Coming to you today by generator power! Last night we had a few crazy strong straight line winds blow through and they not only knocked a power line over behind our house, but snapped a few right in half as well. Luckily my husband had our house wired so that we can just plug in a generator and we’re good to go! ‘Cause living out in the country when your power goes out means NO water! And that’s not fun, especially with two littles.

Also – if you haven’t checked out the blog lately, please do so! I recently had it completely re designed and it’s just beautiful!! I have a few more thing to add/change, but it’s to pretty not to take a look.

Anywho…..

After running my series a couple weeks ago on gluten sensitivities, I’ve gotten asked a lot if wheat is “bad”, so I thought I’d give you my thoughts on it.

What is Wheat?

Wheat is actually a grass that originates in the ‘near East’, or the area around western Asia and Iran. There are many different variations of wheat and they all contain gluten – a protein. The wheat we see in the stores today is also very different from traditional wheat. It’s been hybridized many times over so that it actually contains more gluten to give us bread that has a wonderful rise and makes it nice and soft.

The Problems

The theories on why gluten effects so many people today in our country are numerous. There of course is the fact that we’ve changed it so much from what it was, that our foods would change drastically if we prepared them with traditional wheat grains. Wheat is also one of the number one sources of calories here in the U.S. and is the base of our food pyramid. Along with those issues we have also experienced lack of health due to processed foods and lack of nutrients because of our consumption of them. No longer do we consume nutrient dense foods full of the probiotics, vitamins, and minerals our bodies need to fight disease. We also have to deal with multiple toxins in our environment that break down and toxify our bodies. We are given antibiotics and the animal products we consume are also fed antibiotics, causing our gut health to falter.

Because of all of this combined, many of us now have issues digesting the gluten found in wheat.

Should Everyone Eat Gluten Free?

Almost 40% of Americans have some sort of gluten sensitivity. Some researchers actually state that 1 in 3 have gluten intolerance and most just don’t know. It’s also been said that 8 out of 10 have a genetic predisposition to it as well. Gluten Intolerance and/or celiac is linked to infertility, thyroid disorders, auto immune disorders, mental illness, and all sorts of disorders that are effecting our children in large amounts.

Personally, I’m going to go against the USDA guidelines here (yea – big surprise huh?!) and say that we as a nation eat way to much wheat! Whether or not a person has an actual intolerance to wheat, we would all do best to lower our consumption. I also think that each person, each family, needs to find out for themselves how their bodies tolerate it. If you have physical symptoms or disease and disorder that may be linked to gluten intolerance – get tested! Normal lab tests check for gluten antibodies within the blood and are not very reliable until complete villi atrophy takes place (when your intestines are damaged). Stool or saliva analysis is much more effective as both tests are more sensitive and will contain the antibodies even if the gluten has not damaged the intestines so much that the gluten is ‘leaking’ through the gut into the bloodstream. I’m also a big fan of cutting out gluten for a period of at least a few weeks to see how your body reacts if/when you start to consume it again. Many, many people I know have self-diagnosed themselves this way when conventional tests were not conclusive or came back negative. If you find you begin to feel poorly after then consuming wheat again – listen to your body! It’s probably something you’ll want to stay away from.

Even if you don’t have any major symptoms of gluten intolerance, I think it’s time to bring an end to our over consumption of wheat! I don’t think each and every person needs to stay away from wheat 100% of the time. If you do not have an intolerance to gluten, feel free to enjoy it.

Sometimes.

There is no reason we need to consume wheat at each meal! Expand your palate and try some new foods! Try focusing on going wheat free for one meal each day, or one day per week. You might really be surprised at the new foods you begin to enjoy.

So should everyone go gluten free? Not necessarily, just make sure to find out how your body reacts to gluten first and be aware of how often you include it in your meals.

I’ll also get into my opinion of grain within any diet very soon as my family and I have eaten completely grain free for a couple of months now!

Now, to going back offline. *sigh* The power company (even though we have our generator hooked up correctly and ‘legally’, wants it off for now as they have to cut the lines and take down a tree that fell on part of them. Actually I’ve held them off to finish this post! Told them I needed 15 minutes. So – I need to go shut it off. gulp. The though of being ‘un’wired drives me nuts!

