Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Gluten Free...just Because

NorthernElf

Recommended Posts

Chiana Apprentice
Chiana
Posted

I also have a coworker who's sister is ceilac. As a teacher we get food, often sweets, donated to us for appreciation in our teacher's lounge. When I long for just a bite of one of the sweets everyone else is eating my coworkers response is "my sister is celiac and she cheats all the time, just eat a piece." Um what?! No thank you...I'd rather not be up all night sick!

I do not understand why some people are just totally and completely insensitive.

It's so hard being polite in society. I would have had the hardest time not saying, "Well, she's an idiot and is going to die of cancer." That obviously wouldn't win me any fans. ;D

I just try to remind myself that most people are uncomfortable with people who do their own thing. A lot of people spend so much time and effort just doing things to 'fit in' (the reason fads exist in the first place) that seeing someone confidently break the mold makes them uncomfortable and makes them question their own world-view. It's possible that she is not questioning your health problem...Instead, perhaps it bothers her that you are unwilling to risk your health just to 'fit in'. What and how people eat is part of their identity. Every time there is a special event or milestone in my boyfriend's family, they celebrate by going out to eat. When I suddenly couldn't eat the same things and at the same places, it was like there was a giant wall put between me and the family. People bond and form groups over communal activities like eating. Once you stop participating, it's like you're telling them on an unspoken level that you don't want to be part of their group anymore.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


hnybny91 Rookie
hnybny91
Posted

Mu MIL said to me at Easter, "Oh! You are still doing that?" in reference to my not eating gluten. I said, "Yeah, it is either not eat gluten or die so I choose gluten free forever!"

Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted

It's so hard being polite in society. I would have had the hardest time not saying, "Well, she's an idiot and is going to die of cancer." That obviously wouldn't win me any fans. ;D

I just try to remind myself that most people are uncomfortable with people who do their own thing. A lot of people spend so much time and effort just doing things to 'fit in' (the reason fads exist in the first place) that seeing someone confidently break the mold makes them uncomfortable and makes them question their own world-view. It's possible that she is not questioning your health problem...Instead, perhaps it bothers her that you are unwilling to risk your health just to 'fit in'. What and how people eat is part of their identity. Every time there is a special event or milestone in my boyfriend's family, they celebrate by going out to eat. When I suddenly couldn't eat the same things and at the same places, it was like there was a giant wall put between me and the family. People bond and form groups over communal activities like eating. Once you stop participating, it's like you're telling them on an unspoken level that you don't want to be part of their group anymore.

I agree with your sentiments about this subject and think you have hit the nail on the head. People become extremely uncomfortable with those who have will power, especially when it comes to food. Like a bunch of teen-agers, even adults, it seems, want to be like everyone else and fit in, which is mind boggling to me. I don't understand why people focus so much on food and make such a big deal out of eating gluten free. I don't care what people eat, that's their business. I do what I have to do and really don't care whether others pretend at being gluten free or not. I don't think it diminishes my need to be strictly gluten-free. I have come to learn after doing this for 6 years that the vast majority of the American population have no clue what healthy eating is and probably never will. I can't change that so don't care anymore....I only care about myself with regards to this diet and people can think what they want. I don't really understand why this should bother Celiac's so much.

What does bother me is when people find out I have celiac disease, they always say they are sorry. I always tell them there is no need to be sorry as I am comfortable with it all and probably eat a much better and varied diet than most people. That really gets their little brains thinking.... :P

mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

I only care what people think to the extent that it will keep me safe from gluten, especially in a restaurant situation. I do not want anyone in a restaurant with the attitude that it is not important. And that I am following a fad diet, or drawing attention to myself, or all the other stupid attitudes that people have toward non-gluten eaters. I just want to be taken seriously without fuss.

jenngolightly Contributor
jenngolightly
Posted

I agree with your sentiments about this subject and think you have hit the nail on the head. People become extremely uncomfortable with those who have will power, especially when it comes to food. Like a bunch of teen-agers, even adults, it seems, want to be like everyone else and fit in, which is mind boggling to me. I don't understand why people focus so much on food and make such a big deal out of eating gluten free. I don't care what people eat, that's their business. I do what I have to do and really don't care whether others pretend at being gluten free or not. I don't think it diminishes my need to be strictly gluten-free. I have come to learn after doing this for 6 years that the vast majority of the American population have no clue what healthy eating is and probably never will. I can't change that so don't care anymore....I only care about myself with regards to this diet and people can think what they want. I don't really understand why this should bother Celiac's so much.

