Gluten Free Market Goes Mainstream

[KaitiUSA]

Imagine my surprise when I am looking through news articles and find this about being gluten free and celiac.

Open Original Shared Link

This is great for us! Gluten Free products are even hitting walmart this month it says. More publicity for us

[marycubs]

A friend at work sent this link to me....Its great that Celiac info is getting out there and going "mainstream".

(However, around my home city the products that are out there are still pretty limited. But no doubt it is getting better !)

Mary

[Pharm]

Imagine my surprise when I am looking through news articles and find this about being gluten free and celiac.

Open Original Shared Link

This is great for us! Gluten Free products are even hitting walmart this month it says. More publicity for us

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was diagnosed a few month's ago & also read the article re WalMart. In it they mention celiacs (1/133 people) and legions more that are sensitive to gluten. My blood levels were higher than normal (on two checks) but not extreme. I have not had a sample taken yet for testing ( that is scheduled for January). I have been on a gluten-free diet for 2 months and many symptoms disappeared almost right away (extremely dry skin, sinusl congestin, icy cold feet, smelly bowel movements etc.). However I was never really sick as in nausea, diarrhea, cramping etc. I know I have to go back on gluten before being tested & will do so 3 months before. I am curious as to the extents of the disease. My 8 year old niece has it (not a blood relative) & a mere crumb makes her extremely sick. I am almost sure that if I had a sandwich & a piece of cake I wouldn't notice any difference. I have been eating like that for 47 years up to now. I know it may still be doing damage & the increased risks of some cancers etc. I am rambling but my point is....Are some peoples sensitivity to gluten less than others & need they be as extreme in watching out for each crumb or even every slice of bread for that matter? I feel so much better that i have no plans to go back to my old diet. However I am concerned on being so strict when travelling with my family. We love to travel & I know there are ways to avoid gluten even then but I hate putting them through the hassle.

Thanks,

Paul

[tarnalberry]

I am rambling but my point is....Are some peoples sensitivity to gluten less than others & need they be as extreme in watching out for each  crumb or even every slice of bread for that matter? I feel so much better that i have no plans to go back to my old diet. However I am concerned on being so strict when travelling with my family. We love to travel & I know there are ways to avoid gluten even then but I hate putting them through the hassle.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Some people are more apt to have more severe symptoms than others. Problem is, the damage being done to your intestines is NOT correlated to how bad you feel. You may be causing significant damage and only have a small amount of discomfort. It IS that important for ANY celiac to watch out for ALL crumbs and cross contamination. I know it sucks that it's that stringent, but your intestines are vats for chemical reactions - doesn't matter how little of a substance you put in there, the chemical reaction will stick take place. (And the one that gluten starts is, from what I've read, approximately a week-long reaction for the whole chain of events that causes damage to the villi.)

[KaitiUSA]

Paul~

You either have celiac or you do not. You must avoid it in all amounts. Some people react to every little bit while others may not have any symptoms at all but that does not mean anything. Damage is still being done no matter if you have the symptoms.

[happygirl]

The best example I tell people in explaining the variance in symptoms of Celiac, etc., is the analogy of pregnancy. You are either pregnant or you are not-there is not just a little bit pregnant, nor is there just a little bit Celiac. Like others have said, there can be variations in how sick you can get after being glutened (like some women have easy pregnancies and some do not).

I travel a lot and have recently completed a four day business trip, eating out the whole time, and did not get glutened at all (I am extremely sensitive). As long as you are careful, it can be done, and I'm sure your family wouldn't mind going the extra mile to keep you healthy!

[Pharm]

The best example I tell people in explaining the variance in symptoms of Celiac, etc., is the analogy of pregnancy. You are either pregnant or you are not-there is not just a little bit pregnant, nor is there just a little bit Celiac.  Like others have said, there can be variations in how sick you can get after being glutened (like some women have easy pregnancies and some do not).

I travel a lot and have recently completed a four day business trip, eating out the whole time, and did not get glutened at all (I am extremely sensitive). As long as you are careful, it can be done, and I'm sure your family wouldn't mind going the extra mile to keep you healthy! 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I just returned from a 4 day trip also & as you said, my family was very helpful. However I find that it is very uncomfortable in restaurants for everyone involved (waiters, cooks & myself & my family) to go through the process of explaining what exactly my problem is. Most have no idea what I am talking about & actually I can hardly blame them. They are very busy & this is such an obscure disease (at least from the amount of people actually diagnosed). I've gotten to the point of saying that I am allergic to wheat & bread ( the word gluten gets a blank look from waiters) & after choosing something from the menu I think can be worked with (usually very limited choices) I try to make sure they use no sauces or spices when cooking it. Bread is easy to understand & allergy scares them to the point of being extra careful. I am new to all of this but I find that following the diet is easy compared to the restaurant/travel thing.