GF-are you on the band wagon?

[Dissie]

I know so many people who aren't gluten free are eating gluten free. I feel it has become a fad.

I know people who need this GF way of life, need this way of eating, but why are so many people trying to do this diet? I don't get it. If you can eat regularly why would you limit yourself to certain foods?

Do you lose weight with this way of eating? Is there anything that would help people be more healthy? If gluten a threat to our bodies? I eat pretty healthy. We eat more veggies than anything. Veggies play a big part in our diet, but we do eat wheat bread. And I make bread weekly. It's not our only bread, I still buy sliced bread, but we love the dinner rolls, that have changed to just wheat rolls. I just don't get it.

[Felix4067]

I don't get it, either. But then I also don't get the low-carb fad, or the high-protein fad, or any of the other diet fads. There is not a reputable doctor alive who will tell you to use a fad diet even if you are trying to lose weight, because they simply do not work.

It's one thing to need a diet because of a medical problem, but those are closely monitored by medical professionals. This whole fad diet thing can actually be dangerous to people's health.

[Kchurchill5]

Dis, I don't get it either. I think it has become a fad as well. Or, at least it seems it has. If you need to eat GF, definitely. And, many do have intolerances to gluten as well.

But, I agree, if you can eat 'normal' foods, by all means. I don't see a reason to eat GF, unless necessary. Like you Dis, I try to eat whole wheat; grains when I can, and lots of vegetables and fruit.

My friend has been eating GF for the last year, thinking that is what was wrong. She didn't go to the doc. Just last week, she found out it wasn't gf, but her gallbladder. She has already had surgery; and recovering.
I think people are quick to jump on the band wagon; and it is important to an accurate diagnosis before you decide to jump on a type of diet.

[Kchurchill5]

Felix, I agree. Without proper diagnosis, a diet with NO carbs, NO this or that ... is not always the best way to go.

I like to go low carb; but not NO carb, it just means ... a few more veggies and fruits; and a few less carbs.

I don't like to give up anything, because everything is important to a healthy body. Even carbs. All within moderation guys.

If it is health related, see a doctor; then, that is completely different.

[Felix4067]

My friend has been eating GF for the last year, thinking that is what was wrong. She didn't go to the doc. Just last week, she found out it wasn't gf, but her gallbladder. She has already had surgery; and recovering.
I think people are quick to jump on the band wagon; and it is important to an accurate diagnosis before you decide to jump on a type of diet.

OK, so I realize my gallbladder adventure was out of the norm because it also caused pancreatitis (which is a whole new fresh exercise in hell), but holy &%#$!!! WHY would you not see a doctor???

[Kchurchill5]

My point exactly. She refused, because she thought it as just gluten because of everything she read.

I kept telling her ... see a doc. But, so much online; she kept reading and thought it was gluten.

It just shows, that a good docs visit it a good thing. Get it properly diagnosed.

[Kchurchill5]

Felix, pancreatitis is not good. Very nasty. Sorry you had to go through that.

[QueenBea]

I can't see why someone would want to go gluten free if they don't have too.

People who are gluten intolerant, and want to eat healthy, have to make everything from scratch. All the pre-made/processed/store-bought gluten free foods are extremely high in calories, fat and sugar.

This makes it very difficult for diabetics with celiac disease. They HAVE to make everything from scratch.

When I was first diagnosed with Celiac disease, I put on weight because I wasn't familiar with making gluten free food from scratch so I was buying a lot of the pre-made stuff.

When my clothes started getting snug, I decided it was time to do my homework and get all the information I could on the different flours and how they worked together so I could make my own breads and pastas and what not.

So, in my opinion and from my experience, no, you do not lose weight from going gluten free and I can't see what benefits there are either.

[Dissie]

Bea, thanks for your "weigh" in. No pun intended. I didn't realize that the GF stuff was full of sugars. Hmmmm Now you have peaked my interest, I will look more closely at the available breads, etc... at the store.

I wonder how many people actually are celiac and how many are just doing it for whatever reason they have made up in their minds.

[Dissie]

Kim and Felix, sure makes you wonder when people just jump right in and follow along like sheep.

WebMD is not a good idea to diagnose yourself!