Have a post about eating gluten free? Or a great wheatless recipe you’d like to share? Add you permalink below!!

All images and content are protected under US copyright laws, please do not copy and paste.

Links in the post above may be affiliate or referral links - meaning that through a sale I may be given monetary benefit. I blog with integrity and only endorse companies and products I love.

I am not a doctor and don\'t pretend to be one. Use everything you read only to inspire you to do your own research and be an advocate for your own health. Please read my disclaimer in full.

If you haven’t yet, you can check out parts one, two and three!

Many people are under the impression that you’re only sensitive to gluten because you don’t eat enough of it (so sad, but true!) or maybe family members don’t think it’s a big deal and often let children ‘cheat’, how do you handle these issues?

Katie: I never leave my kids with anyone who doesn’t truly understand Celiac disease.  Most of are family doesn’t think it’s a big deal so we just don’t eat there.

Amy: I ignore them. I have offended a lot of people over the years but I cannot afford to spend 3 weeks detoxing after a “cheat”

Jen: as our daughter gets older we are being very upfront with friends and family, expressing our desire for caution and not wanting to risk her health over an unnecessary “treat.” We expect them to respect our wishes just as they would on any other issue, and we’ll be sure to provide alternatives so they don’t have to feel like they’re making our daughter feel left out.

Cara: I don’t allow my child out of my sight unless they’re with people that I’m 100% sure thoroughly understand the diet she’s on.  And it really takes people a long time to understand just how strict you have to be- I’ve had people (many!) *right* after I got done explaining that she can eat ‘absolutely nothing other than what I provide- she has a severe allergies’ pull a piece of candy/popsicle/cracker/cookie out and hand it to her, and then tell me ‘but it says it’s all natural’ or ‘there’s nothing in this! It’s just a cracker!’.  I don’t fault them, it’s hard to remember and understand, and our culture just isn’t used to food limitations so parents have to be very careful.  Neurotic might be an accurate description

Michele: Argh- letting the children “cheat” is so frustrating. I haven’t found a fool-proof way around that, and typically have to make sure we are supervising, until a full understanding has been established.   I also try to provide allergen-free options of special treats, snacks, etc. that loving family members may want to give our children (such as gluten-free cookies/mixes, ice cream cones, homemade ice cream, etc). This helps make things easier for them to “spoil” the little ones safely, and encourage them to spend time together, building relationships.

Kat: I’m of a minority of people with Celiac disease who also get a rash called Dermatitis Herpetiformis. It’s nasty looking and for me it lasts for over 5 days. That alone has been enough for me to prove to people that this is not a sensitivity from not letting my body get used to eating gluten.  I find that also explaining to people the amount of pain I feel when I do ingest gluten helps convey the message that no amount is safe. Pain seems to resonate more with people who don’t understand the disease, more so than having an upset stomach, bloating, or an immune system reaction.

Rachel: I think our families have seen first hand what we have to go through if we cheat and we have other (nieces/nephews) with nut allergies that they are sensitive to helping us eat GF.  If some one has “good” ideas/advise about being GF I usually just listen kindly and tell them “thanks for thinking of me, however that has not been my experience with my body.” Then I proceed to them them that gluten allergies can look different in different people that is part of the reason it is difficult to diagnose properly.

What do you wish someone would have told you when you went gluten free?

Jen: the proper recipe for nut flour pancakes

Emily: That our bodies don’t need that many grains! I kept trying to make up my 6 servings of wheat with other grains and it was so trying. Then I realized that we don’t really need that many grains. The handful of nuts or carrots was going to do more for me than a slice of gluten free bread.  Also, to watch out. There are a lot of unhealthy GF products. So many are almost all made up of starch.  Talk about a blood sugar rush! Think about replacing gluten with protein snacks.

Michele: Enjoy it!

Liz: I wish they would have told me how difficult the social implications are. People lose friendships over food. Believe it or not, but these are the kind of stories people in the nutrition community hear and commiserate over. Food plays such a large and important role in human bonding and human experiences. Once we lose that connection, it can be difficult to understand each other. People have always gathered around food and defined themselves by what they ate/eat. When we put the same food in our bodies as our family and friends, we have the same energy. Once we change what we eat, we have a different energy and become more conscious beings. That changes the dynamics of the relationship.

