lifestyle until I've finished my healing, and then, if I want to, to add meat back into my meals. He said that because cows, pigs and chickens are generally grain-fed, they can carry the gluten in their system and it ends up in the meat. I tend to be super sensitive, even needing to make sure there is no gluten in my lipgloss, so maybe he was just being overly cautious. Anyways, thought I would share at least...

They are can be grain fed, but gluten does not get in the meat. I'm also super-sensitive. I would make a bet that your doc just likes to promote the vegan lifestyle ... but that's just my guess.

[Heather22]

Here is my 2 cents:

I agree that you really have to listen to your body. I have done a considerable amount of research into the vegan lifestyle (for ethical/health reasons), but have given that up since my body was rejecting it. Many of the veg foods have gluten as a base, so that eliminates a lot. Plus, I don't do very well on beans, seeds or nuts, so I would be extremely limited.
What I have figured out the past few years is that I do well on a higher protein diet...and that includes meat, but no diary. I have picked up the Paleo Diet (especailly after reading The Paleo Diet for Athletes) and I feel great.
So, I guess my point is to listen to your body and find out what works best. Eventually you will come up with a plan that works great for you.

Best wishes,

Heather : )

PS. In my opinion, eating out has disaster written all over it (unless it is from a reputable gluten-free restuarant). There are a lot of high school kids that work in restuarants. Even though they are "aware" of Celiac and try to keep the wheat produects away from food, they are clueless about cross-contamination. I used to have friends that work in so-called "Celaic aware" restaurants. I wouldn't trust them to serve me a coffee...... That may be a big source of CC in your diet.

[TiffTiff]

im vegan for ethical reasons and ive just found out im celiac ugh.......but i mostly eat fruit n plant based food so it didnt harm my meals at all

[celtnut]

My dietitian is a vegan celiac for years. Eat grains and beans and you have your protein. Try new grains like Teff, Millet, Quinoa and and other Gluten free grains. Maybe, you have problems with soy and rice. I had problems and could not eat rice for my first few years. Any dairy can be a problem. By the way Quinoa bars they sell in the streets of Mexico City have more protein than the same size steak. TVP can have wheat but can, also, be all soy so it may be the soy that is giving you trouble like my daughter. She has problems with things like peas, carrots, lettuce, soy among other things. So try new grains and beans for your protein. Christina Priello is a cookbook author and television cook that can give you some ideas. By the way use Quinoa for couscous in recipes. If soy does not bother you use Bragg Liquid Aminos for soy sauce. It tastes like soy sauce and is gluten free and helps with the proteins. Good luck! you can do it. Meat is heavy and hard to digest so that may give you trouble, also.

[Janessa]

go to vegiac.com, it is for us vege celiacs

[pdx.lila]

I was a vegetarian for my first 20 years (Because my parents are,not for any moral or health reasons) but when I went on a study abroad program and subsequently found out about my Celiac, I started eating meat. I started eating it because I find it really hard to be vegetarian with all the restrictions being gluten free puts on me (I am INCREDIBLY sensitive and can't eat anything I don't make from scratch myself). I've recently had to cut out dairy due to a lactose intolerance caused by the celiac but I've been eating chicken, some fish and other seafood. I've found that it's just a tastier whole food option because I can't eat any sauces and I haven't developed a lot that I like, a lot of meats taste good with just some olive oil & garlic, whereas I think eating tofu all the time requires more interesting sauces. Don't get me wrong, tofu is one of my favorite foods,but in my experience, it's been really hard to be vegetarian as well as gluten & dairy free.good luck to everyone!

[Glamour]

I can only eat beans if they are soaked, and properly slow cooked. Nothing right out of a can or quick prepared. Same with rice, no converted.


A lot of people eat to large a serving of beans and rice at a time. I was doing this also.


This is a good thread.

