Being annoyed with people who give up gluten 'because it makes them feel better'

[runningdoll]

I have Coeliac disease, I have been diagnosed fairly recently, in a way it has been a positive or me because since discovering which foods I must avoid I finally feel like I am in the road to recovery.

I've joined FB groups for advice. On these groups there is quite a lot of anger toward people who give up gluten 'because it makes them feel better'. Unless one of these people steals the last GF cake from a person who cannot eat gluten for medical reasons, then is there a problem?

Or is the issue that food providers think that we're all on a bandwagon, and therefore don't take it as seriously a larger problem than I realise?

[NotTakenUsername]

If they feel better without it maybe they are intolerant just undiagnosed?
I hate when I get told dietary requirements for a dinner party, go to a lot of effort to be told, “oh I cheat sometimes!” as they tuck into breads and cheeses...

I’m personally intolerant of gluten free! I want me some carbs - feel much better with some good honest stodge in me!

[Schroedingerscatagain]

I think it’s because they confuse people when they then eat gluten and we suffer the backlash

We’re a family of 3 vegetarian coeliacs, and often have people try and serve us fish or tell us a little bit of gluten won’t matter

This is usually because they know someone who calls themselves a vegetarian but eats fish or proclaims gluten intolerance but occasionally cheats

For us consuming either would lead to severe reactions as ds has a severe fish allergy and we are all extremely severe gluten reactors

It’s part of the reason I rarely trust other people regarding food and carry epipens at all times

[Nickynackynoodle]

I understand your point but IME, it improves the market for GF fiod and makes shops more likely to stock a wider range.

[honeysucklejasmine]

I'd say because it's treated flippantly if people think it's just a preference rather than a need.

DS is dairy, egg and soya intolerant, and is currently breastfed, so I am too. I had a long discussion with the staff at a restaurant, they helped me identify a meal that I was able to eat. And then served it with dairy containing coleslaw. 🙄 The next time I went to a restaurant I told them I was df/ef/SF and ordered a meal that claimed to be so. It arrived with a blob of white on the plate. "What's this?" I enquire. "Walnut slaw". "Is it dairy free?" "No". Ffs.

[honeysucklejasmine]

(I say intolerant, rather than allergy, as we're still in referral process)

[bruffin]

I agree Op it might improve the markeyt now, but what happens when they get bored with the current fad so stop buying. Then the shops wont bother stocking gf anymore.

[extinctspecies]

My student son has coeliac disease, I just try to avoid gluten because I believe it makes me feel better. But the occasional piece of sourdough bread isn't going to have a bad effect on me whereas even a crumb would be disastrous for him.

I think the gluten avoiders are helping actually - because they are creating a market for good GF food which would not otherwise be economic for retailers to provide.

DS is coming home for the holidays soon, so I have been stocking up on really nice stuff for him from M&S. I'm not sure there would be such a good range available if 'gluten-avoiders' weren't also a thing.

[extinctspecies]

Also many chain restaurants now are accredited by Coeliac UK and do understand the importance of cross-contamination and providing GF alternatives in a safe environment. So I think awareness of coeliac disease is growing and there is a better understanding of it now.

[pastabest]

On the one hand the commercialisation of gluten free food and the 'bandwagoners' has been an absoloute boon for people with coeliac as there is such a great range available now than there was ever just a few years ago.

I just don't think people get that coeliac is an autoimmune condition and that gluten needs to be treated exactly the same as nuts etc in terms of cross contamination and I don't think that's necessarily an issue related to the 'faddy non gluten eaters' confusing things I think it's more of a general lack of awareness around coeliac.

We were eating out recently with family and three members of the group were coeliac. They always ring ahead to check that the venue understands the cross contamination issue as one of the family is extremely sensitive. They all ordered a pudding that should have been easily gluten free with no effort from the venue, only the venue decided to plonk a bit of shortbread on top and then got shirty with the family when the family explained that they couldn't just pick it off and leave it to the side and would need fresh ones.

I've had to mute the coeliac Facebook groups as despite good bits of advice here and there they seem largely full of people looking to have a go at each other or incapable of reading labels.

[pastabest]

I'm also not always 100% convinced by the Coeliac UK accreditation stuff either. Dominios offer a gluten free pizza but many of the branches (franchises?) have no understanding of the cross contamination issues.

[MaisyPops]

Maybe I'm misremembering, but I swear I saw an article saying that unless someone has something like coeliacs or an allergy then it's actually not healthy for people to cut out dairy/gluten.

Just lots of clean eating bloggers etc plus some silly diets seem to advocate cutting food groups out so there's huge numbers of faddy eaters who claim they 'can't eat x y z' but really pick and choose when they can/can't eat certain foods.

It makes me feel for people who have very real allergies and coeliacs.

[extinctspecies]

pastabest I so agree with you about the FB groups.

How hard is it to read a label? We are lucky that the rules are strict in this country so it's easy to identify foods which may cause problems.

And I love the food producers who go further and label their foods gluten-free. (I'm thinking Magnum ice cream & Kettle Chips!)