Kat: I wish someone had told me that going gluten-free was not enough. You have to re-nourish your body and provide enough nutrients to make up for the years of undernourishment you’ve undoubtedly gone through. It is not sufficient to take a B12 supplement and multi-vitamin. The body needs lots of vitamins, minerals, fats and proteins to repair and rebuild the digestive system. Eating whole nourishing foods is the most important step in recovering from Celiac Disease, or any digestive disease.

Rachel: That it will get easier! You don’t need to go broke going GF, just change your thinking and think outside the BOX (literally) Get connected with other people who are doing this successfully it makes it so much easier!

What are your favorite Gluten Free Resources?

Katie: Gluten Free Mom

Jen: Gluten free – Momma Jen’s Kitchen, Everything Free Eating, MPLS Real Food Lover GAPS - Grain Free Foodie, Happy Belly, Alternative Cooking, GAPS: A Food Experiment

Emily: Gluten Free Goddess- when you’re feeling creative, Gluten Free Girl , Gluten Free Mommy, Our Gaggle of Girls

Michele: SCD Recipes and Bob’s Red Mill are good recipe sites.

Liz: My Examiner articles, Gluten-Free Works is also a great site that collects GF info from around the web.

Kat: My favorite resources are all the Primal/Paleo blogs and sites out there. While I follow the Specific Carbohydrate Diet myself, I found a lot of inspiration and fun food ideas from the Primal crowd. I like that all of the recipes are using naturally gluten-free ingredients and there is no so much focus on baked goods and sweets as other gluten-free sites. It’s nice to see an example of what we can naturally eat, instead of complicated recipes attempting to recreate what made us sick in the first place.

If you’d like to mention something I didn’t think of, please feel free!

Jen: I think going gluten free is a great start, but it’s easy to just replace starches with starches and not kick the underlying issues, which is why I highly recommend GAPS. We saw huge benefits in our family when we were only limiting the starches, and not doing anything else to improve our diet. For those that truly are allergic to gluten (and don’t have other underlying digestive issues) I don’t think it is that hard to use gluten-less flours, and learn to cook with real food, once you get used to it. The hard time is the transition, and learning a new way of cooking and eating – but there are certainly enough real-food bloggers and friends to help you through it!

Michele: I post a gluten-free meal plan every week at Frugal Granola, so you’re welcome to stop by for inspiration!

Kat: My biggest regret was not going gluten-free earlier. The gluten-free diet was suggested to be on a message board a few times and by people at health food stores. I stumbled across it many times while researching symptoms online. And yet, it took me years to convince myself to try it. I wish I could go back and just try it out even for only a week. It’s not at all as hard as it seems. In fact, it’s harder to stay sick.

I want to say a huge thank you to all of you who helped me out and were a part of this gluten free panel! Your words of advice have been terrific!

You can also check out all of the posts from the week we focused on wheat and gluten:

The Silent Cause to Poor Health – a fabulous, everyone should listen to podcast

The Transition to Gluten Free – a guest post by Kat from SCDKat.com

Gluten Free Easily – a guest post from Shirley of GFE

Gluten Free Beauty – a guest post by Kristen of Gluten Free Beauty

Gluten, Grains, and Children with Developmental Issues – guest post by Cara or Health, Home, Happiness

and the 4 part Gluten Free Panel: part one, part two, part three, part four

All images and content are protected under US copyright laws, please do not copy and paste.

Links in the post above may be affiliate or referral links - meaning that through a sale I may be given monetary benefit. I blog with integrity and only endorse companies and products I love.

I am not a doctor and don\'t pretend to be one. Use everything you read only to inspire you to do your own research and be an advocate for your own health. Please read my disclaimer in full.

If you need to catch up you can still read part one and part two! Also, don’t forget about the giveaway for the gluten free facial serum ($45.00 value!)

Gluten free products can be expensive! How do you keep your grocery budget from climbing sky high?

Amy: I rarely buy GF products!  I make simple meals which don’t call for substitutes!