What does bother me is when people find out I have celiac disease, they always say they are sorry. I always tell them there is no need to be sorry as I am comfortable with it all and probably eat a much better and varied diet than most people. That really gets their little brains thinking.... :P

I agree. I wonder if this freedom from caring comes with experience or age? I'm comfortable with my lifestyle and I couldn't care a bleep about what other people eat. I also hate to hear, "I'm sorry" and get the pity-face-- as if not eating their food is devastating for me: "I'm sorry you can't eat this tuna slop on old rye bread that we ordered for everyone. You must feel like crap because you can't eat it." Blech.

hnybny91 Rookie
hnybny91
Posted

Ok, so my MIL asked me AGAIN today if I was sticking to this "diet" and why her neighbor down the road can't eat gluten either but will occasionally have a bowl of pasta when they go out and just say that she has to be good for awhile now - like it was some high fat dessert or something *rolls eyes*

GlutenFreeManna Rising Star
GlutenFreeManna
Posted

Ok, so my MIL asked me AGAIN today if I was sticking to this "diet" and why her neighbor down the road can't eat gluten either but will occasionally have a bowl of pasta when they go out and just say that she has to be good for awhile now - like it was some high fat dessert or something *rolls eyes*

It sounds like your MIL has gluten free confused with low carb.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens. I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium. I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells. When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly. This is safe...
    2. Jane02
      - Jane02 replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency. I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Hello, @Jane02, I take Naturewise D 3. It contains olive oil. Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets. Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking. Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the...
    4. Scott Adams
      0

      Penobscot Bay, Maine: Nurturing Gluten-Free Wellness Retreat with expert celiac dietitian, Melinda Dennis

      until
      Hello! Join me and treat yourself to a four-day, three-night restorative gluten-free retreat in a peaceful, private coastal retreat setting near Penobscot Bay in Maine. Dates: April 10-13, 2026 Enjoy engaging classes...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,329
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    klkarius
    Newest Member
    klkarius
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens.  I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium.  I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells.  When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly.  This is safe and nontoxic.  Vitamin D level should be above 70 nmol/L.  Lifeguards and indigenous Pacific Islanders typically have levels between 80-100 nmol/L.   Levels lower than this are based on amount needed to prevent disease like rickets and osteomalacia. We need more thiamine when we're physically ill, emotionally and mentally stressed, and if we exercise like an athlete or laborer.  We need more thiamine if we eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates.  For every 500 kcal of carbohydrates, we need 500-1000 mg more of thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  If there's insufficient thiamine the carbs get stored as fat.  Again, recommended levels set for thiamine are based on minimum amounts needed to prevent disease.  This is often not adequate for optimum health, nor sufficient for people with absorption problems such as Celiac disease.  Gluten free processed foods are not enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  Adding a B Complex and additional thiamine improves health for Celiacs.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine helps the mitochondria in cells to function.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins.  They are all water soluble and easily excreted if not needed. Interesting Reading: Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ Safety and effectiveness of vitamin D mega-dose: A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34857184/ High dose dietary vitamin D allocates surplus calories to muscle and growth instead of fat via modulation of myostatin and leptin signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766160/ Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31746327/ Vitamins and Celiac Disease: Beyond Vitamin D https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857425/ Investigating the therapeutic potential of tryptophan and vitamin A in modulating immune responses in celiac disease: an experimental study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40178602/ Investigating the Impact of Vitamin A and Amino Acids on Immune Responses in Celiac Disease Patients https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814138/
    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jane02,  I take Naturewise D 3.  It contains olive oil.   Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets.  Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking.  Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the jar, and thus may be irritating to the digestive system. I avoid supplements made with soy because many people with Celiac Disease also react to soy.  Mixed tocopherols, an ingredient in Thornes Vitamin D, may be sourced from soy oil.  Kirkland's has soy on its ingredient list. I avoid things that might contain or be exposed to crustaceans, like Metagenics says on its label.  I have a crustacean/shellfish/fish allergy.  I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex.  I take additional Thiamine B 1 in the form Benfotiamine which helps the intestines heal, Life Extension MegaBenfotiamine. Thiamine is needed to activate Vitamin D.   Low thiamine can make one feel like they are getting glutened after a meal containing lots of simple carbohydrates like white rice, or processed gluten free foods like cookies and pasta.   It's rare to have a single vitamin deficiency.  The water soluble B Complex vitamins should be supplemented together with additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine and Thiamine TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) to correct subclinical deficiencies that don't show up on blood tests.  These are subclinical deficiencies within organs and tissues.  Blood is a transportation system.  The body will deplete tissues and organs in order to keep a supply of thiamine in the bloodstream going to the brain and heart.   If you're low in Vitamin D, you may well be low in other fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Have you seen a dietician?
    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By trents · Posted

      Contact them.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.