New To Wheat Free Life

[SantaDude]

One of my friends suggested I go wheat free for 2 weeks last spring. I did and many things went away. After one week, all of my joints and especially my fingers hurt less. I slept better. I had more energy and less brain fog. So, with out much research, I was gluten lite. I thought things that started with Rice were gluten free, like rice cakes! So, really, I cut out bread and bakery goods completely.

I mentioned my ailments to my doctor and he said I'd have to go back on wheat for a proper test. So, he suggested I just stay off wheat and be healthier. (wise man) I agreed.

Now, I read all labels. I am glad to find this site! Now I am having some returns of the aches and pains, especially the abdominal cramps. Could there be some wheat lurking somewhere else? Is this a phase of going gluten free? My fingers are a bit swollen and I have had a sinus headache for 3 weeks . I don't know what is related to what, meaning, could it be food causing this?

I am also Canola Oil free. (gives me flu symptoms and a whopping headache)

As for eating out, or for lunch, I usually eat a homemade sandwich, but for breaks I try to take protein bars with me and drink lots of water. I avoid all soft drinks becasue of the added sugar. I do drink coffee and enjoy dairy products.

[Mother of Jibril]

There are a couple of possibilities...

1. You're intolerant to gluten and not just wheat. That would mean you also need to cut out barley, rye, and oats (which are almost always contaminated with wheat). Wheat is considered a major allergen, so manufacturers are required to list it on their products. Not true for barley... it's used in all kinds of "natural flavors" and ingredients you might not expect like brown rice syrup and malt.

2. You're intolerant to another food. The most common culprits are dairy (sorry), corn, soy, and grains in general, but you can be intolerant to just about anything. As long as I don't eat gluten, dairy, or corn I feel GREAT. Unfortunately, that eliminates about 90% of processed foods.

It could really help to keep a food diary... keep track of what you're eating and what symptoms you're having. Unlike allergies, intolerances can be tricky to figure out because the reaction is delayed by several hours or even days.

[SantaDude]

Thank you for your reply. I probably overdo the dairy, since it is easy to buy, store and eat. I will reduce and finally cut out the dairy. My sister, who does not have celiac is bothered a lot by dairy.

Is there a diary intolerance test?

Corn too?? Now that would make life harder yet. I buy corn tortillas at the health food store because they have flavor and don't seem so overly processed as the ones in major grocery stores.

[Mother of Jibril]

I used to eat a LOT of dairy too (I'm from Wisconsin). I miss the cheese

Enterolab does a stool test for casein sensitivity. The cheapest thing (and most reliable) is to try an elimination diet. Cut it out of your diet completely for two weeks and then "challenge" it by eating a reasonable amount for a few days (don't go crazy... 2-3 servings a day is probably enough). If you challenge with foods that don't have a lot of lactose... like cheese and yogurt... and you still have a reaction, then you can be pretty sure you're casein intolerant and not just lactose intolerant. If that doesn't bother you, try milk (which has a lot of lactose).

The DQ7 gene is associated with sensitivity to both gluten and cow's milk. There's a lot of research that needs to be done about genes, allergies, intolerances, and autoimmune disorders. At this point it's hard to predict what food(s) will affect you! I never would have suspected corn I tried it to help my breastfed son (who's also intolerant to casein)... turns out we're both intolerant.