Jen: I don’t buy many products that are labeled “gluten free.” I use arrowroot powder as a thickener and sometimes flour replacement, have used seed and nut flours for the occasional “bread” treat, and try to get the most out of everything I purchase. Sometimes calculating the cost of individual meals can be really eye-opening and helps me make the most out of a small budget.

Cara: Squash, squash, squash Stay away from pricey packaged items, they’re usually not that healthy anyway.

Emily: I buy very little special GF products. I buy flours bulk from co-ops. I search blogs for GF recipes. Some are very good about inexpensive recipes. Lastly, I shop at specialty stores: sweet rice flour is much less expensive at the asian market than at the health food store.

Michele: Don’t buy all those packaged product just because they’re gluten-free. Find whole foods that are already naturally gluten-free (such as produce, beans, meats, dairy, GF grains, etc), and build your meals around those.   Focus on purchasing bulk items inexpensively, and create delicious meals. Don’t try to replace every gluten item (such as sandwich bread) with an identical gluten-free substitute! (This is the best frugal advice a friend gave me, when I decided to go gluten-free.)

Liz: I rarely buy gluten-free processed/pre-made foods. Unless I am craving a certain sweet treat, there’s no reason to buy these expensive products. I buy simple whole foods (and organic at that), and my grocery bill stays low. I also buy certain staples in bulk: beans, hemp seeds, quinoa and other grains that I put in my freezer until needed.

Kat: I stopped buying gluten-free products and stuck to whole foods that are naturally gluten-free. When you get away from buying prepared foods you will end up saving. Not eating out anymore I am actually spending less money on food than I used to. I am amazed that people will pay 20$ for one portion at a restaurant. I see that 20$ as more than I would have to spend for a really nice cut of meat and some expensive organic vegetables that I could prepare at home.   I don’t have a food budget. I am conscious of buying cheap cuts of meat, buying in bulk, and not wasting anything. I don’t drink alcohol which ends up saving me quite a lot. But, I don’t keep track of how much I spend on food. Food is one of my top priorities. I tend to cut back on things like cellphones, cable TV, internet, cars, entertainment and trips, before sacrificing the quality foods I buy.

Rachel: I try to go with out or make it myself…I do not NEED GF bread there are other things for lunch. Desserts can be altered to be GF quite easily. If I need to have something store bought that is GF free I try to wait til it goes on sale or find a coupon online. Mostly I make meals that are naturally GF: Taco salad, grilled meat, veggies and potatoes, homemade soups, stir fry over rice, loaded baked potatoes…  Like I said before it is more about changing the way i think about food

How has a gluten free diet changed your lifestyle?

In other words….how do you deal with eating at restaurants or in another person’s home? How do you deal with kids eating at school/church?

Amy: It often means I have to order more expensive items on a menu which is annoying. When I eat at other peoples homes I tell them in advance. Otherwise I just eat around what has gluten in it and make do!

Jen: I try to research the menu before I go and figure out what entree will have the least-worst impact on my body. I’ve come to parties a little late if I doubt there will be healthy food there, and fill my family with good food before we leave so we aren’t so tempted.

Cara: I warn people that I’ll bring separate food for my daughter when they invite us over.  I think a lot of people are afraid to have us over to eat, but we can find other non-food-related things to do instead.  You just do what you have to do. When it comes down to it, I realize that it’s offensive to some people that we eat differently, but eating ‘regular’ food makes my child sick, so I’m not willing to compromise that.

Emily: I will always bring a dish that I can eat at a pot-luck.  People generally know I have diet restrictions so they often ask what they can make or what they should avoid. I usually stick with simple suggestions like tacos but warn to look at the seasoning package for wheat or a stir fry and I’ll offer to bring the wheat-free tamari sauce. You can’t go wrong with grilling.

Michele: Our church has been incredible in loving our family, by providing gluten-free items when possible (including communion, VBS snacks, etc). If this is a change that needs to be made in your community, I recommend starting it yourself!

