Comment by chez17 | Hacker News Reader

Comment by chez17 | Hacker News Reader

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>According to USA Today, up to one-quarter of all consumers now want gluten-free food, even though only one person in 100 has celiac disease

It's almost like people cook for the ones they love!

I've been eating gluten free for months now for exclusively medical reasons. I was having crippling stomach pains and nausea. Marijuana was a gift from the gods for the nausea but nothing stopped the stomach pain. My mother talked to a friend about my symptoms and that friend said it sounded similar to someone she knew. That lead to a recommendation to try going gluten free. After two weeks the pain and the nausea were gone, almost completely, and I'm still having some other GI issues that are being addressed. I don't think I am 'intolerant' to gluten, I think there is something wrong with my gut and avoiding gluten seems to be helping for now. Yes, it's becoming a fad, and it's sad that people just dismiss it simply because of that. Look at some of the comments here, it seems people get angry over it. However, it's been life changing for me, literally. I hope to eat wheat again when all my issues are sorted out, but it's really helped me for the time being.

The latest research on this front really doesn't do much "blaming the victim", which seems to be the default mindset when someone avoids a food or food ingredient. IMO, it's almost certainly not "something wrong with your gut", but rather your gut is ill due to long-term assault from poor external inputs. Eventually nearly everyone gets unlucky. The lucky ones just mistake a "disease of civilization" for a "geriatric condition".

Gluten, gliadins, and lectins, present in wheat and other grains, basically amount to plant defensive chemicals. For many people, consumption of these plays a strong role eventually has various deleterious effects which. The impacts are complex, to say the least, and a matter of ongoing research. However, the basis of treatment is straightforward: eliminate everything with grain. Gluten isn't enough, especially if you have severe GI damage. You may find it helpful to check out resources and books on the "paleo diet" as regards restructuring your eating this way.

Lookup "Nourishing Traditions" online. It's a fantastic research topic for hackers.

It's because of poorly processed foods that gut issues are so common nowadays. If grains (plus legumes and nuts) are prepared traditionally, the pythic acid is greatly minimized, letting your body tolerate wheat much better.

If you miss bread, try eating sourdough bread (wheat flour, salt, water -- no yeast). The fermentation process makes it so the wheat doesn't irritate your gut. My issues were disabling, but I can eat a huge loaf of sourdough in one hour without side effects, when eating just two slices of commercial bread gives me all sorts of trouble.

Might be worth eliminating all other grains, legumes, and nuts. I speak from experience. After you get better, then look into preparing these things traditionally if you want to add them back into your diet.

Anyway, after learning all this (read the book!), I occasionally eat traditionally prepared grain products, but the vast majority of the time I chose to just eat meat and vegetables. It makes meals a lot easier! Don't need to look up recipes at all, just cook your choice of protein (meat, fish/seafood, or eggs), then cook one or two vegetables on the side! You don't need all those fancy gluten-free products, which are generally not even traditionally prepared, meaning, that they keep irrittating your gut anyway!

Plus, a succulent beef shoulder pot roast with a side of spinach creamed with lots of parmesan and butter is so much tastier than anything made with grains :) We eat like royalty at our house -- everyday. And we do so on one modest paycheck.

Our cabinets are empty and our fridge is bursting at the seams. We don't really buy anything that comes in a box.

True, plants have a defense mechanisms from microorganisms, yeasts et cetera, but these defenses can be disarmed to some degree by properly preparing grains: i.e. the old way - soaking, leavening.

I'll repeat a quote from Nassim Taleb: "The three most harmful addictions are heroin, carbohydrates, and a monthly salary."

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