Mast Cell Disorders Forum

Mast Cell Disorders Forum
http://mastcelldisorders.wallack.us/yabb/YaBB.pl General Mast Cell Disorders Discussion >> Specific Mast Cell Conditions and Those that Mimic Them >> Anybody Doing Gluten Free? http://mastcelldisorders.wallack.us/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1312401352 Message started by Jewel on 08/03/11 at 08:55:52

Title: Anybody Doing Gluten Free?
Post by Jewel on 08/03/11 at 08:55:52

Hi, I'm new here with a host of food intolerances and resulting 'conditions'. Has anybody decided to go gluten free? I discovered that I am gluten intolerant 2 years ago and the other conditions I have were caused by the GI. Many ppl can be gluten intolerant and don't even know it as GI masquerades as many other conditions. In gluten sensitive ppl, gluten damages the lining of the small intestine so that nutrients from foods are not properly absorbed. On top of that, the damage to the SI prevents the manufacture of other necessary enzymes, such as those needed to digest fructose and deal with histamines in food. Going gluten free gives your small intestine the chance to heal and in time the body can then deal with fructose, lactose and histamine rich foods that you can't tolerate right now. I was in my late 50s when I realized that gluten was a big problem for me. Unfortunately I had a lifetime of bowel damage by then so it's going to take a while to heal. But I would never have a chance of healing at all if I did not go gluten free. There is much medical research being done and it is known that gluten intolerance causes at least 300 symptoms.

Title: Re: Anybody Doing Gluten Free?
Post by Starflower on 08/03/11 at 11:28:42

I stopped eating gluten in August 2008. In February 2009 I had my first serious episode of anaphylaxis. Although I'm sticking with the gluten-free diet, it's certainly not a cure for a mast cell disorder.

Heather

Title: Re: Anybody Doing Gluten Free?
Post by missybean on 08/04/11 at 07:41:11

I felt better with-in 2 days of going gluten free. People think it is hard to be g-free, but these days it is getting easier. I know some great gluten free blogs with great recipes. If your interested I can forward you the links. L-glutamine is supposed to help heal your small intestine as well as aloe vera.

Melissa

Title: Re: Anybody Doing Gluten Free?
Post by Patricia on 08/05/11 at 12:21:03

My husband is gluten free although he eats this white frozen sliced spelt gluten free bread or toast. He's not celiac and technically he's not allergic to wheat but when he eats it he wakes up the next day feeling like he's had a bottle of wine. Hes much stiffer and his joints are achy.

He misses bread so much, that's what he misses the most! He doesn't care about the wine, cheese and everything else but he'd give a limb to eat loaf of good Italian or French bread thats been freshly baked!

Title: Re: Anybody Doing Gluten Free?
Post by Starflower on 08/05/11 at 12:39:23

Spelt is a type of wheat... and contains just as much gluten:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spelt

The best gluten-free bread I've found is the "Homemade Wonderful Bread Mix" by Bob's Red Mill. It has yeast and it's actually fluffy!! I make it in two loaves and seriously eat at least one whole loaf that first day after it comes out of the oven. It's not quite as good as french bread (of course), but it does have a chewy crust and that yeasty smell of "real" bread. It's definitely worthwhile to bake it yourself.

Heather

Title: Re: Anybody Doing Gluten Free?
Post by Patricia on 08/05/11 at 12:51:10

Haha I know we are in denial about the spelt being wheat...but he doesn't seem to have issues with this specific brand of bread.

I have tried their flours before but will gladly take your bread recommendation!!! We have done some serious amount of experimenting and have had some good results and lots of weird end results!!!

The hardest thing is trying to find something to munch or snack on...any suggestions?

Title: Re: Anybody Doing Gluten Free?
Post by Starflower on 08/05/11 at 13:46:29

One thing I forgot to mention about the bread... add 1/8 to 1/4 cup of honey! It makes the bread more moist and a little sweet. I've done it without the honey, but it's not quite as good.

As for snack ideas... yes :)

- Hummus as a dip using one or more of the following: raw carrots, red pepper slices, a good GF cracker like "Mary's Gone Crackers," etc...

- Raw vegetables dipped in ranch dressing

- Fruit (if you can tolerate it): apples, peaches, blueberries, plums... whatever is in season

- Corn chips and salsa (careful to get brands that are GF)

- Cottage cheese or a container of yogurt

- Glutino pretzels (expensive, but they are GOOD)

- Toast with mashed avocado, nut butter, jam and/or Nutella (Udi's is the best pre-made bread I've found)

- A bowl of gluten-free cereal (Rice Chex, corn flakes, etc...)

- A GF waffle (Van's is really good) with a little syrup or honey

I often turn larger portions of these foods into meals. Scrambled eggs are also really good on GF toast or waffles.

Heather

Title: Re: Anybody Doing Gluten Free?
Post by Starflower on 08/05/11 at 13:48:49

One other thought... if you like to bake, Pamela's makes a mix that you can substitute 1:1 for wheat flour in a lot of your normal recipes. One of my favorites is gluten-free pumpkin bars. YUM. It's also good for making pancakes, muffins, and other types of quick breads.

Heather

Title: Re: Anybody Doing Gluten Free?
Post by Patricia on 08/06/11 at 02:06:08

Heather thanks so much for your suggestions!
The only problem is he really can't eat any of those things...
Highly lactose and slightly fructose intolerant
Can't do any fruits and veggies have to pretty cooked
He has started to eat oatmeal with fresh strawberries in the morning so that's an improvement
Anything orange carrots, sweet potatoes make him react
He can't do any vinegars, seasonings, soy, nuts, corn

I have made him gluten free bread sticks to have to munch on, I was going to make some basic granola today.

Thanks again!!!

Title: Re: Anybody Doing Gluten Free?
Post by TiffanyB on 08/07/11 at 17:54:17

Patricia, how did you find the fructose sensitivity? Does he have reactions to a lot of veggies? Is it salicylate type of symptoms? I was reading today that cooking takes away some of the salicylates...

We can't do gluten, eggs or dairy either...I so miss having a normal diet for our family...so many foods healthy for others are toxic to our little guy. :(

Title: Re: Anybody Doing Gluten Free?
Post by Patricia on 08/08/11 at 00:47:43

He was tested by hydrogen breath test, not fun...you go in on an empty stomach and they make you drink either lactose or fructose and over a 3hr period you breath into this bag. He was off the charts lactose intolerant and just at the positive level for fructose. He's also allergic to dairy.

I don't think hes salicylite intolerant because he can take aspirin. All veggies have to be really cooked. I can't even tell you how much we miss we just being able to eat anything! We went on a mini road trip 3 days ago and it's so hard...there are no fast food places to and grab something.

Title: Re: Anybody Doing Gluten Free?
Post by musemeg on 08/08/11 at 09:00:08

I've been gluten free for about 8 months.

All I can say is that gluten definitely makes me feel worse. My acid reflux increased exponentially during the gluten challenge prior to a biopsy for celiacs. Although I have no damage to the villi found during the biopsy - they found Barrett's esophagus (a pre-cancerous condition) caused by acid refluxing into the esophagus..

So although my GI guy said I can eat gluten -- he also didn't have a clue how I could have Barrett's. Who knows? Maybe it's just another MASTO thing. But it sure gets worse with gluten.

By the way I'm only a "Carbohydrate Specific Diet" now and eat NO GRAINS. That helps even more.

Good luck.

Title: Re: Anybody Doing Gluten Free?
Post by Anaphylaxing on 01/14/12 at 16:40:13

I'm trying gluten free but haven't noticed an improvement and I sure miss bread and pasta ;)