Re: Grains(wheat-gluten), Stomach/Intestine issues & Diabetes

August 15, 2009

Hi Alana: I think I already replied to this topic about how to use IE with

medical restrictions, but since you mentioned gluten intolerance, I want to

respond to your post.

I have diagnosed celiac disease (gluten intolerance) and 6 other delayed

reaction food allergies. I completely abstained from gluten after reading an

article about CD, before I decided I wanted a medical diagnosis. However, I

later learned that the 'gold standard' blood test plus biopsy depend on

continuing to eat gluten enough that the intestinal villae are damaged (which

shows in the biopsy) or the gluten antibodies leak into the blood (evidenced by

IgG mediated antibodies to gluten in a blood test). Because I did NOT want to go

back to eating gluten, but I still wanted a diagnostic test, I ordered from

Enterolab (http://www.enterolab.com) a set of tests based on a stool sample plus

a gene (mouth swab) tests to diagnose celiac disease and dairy intolerance.

There are many things which can cause IBS (not a disease, but a label) kinds of

symptoms, such as Celiac Disease, food allergies, bacterial infections, candida

and parasites. I have experienced all those things. Only by continuing to test

me (by blood or stool tests) has my doctor been able to accurate isolate and

treat the cause of my symptoms.

I'm glad I didn't just experiment with cutting out foods here and there. Even

though I felt a little better after cutting out gluten, I still had lingering

symptoms. The Enterolab test diagnosed both gluten intolerance (plus the celiac

gene) AND dairy (casein) allergy. Casein is the milk protein to which people

have delayed reaction food allergies. Lactose is the milk sugar to which people

have intolerance because their bodies don't produce 'lactase', the enzyme which

digests milk sugar. Most celiacs have damaged intestines which don't

manufacture lactase. So they are initially lactose intolerant until their

intestinal villae naturally heal after abstaining from gluten.

Many people try restricting foods that give them symptoms. However, unless they

are obsessively careful, they can overlook problematic foods which appear as

ingredients in other common foods. For example, wheat, eggs, dairy, soy, cane

sugar, vanilla and nutmeg are common ingredients in many foods. I have diagnosed

allergies to all those ingredients. So I must obsessively read labels or

accidentally eat one of my allergens which causes painful gut symptoms for at

least a week.

Nevertheless, I don't feel deprived when I abstain from my diagnosed food

allergens. If I did not have diagnoses and only suspected that a food caused

problems, I might continue to doubt my decision to abstain, decide to eat the

food and blame my reaction on something else. However medical diagnoses plus my

painful reaction symptoms convince me that causing myself pain by eating a food

to which I have a diagnosed allergy creates more 'deprivation' (of physical

comfort) than not eating the food. Besides I have sooooo many more food choices

and tasty substitutes (like gluten free breads, dairy free milks and butter

spreads, noncane sugar sweetners, etc.).

I believe an important aspect of IE is listening to how my body reacts to what I

eat. I prefer to choose foods which feel good in my body, rather than foods

which just taste good in my mouth, but cause painful reactions. Medical

diagnoses and restrictions just give me more information about why certain foods

don't feel good in my body.

SUE

> > >

> > > Hi everyone - It's hard to say how long I've been doing IE (or the same

philosophy by other names). Probably a few years, although much of that time has

been in the chasm between stopping the dieting vs. really listening to my body,

embracing food, and accepting myself. Sort of a " well, I'm not dieting now but

no promises " place. Last spring, I was in a really good place, working with an

IE nutritionist, therapist, and a support group and felt really strong. Then the

group ended, the therapist went on leave, and I gradually started sliding back

towards the diet mentality. So I'm renewing my commitment - re-reading the book,

getting back with the nutritionist, my therapist is returning to work soon, and

now I'm really happy to have found this group.

> > >

> > > A big part of my struggle has been embracing IE while dealing with

diabetes, which is not as well-controlled as I like. I often find myself torn

between the IE principles and all of the traditional thinking about diabetes -

fewer carbs, weight loss being a priority, etc. My naturopath and MD are not bad

- certainly better than others I've had - but not totally on board with IE. I

often hear my naturopaths (albeit gentle) warnings to cut out grains while I'm

making food choices, and it is hard not to get caught up in either complying or

rebelling.

> > >

> > > Thanks,

> > >

> >

>

August 15, 2009

That is very interest. Although for myself as I noticed this change since

mid-June when roommate of mine and I decide to have a dinner together with other

company. I noticed I end up very sick unusual before and decide do same thing

next time then find out end up sick very bad with upset stomach worse at night

time. Now my doctor want to be sure there nothing serious that may lead to

surgey so this coming Monday I will be heading over for X-Ray my stomach,

gallblader, appendix, and others to be double check.

Eliza