I’ve been toying around with the idea of switching to a gluten-free diet. With much apprehension might I add. I’ve being doing some research and it seems like a gluten-free diet can help alleviate my Raynaud’s symptoms. For those unfamiliar with Raynauds, it’s an autoimmune disease where the capillaries in your hands and feet overreact to cold and hot temperatures. Basically, I lose all the blood in my fingers simply grocery shopping. It sucks, and I don’t want to take medication for it. I figured I could give a gluten-free diet a try. So I researched some more.
I don’t think I can do it. I mean first off, I have to give up my beloved Goldfish! My vice! Me, without my wine and Goldfish in the evening might be a little scary. I fear for my family. I’m a Goldfish addict. The positive side…WINE is gluten-free. Beer is out. A summer without a cold beer and burger from the grill? I might cry.
Nutty multi-grain bread, pasta, cookies, pancakes, baked-goods of any kind all a big NO. I know there are a lot of gluten-free options now, but they’re rather pricey. I researched that too.
Did I mention I can still have wine? I keep repeating this pro to myself. I’m trying to convince myself that I can do this. I keep waying the pros and cons. Complete lack of willpower.
For those of you who have switched to a gluten-free diet, how was that experience for you? Do any of you have experience with Raynauds and changing your diet? Has it helped?
Ah, Sheri… I’ve also researched a gluten free routine, but I’m not sure I need it or can do it. Just like you, I love certain foods (and beer!) and I’m not convinced that I must radically change my diet or my life to make certain issues resolve. I know so many people who’ve jumped on, literally, every new diet, only to slowly go back to former routines. I think I’m a smart cook and eater, and I definitely care what my family eats… so I’ll approach gluten free with much more study. Cheers! xo!
I’m not gluten-free, but here in Seattle, it’s pretty common… I would highly recommend checking out Gluten-Free Girl; she’s a local chef and blogger, and from what I understand, her cookbook is AMAZING! Good luck!
I’m trying to eat more gluten free, more from a health standpoint than an intolerance. More of a paleo diet too. I’m not sure if there are gluten free goldfish or an alternative… But, my husband tried a gluten free beer & really liked it! So that would be covered! 😉
I have started eliminating gluten from my diet. I became a guinea pig for myself. I have psorasis and a whole slew of stomach issues. I didn’t go cold turkey. I cut out one thing at a time to see if different kinds had different effects on me. I felt much better not eating as much, but I fell off the wagon after my daughter’s bday party and have had a hard time getting back on. I read that the South Beach diet is much like a GF diet, so this week I started Phase 1 (again) to eliminate the cravings. Good luck. I am a beer drinker and that is what worries me most.
I am also trying to eat more gluten free!! I have IBS so gluten tends to exaceberate i! I love Udis for gluten free! You can def do it if you want:)
Health conscious friends have recommended I read the book Wheat Belly that talks about how the grain has been altered so much to resist bugs and disease that it has no nutritious value at all any more. Perhaps a gluten-free diet isn’t such a bad idea. That said, I don’t know whether I could switch to completely gluten-free, either. I have tried cutting out some of the carbs related to wheat products, but I can’t seem to give it up altogether.
This is interesting. I’m super curious now. I suffer from the same annoying cold hand and feet. I’ve tried G-free but never thought about how my hands and feet felt during that time. Hmmm.
I have been gf for 3 months now… i have an unspecified autoimmune disease per my rheumatologist, no positive ana test, so it is symptom based… joint pain, muscle fatigue, rashes are the primary issues, although I suffer from brain fog big time and cramps in arches of feet and if I yawn too big it feels like my jaw is going to stay stuck in that position… it is a very long feeling second!!! I also have raynauds – not horrible case but noticable enough that people remark on my hand coloring sometimes. In the course of my part time job I encounter people who are very health/food aware and I have been told by many that gf diet eased greatly or eliminated their joint pain, swelling and some other symptoms. I ended up having to go off the rx (hydroxychloroquinine) that was keeping my symptoms (and apparently hot flashes) at bay… I am now 3 months clean of rx and 3 months GF. It is warm weather so no idea how it will affect Raynauds, but my joint pain and bran fog is definitely lessened to what it was in the first month I was fully drug free, so I believe gf has helped those symptoms, but I periodically am ingesting a weekend of gluten to compare how I feel to the larger periods of being gluten free to be sure GF is working for those symptoms… my hope is that if my pain stays at bay with GF then I will be GF for over 6 months when winter hits and I will be able to see if GF lessens or alliviates the Raynauds and hopefully the chilblains too!
GF is no simple thing… wheat products are fortified with iron and b vitamins where GF products are not, so you MUST be sure to get adequate vitamins and minerals in your dietso you do not creat other health issues for yourself.
oh, I was a bread and grain based carboholic… and I am doing just fine without gluten…the first month was a hard adjustment, but I feel sooo much better without it or it is just a temporary coincicendence but it is pretty easy living and the quality of GF foods out there is really good…. I thought I like Udi’s until I tasted local products. I live in Ohio and we have Sinfully Gluten Free – their loaf breads are wonderful… heavy dense breads, not like the light weight bread from the store that reminds me of styrofoam when toasted and there is also a company called Tina’s something or other… sea salt carmel muffin was amazing… amazing…. and I like many of the GF crackers available at health food stores and larger grocery stores… it isn’t hard to find replacements, but it is hard to truly eliminate gluten… must read labels carefully – even in foods you would not suspect to have wheat/gluten based grains in them… I believe I have gluten intolerance and maybe light allergy response as well – pretty sure I do not have celiacs…. thank goodness – that is a rough life!