Liz: I have learned that I have to communicate my needs and expectations to others. This means having a clear conversation with them about what they will be serving at their home/function, and what I would be able to eat. If they just don’t get it, or don’t have an interest in accommodating me, it’s better to understand this beforehand. Most people show a great interest and concern and want to go out of their way to have something allergen-free for me.  However, I always (and I mean always) bring food with me when I leave home knowing I won’t be back for a few hours. That’s because I never know where I may end up and don’t want to be starving if there are no gluten-free options.  So, a snack bar, some veggies, chips, fruit and nut bar, etc. are my go-to’s.

Kat: I have often gone to restaurants with friends and not ordered anything. I sit there enjoying the company and conversations. No one has ever commented that it’s weird.  When eating at another person’s home I always offer to bring something for myself and to share with others as well. I have some close friends who know how to prepare a meal I can eat, but I still ask ahead of time to make sure.  I also try coming up with different ideas for social gathering. Sports leagues, having a picnic at the park or beach, or going to a movie, there are lots of other activities to do with friends.

Rachel: Going GF does make eating a more conscience event. It has caused us to eat at home more often and cook from scratch.   When we do go out it is usually a planned event(going on line to look up menu) or a repeat visit to some place that we know has GF options.   If we are invited to another families house I offer to bring something that I know i can have and ask what is being served to know if i need to eat something before hand. Also,if I know the family well enough I tell them of our allergies and offer suggestions that we can have, or offer to bring the main dish.  For my kids at church I pack something they can have or buy a box of crackers that is left in the Sunday school room from week to week.

How do you explain your gluten sensitivity or celiac to others?

Katie: I let them know my kids have Celiac disease.  Most people don’t know what that is so I explain it like an allergy to wheat since most people understand that.

Amy: I now tell people I am allergic to gluten.

Jen: I simply tell people that I’ve been avoiding grains and starches and feeling much improved because of it. They think I’m crazy, but aren’t about to tell me that I *should* be eating something that makes me sick. I get some strange looks, but it is usually an opportunity to share the truth about real food!

Michele: To most strangers/acquaintances, I usually say, “Thanks, but we have some food allergies, so don’t worry about providing a meal (or whatever).”  For people that are more interested in the details, I will explain further that “We can’t have gluten,” and answer any questions they have.

Liz: I explain that most people have food sensitivities and allergies, but many people don’t know. However, I found out that I cannot tolerate certain foods and in eliminating these foods, I put my disease into remission. I also explain that the more often we eat a food, the better chances we are of developing an allergy. So, because our culture consumes wheat and gluten like there’s no tomorrow, our bodies become sensitive to it.

Kat: I used to not explain it very well to others. I was extremely confused when I was sick because doctors could never tell me what was wrong. I’m sure I confused my friends a lot when I would switch my diet around too!  Now I just use the term “allergy” a lot. I have a food allergy, or I’m allergic to wheat. I use the term “Celiac” as well, but it seems many people have never heard of it and so I usually have to explain it.

Rachel: I tell them that we are allergic to wheat and other gluten. I tell them a little of what will happen if I do have gluten. I reassure them that life is not awful without gluten and have them look at me for reassurance that going GF is not starving me! That in fact I feel better when I don’t eat wheat!

The final few questions and answers will be posted tomorrow!

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You can also check out all of the posts from the week we focused on wheat and gluten:

The Silent Cause to Poor Health – a fabulous, everyone should listen to podcast

The Transition to Gluten Free – a guest post by Kat from SCDKat.com

Gluten Free Easily – a guest post from Shirley of GFE

Gluten Free Beauty – a guest post by Kristen of Gluten Free Beauty

Gluten, Grains, and Children with Developmental Issues – guest post by Cara or Health, Home, Happiness

and the 4 part Gluten Free Panel: part one, part two, part three, part four

All images and content are protected under US copyright laws, please do not copy and paste.

Links in the post above may be affiliate or referral links - meaning that through a sale I may be given monetary benefit. I blog with integrity and only endorse companies and products I love.

I am not a doctor and don\'t pretend to be one. Use everything you read only to inspire you to do your own research and be an advocate for your own health. Please read my disclaimer in full.

