Starch - Does It Mean Wheat?

[super-sally888]

Hi,

Don't know where I am supposed to post this. Maybe a stupid question. Is starch = wheat? Was eating something last night that I assumed was ok. Belatedly looked in detail at the label and it said "Starch". This was an asian food product. Would I assume wheat?

I thought was going ok... but not so..... And can't tell if it was that or something else cause have not been feeling ok the last two days (itching) - only other thing I could think of was maybe the eggs and rice I ate at the local pancake house (two days running) was contaminated, or the vegetables and rice I had for lunch had something in it that it shouldn't (I did ask the waiter and he reassured me)...

Now my weight is up 3 lbs since yesterday (water? - it is impossible to gain 3 lb in 1 day with normal diet of about 2000 calories a day!), feeling bad (I think I get paranoid when am feeling bad - because of feeling bad, or from the food?), nauseous, tummy back to bloat and C, and feeling like living on the toilet. And my work suffers - my motivation and focus just went out the window - and it's not like I'm not overloaded....

I hate this. It is like you feel good for a couple of days and there is light and then back to square one. Like being teased. Hehehe... now you feel good, NOW YOU DON'T. I just feel like crying.... or screaming!

Sorry just a rant here. No need to respond. I just wanted to get this out. I will be fine.

S

[tarnalberry]

starch does not always mean wheat. it could come from corn, or tapioca, or potatoes, or rice, or a number of other starchy items. it *can* mean wheat, but US labeling laws these days would require them to list if it were wheat (though not barley, rye, or oats).

as for how you're feeling - you're eating out a lot, and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if you've gotten contamination from at least one, if not more, of the meals, even if there wasn't anything directly in them.

[Ursa Major]

Hi Sally, yes, you put this post in the right place. Tiffany is right. Especially at the beginning, when you haven't discovered all the pitfalls yet, and aren't too savvy when it comes to eating out, it would be much smarter to really limit going out to eat to about once a month. You need to heal. Your bad mood, inability to concentrate etc. are typical celiac disease symptoms, and you likely got glutened.

I assume you go out for lunch from work? You need to bring your lunches with you, prepare them the night before, if you don't have time in the morning. You'll know exactly what is in the food you bring, and avoid all the risks of eating out. I know it's a drag. But it is even more of a pain, literally, to keep getting glutened.

Yes, the sudden weight gain is from water retention and bloating, very typical. Don't worry about it, it will drop as fast as it came on, once you get that gluten out of your system. You really can't be worried about your weight while you get the hang of the diet, you don't need that extra stress. Put the scales out of sight, and don't use them for a few weeks at all.

And by the way, remember one of our unofficial rules: There is no such thing as a stupid question around here! If you feel you need to know, it's a good and valid question to ask. That is how all of us learned to live with being gluten-free, as it's not easy. We can use all the help we can get.

[super-sally888]

Thanks Ursula and Tiffany,

You guys all have great input.

I don't cook much and eat out or at my friends houses nearly every day (I am single despite my advanced age of 36 , work full-time and also part of a very active triathlon training / events organisation group (my night job!)).

Eating in is not a very practical option (I only sleep at home... and rarely long enough....) So it is going to be a challenge to find places that are ok to eat. Though maybe a little easier here cause this is Asia and rice is the basis of the diet here rather than wheat. (On the other side Gluten free things like bread, pasta, cookies, cakes, convenience foods, etc. is not available over here - in Philippines).

My friends are all getting educated and are asking what I can and can't eat... and trying to have safe alternatives to offer me... they can already see the benefit that I am not sprinting for nearest toilet regularly.

Am getting in the habit of bringing healthy ok snacks with me (fruits, dried fruits, nuts, home-cooked rice, toppings).. but will take a while I guess.... don't know yet if the local yogurts, etc are ok... have sent out a few emails to companies, but no responses yet...

Labelling is not so strict over here.... but the bonus may be that local stuff tends to be backyard production and has limited ingredients - like heaps of different kinds of canned and bottled fish).....

Pray for us here. We are expecting a major storm to hit tonight (Reming). Just finished preparing the office for the worst - putting all computers away from windows, power cords up, etc. Going home now to store some water, and make sure everything is ok / ready.

Sally

[KaitiUSA]

if it says starch you have to check...it may not be wheat