Am I sensitive to gluten or not?

[Arbre]

Hello, I am new in this forum. I hope I will learn a lot.

Currently, I am in a keto diet (44 year old male). It is making wonders to me. I have lost almost 20kg. I eat lots of vegetables, and small amounts of protein, together with lots of olive oil. I am not hungry, and it is obvious to me that this diet is doing good to me.

Before, I used to eat bread. I was constantly hungry. I was eating before going to bed. I was waking up in the middle of the night to eat. My mind was boycotting me.

But I cannot say I am celiac, or even non-celiac sensitive to gluten, since I did not have the usual symptoms of celiacs. My digestion was ok, etc. The "only" issue is that eating bread/pasta/... was boycotting my mind, making me feel hungry, and forcing me to eat all the time, gaining weight.

Instead, abandoning bread/pasta/... is making wonders to me.

Of course, I do not really know where the problem is: is it only wheat? is it sugar? are legumes good or bad to me?

My question is then: is this phenomenon known by this forum? What is the best way to proceed?

[Scott Adams]

Since most people who have celiac disease don't have symptoms, or at least obvious ones, it's difficult to say if you might have it or some level of gluten sensitivity. The only way to know for sure would be to eat gluten daily for a couple of months, then get tested.

[Arbre]

9 minutes ago, Scott Adams said:

Since most people who have celiac disease don't have symptoms, or at least obvious ones, it's difficult to say if you might have it or some level of gluten sensitivity. The only way to know for sure would be to eat gluten daily for a couple of months, then get tested.

Thank you for the answer. Which is the specific test that I would need? I assume some specific blood test?

[cyclinglady]

Here are the blood tests:

http://www.cureceliacdisease.org/screening/

Like Scott said, you would have to consume gluten (like 1 to 2 slices a day of bread) daily for 6 to 12 weeks (talk to your doctor) before taking the blood test.  A keto diet is usually grain free or grain reduced.  

https://www.beyondceliac.org/celiac-disease/the-gluten-challenge/

[Arbre]

Are there other "alterations", different to celiac disease, which are related to wheat? Like for example with my lack of traditional symptoms of celiac disease, but on the other hand, having a very strong reaction (and a positive one!) when stopping to eat wheat.

In general, many people seem to get benefits from a keto diet, but in my case, these benefits seem particularly strong. I do not know if it is just the way it is, or if there is some additional reason for that.

[cyclinglady]

This might explain the difference between celiac disease or Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity:

https://www.beyondceliac.org/celiac-disease/non-celiac-gluten-sensitivity/

https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/news/20131212/celiac-disease-gluten-sensitive#1

Keto diet?  You might be feeling better because you are forced to give up many processed foods.  Sadly, the market is starting to produce keto products like energy bars and cookies.  You could be also feeling better due to avoiding FODMAPS.  Simple carbs, like sugar, are addictive.  They do not satiate you so you feel hungry again fast.   

I watched this video back in 2009.  (I love free education and it was issued by UCTV (University of California TV).  Dr. Lustig is a Pediatric Endocrinologist at UC San Francisco).  Almost 9 million views.  He is now promoting real food — not processed besides avoiding sugar.  

 

 

Who knows?  I am on a low carb, high fat gluten-free diet.  I avoid all processed foods as much as possible (okay, I do not have time to make cheese or squeeze olives).  I feel much better than on my old Standard American diet.  

I think diets should be designed to fit an individual’s needs.  There is not one perfect diet.  I just wish there was an easier way to figure it instead of trial and error. 

Good luck to you.  Congratulations on losing weight.  I have been able to do low carb fat, now for about five years.  It has helped to manage my diabetes immensely.  No drugs/insulin yet!   

 

Edited October 23, 2019 by cyclinglady

[Arbre]

Thank you, but all these symptoms are not mine. The only symptom I have with bread, pasta and similar products is that I lose control, and I am terribly hungry all the time.

Instead, without eating bread and pasta, I am not hungry at all, and I have lost 20kg easily.

I recall Dr. Rhonda Patrick said once that bread and pasta could lead the brain to believe we have not eaten. But I have been unable to find again that quote, or to see if that is true. If it were true, it would be the closest thing I can relate to.

 

[Arbre]

14 hours ago, cyclinglady said:

This might explain the difference between celiac disease or Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity:

https://www.beyondceliac.org/celiac-disease/non-celiac-gluten-sensitivity/

https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/news/20131212/celiac-disease-gluten-sensitive#1

Keto diet?  You might be feeling better because you are forced to give up many processed foods.  Sadly, the market is starting to produce keto products like energy bars and cookies.  You could be also feeling better due to avoiding FODMAPS.  Simple carbs, like sugar, are addictive.  They do not satiate you so you feel hungry again fast.   

I watched this video back in 2009.  (I love free education and it was issued by UCTV (University of California TV).  Dr. Lustig is a Pediatric Endocrinologist at UC San Francisco).  Almost 9 million views.  He is now promoting real food — not processed besides avoiding sugar.  

 

 

Who knows?  I am on a low carb, high fat gluten-free diet.  I avoid all processed foods as much as possible (okay, I do not have time to make cheese or squeeze olives).  I feel much better than on my old Standard American diet.  

I think diets should be designed to fit an individual’s needs.  There is not one perfect diet.  I just wish there was an easier way to figure it instead of trial and error. 

Good luck to you.  Congratulations on losing weight.  I have been able to do low carb fat, now for about five years.  It has helped to manage my diabetes immensely.  No drugs/insulin yet!   

 

I see you have now expanded your answer, thank you.

Yes, what you are suggesting is what I am thinking about: some kind of celiac disease could be the reason of the behaviour of my body, but also FODMAPs, or something else. I would like to know, since I would like to exclude as few food products as possible.

I never ate much processed food. I never ate much sugar. It is really something around bread and pasta, for sure. But as said, I cannot pinpoint what it is: either wheat, or gluten, or simple carbs or ... I do not know.

Is there a way to know? Is there some kind of test that could show "strong reactions" to some food products?

[cyclinglady]

Best to get tested for celiac disease first if you think that is your issue.   I gave you the links above.  It is a simple blood test.  If negative and your doctor has ruled out celiac disease, you may be diagnosed with Non-Celiac Disease Gluten Sensitivity.  If gluten is not your problem, you can keep a food journal.  Allergy or food intolerance testing (via IgG blood tests) is not very effective.  If I recall, it is 50% accurate.  

Good luck to you.