A guest post by Cara of Health, Home, and Happiness

Developmental disabilities are becoming more and more common- Autism is on the rise, learning disabilities are showing up in every classroom, attention and behavioral disorders (ADD, ADHD, ODD) are increasing, and sensory information isn’t being processed normally in many children (SPD). Having a special needs child can feel overwhelming. Mainstream doctors may prescribe therapies and run diagnostic tests, perhaps provide some prescription medication… but mainstream medicine doesn’t really have many answers for parents of children with developmental issues.

The good news is that there are some natural food-related things we can do to help our children! Just getting the gluten out of our special need child’s diet helps in some cases. Removing dairy (casein) as well is another helpful step. Both of those helped our child, but it really took removing all grains, starches (potatoes), and sugar from her diet to see steady improvement. This grain, sugar, starch free diet is designed to heal the gut, which in turn affects the whole body by having the gut-brain connection work properly (more about this in the book Gut and Psychology Syndrome by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride)

Our story
My daughter is not officially diagnosed with autism (she’s diagnosed with developmental delays), but I still opted to try the so-called ‘autism’ diet and she went Gluten Free/Casein Free when she was 2-1/2. I saw immediate ‘miraculous’ improvement- my child was affectionate, had the ability to learn, and became a normal child for a few days.

After this initial major improvement, we still saw that she was doing better than before the diet (she could sleep, was able to learn) but seemed to be regressing fairly steadily. A couple months later we tried the GAPS (Gut and Psychology Syndrome) diet, which is completely grain, starch, and sugar free. Since starting the GAPS diet, we have seen slow, but steady, improvement in her ability to learn, motor coordination, sensory issues, and behavior.

I think that going gluten free is a great step towards an ultimate goal of putting your special needs child (or yourself- GAPS can also help with depression, anxiety, attention deficits, allergies, and more!) on a grain and sugar free diet. Many children are so addicted to crackers and milk products, that I think it would be beneficial to eliminate gluten (and casein, but we’re mostly talking about gluten here) before taking the leap to go completely grain free, especially since gluten-containing grains seem to cause people more problems than other grains. There are gluten-free substitutes for wheat crackers and cookies, which will make the transition much less overwhelming to you and your special needs child.

This worked well for us- I’ll be honest, I thought the idea of going completely grain and sugar free was way too overwhelming to even consider. But after I got used to having her only eat GFCF foods, I not only was encouraged by the improvement that I saw in her, but I also realized that restricting her diet wasn’t as overwhelming as I thought it would be. She has been on the GAPS diet for nearly a year now (we started in November of 2009) and we happily continue on it, since I continue to see improvements.

I want to encourage other parents with children with special needs, even something as minor as a slight learning disability, to look into what dietary changes can do to help their child!

Please feel free to ask me any questions in the comments, and I’ll do my best to answer. Also remember that I’m just a mom, not a healthcare professional I’d also like to note that though my daughter is clearly thriving on a grain free diet, the rest of us seem to be able to tolerate grains and wheat just fine. We do ‘go grain free’ as more of a cleanse a couple times a year for a month or so, though.

Cara lives in Montana with her husband and two young children, where they enjoy the outdoors, cooking, reading, and studying nutrition. She writes at Health, Home, and Happiness about traditional foods and healthy living.

More:

See all my Gut and Psychology Syndrome posts here.
Listen to my interview about GAPS and my special needs child here.
Print a one-page overview of nutritional changes for special needs children. (PDF)

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You can also check out all of the posts from the week we focused on wheat and gluten:

The Silent Cause to Poor Health – a fabulous, everyone should listen to podcast

The Transition to Gluten Free – a guest post by Kat from SCDKat.com

Gluten Free Easily – a guest post from Shirley of GFE

Gluten Free Beauty – a guest post by Kristen of Gluten Free Beauty

Gluten, Grains, and Children with Developmental Issues – guest post by Cara or Health, Home, Happiness

and the 4 part Gluten Free Panel: part one, part two, part three, part four

All images and content are protected under US copyright laws, please do not copy and paste.

Links in the post above may be affiliate or referral links - meaning that through a sale I may be given monetary benefit. I blog with integrity and only endorse companies and products I love.

I am not a doctor and don\'t pretend to be one. Use everything you read only to inspire you to do your own research and be an advocate for your own health. Please read my disclaimer in full.