[luce]

I've been a Vegetarian for some time now and since learning about my Celiac and additional intolerances, such as dairy, casein, and lactose, I have decided to go Vegan. Currently I have Candida, too, so talk about restrictions, I'm living them. However, fortunately, I can eat nuts and possibly soy, I'm waiting out to test for sensitivity or not with that. That being said: all lentils (those with bean sensitivities, I do not know if this is why or not, but they have to be prepared in an arduous/advanced way (usually) to remove all of the gas, maybe that is causing the problems?); chickpeas; soy (almost double protein of any meat/poultry/fish); spinach; broccoli; cauliflower; kale; nuts; coconut (coconut oil); flaxseed (flaxseed oil); quinoa; gluten-free oats (if you can tolerate them) and many other sources provide protein. Mix the sources and eat appropriately and one can have more than adequate protein on a gluten-free Vegan Diet. There are gluten-free Vegan and Vegetarian Cookbooks now and most Vegan cookbooks can alter towards a gluten-free and other restriction lifestyles. Vegan cookbooks can provide so many tasty ways to cook the same ol' same ol', I believe it can keep the palette from becoming bored. I think it's possible, it's just a matter of what an individual feels they can or cannot deal with and how they do or don't want to. I am willing myself to be a gluten-free Vegan, but I support anyone else's choice/s to go in whatever direction they choose.

[runningcrazy]

Hello there. I'm Michelle and I've been a long time student of health/diet/etc. I recently read a book called "The China Study" and it has really rocked my world. It is based on one of the most comprehensive health/disease/diet studies ever done. It was started in 1983 and is actually still going on. This is the real deal too, done by *real* researchers - with 28 pages in the back of the book of peer reviewed journals documenting the studies and everything included in the book. It's basis is to move toward a plant based diet and significantly reduce risks for: cancer, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. If you read the book, it's kind of life shaking.

So anyway, I kind of got it because I was somewhat "forced" into vegan world when I found out that I'm allergic to all components of milk, eggs, and (supposedly) beef. I'm not a PETA supporter or anything. I love animals but the health issues are what's leading me into this.

So I'm wondering - are there any celiacs out there who are vegans? How do you get the protein if you have troubles with soy along with the obvious problems with wheat (and TVP, seitan, etc.)? Does it even freakin' matter how much protein we get? I bought this rice protein powder yesterday (vegan) but haven't tried it yet. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!! Thanks

Im a long time vegetarian, no dairy either and also celiac. I do eat eggs occasionaley(like VERY rarely, once every month or two?)
My protein: Hummus, beans, lentils, quinoa(if you havent tried this--DO!) almond butter(more healthy than peanut butter)lots of spinach salad(did you know every food on earth contains protein, other than oil?)
Sunshine Burger, Baja Burger, and Oregon Harvest Veggi Patty are all gluten free soy free vegan "burgers"I believe they are all made from rice, herbs, etc.The sunshine burgers so far are my fave(havent tried baja) Sunshine ones are made from rice, sunflower seeds, and herbs.

I also like corn/quinoa pasta, corn pasta, rice pasta, "bobs red mill homemade wonderful bread", fruits&fruits&fruits, etc.
Its really not too hard, there are many celiac vegans. There is also a forum online called "Vegiacs"

[luce]

Yes- I forgot to mention Vegiacs for Vegetarian and Vegan Celiacs- great site. Thanks for mentioning those other sources- it's very helpful- I've never seen any of those burgers, but will have to look into it. Cheers:)

Im a long time vegetarian, no dairy either and also celiac. I do eat eggs occasionaley(like VERY rarely, once every month or two?)
My protein: Hummus, beans, lentils, quinoa(if you havent tried this--DO!) almond butter(more healthy than peanut butter)lots of spinach salad(did you know every food on earth contains protein, other than oil?)
Sunshine Burger, Baja Burger, and Oregon Harvest Veggi Patty are all gluten free soy free vegan "burgers"I believe they are all made from rice, herbs, etc.The sunshine burgers so far are my fave(havent tried baja) Sunshine ones are made from rice, sunflower seeds, and herbs.

I also like corn/quinoa pasta, corn pasta, rice pasta, "bobs red mill homemade wonderful bread", fruits&fruits&fruits, etc.
Its really not too hard, there are many celiac vegans. There is also a forum online called "Vegiacs"