[extinctspecies]

pastabest if you have an issue with a specific branch of Dominos you should report them.

[Bumblesnuff4Crimpysnitch]

I think you are BU to be annoyed at people who don't eat gluten because it makes them feel better. Recent research shows a higher incidence of non-coeliac gluten intolerance than coeliac disease.

There is also a group of non-coeliacs who present with very disabling neurological symptoms and severe depression linked to gluten injection. These people don't eat gluten because the feel substantially healthier without it... How do you know who does feel healthier and who doesn't? I have coeliac disease, gluten ataxia and 3 other major problems (including losing functional vision) all due to gluten.

Don't spend your time being annoyed with others whose life you don't understand, it's not nice.

[bruffin]

Then we also have shampoo labled gluten free, which is getting on the bandwagon.

[Situp]

I understand people's frustration if it means coeliac disease is not treated as seriously as it might be but on the other hand I have a very good friend with horrendous psoriasis which is excruciating at times. She avoids gluten and eats a vegan diet because there is evidence that gluten may aggravate the symptoms and she is vegan for ethical reasons but it can be so restrictive that she will eat gluten if it is easier. I wouldn't blame her for occasionally eating bread.

[runningdoll]

** Just to clarify, I do not get annoyed by people who eat gluten just because it makes them feel better and this isn't the AIBU section of MN

I was really just checking out opinion, I am pretty chilled out about what people do, or do not, want to eat. I am also new to the Coeliac FB groups and was a bit surprised by the anger...but then a lot of the posters on there are angry about their diagnosis. I was less angry and more, wow...I can get my health back just by cutting out gluten? but then we are all different.

[runningdoll]

I also think that we will see more and more people rejecting Gluten, either due to diagnosis, or because of general health. Lets face it if someone has gone to the effort of conducting an elimination diet and realised that they function better without gluten, then good on them.

Eating out feels like a bit of a minefield though, TBH I find it hard to trust anything that anyone else has cooked.

How hard is it to read a label? This made me as I now have to take my reading glasses shopping with me otherwise it's often very hard (I got a diagnosis post age 40).

I sometimes worry about the articles claiming that a GF diet is not as healthy, these articles do talk a lot about the processed GF foods/GF breads though. Most of what I eat now is non processed food and the occasional bit of GF bread. This is largely to keep costs down and so that I can save the instant food for when I am out and about.

[BalloonFlowers]

I must admit, I was pretty peeved when I'd cooked lasagne for a gathering of DHs friends, having asked and had no responses to the "any allergies" question, to be told, an hour before dinner that one lady was gluten and dairy free. To top it off,having produced a separate meal for her, she ate apple crumble and custard for pudding. THAT is what does the damage in my eyes - not being consistent makes it tough on those who have to be consistently gluten (or whatever) free. Because what most people hear is "I'm gluten free, but that cake looks lovely, so I'll have some" rather than the "I'm gluten free, because eating gluten causes me immense pain, and permanent damage to my gut".

[MaisyPops]

runningdoll
Sorry I got a bit ranty. I had to eliminate all sorts when the dr thought I had coeliacs. It wasn't pleasant. As it turns out it wasn't coeliacs but it really annoys me when people think that 'dietary requirements' equals dietary preferences.

I have an allergy so had to ask in a pub a few months back. I aksed about the ingredient.The waiter came out and checked if it was an allergy. They were amazing. It somewhat bugs me when I see people asking restaurants about x y z when it's just their personal food preferences.

I prefer brown bread because white bloats me, but i wouldn't make a big deal of how i 'can't eat white bread' and expect people to cater to my preference only to decide when I'm out that I'll eat white bread because it's there.
There seems to be a lot of that going on in food groups. I do understand why people get irritated.

[Bumblesnuff4Crimpysnitch]

@running huge apologies, I was sure I was in AIBU hence parts of my reply, am so sorry and hope I haven't upset or offended you (or anyone else).

There is a fantastic organisation on Sheffield, the Sheffield institute for gluten related disorders, and their work and research is vital in recognising issues caused by gluten. There are so many conditions, from reflux to depression, that has been genetically linked to gluten. I feel for anyone stiffening all because of a tiny protein molecule.

I don't eat any processed foods apart from very occasional GF bread and baked beans. I think the thoughts that eating GF is not healthy unless for medical reasons is more to do with the ridiculous amount of fats, sugars and salts that are added to processed GF products?

@bruffin I also wondered about the gluten free shampoo, then someone told me that DH skin condition can be aggravated, but not caused, by gluten touching the skin. I have DH but hadn't ever noticed any skin products affecting my skin.

Once again, I am so sorry for my original post and hope it didn't upset anyone

[Bumblesnuff4Crimpysnitch]

And further apologies, for the typos

AND... I had no idea this board existed, so am very happy to have inadvertently found you all.

[DairyisClosed]

I think it's a bit oversensitive to get annoyed. If they feel better then good for them. It's also good for people who actually have a gluten intolerance or allergy because it widens the consumer market for gluten free foods. Win win. It can cause problems at restaurants unfortunately but that is down to sloppy staff who don't take customer requests seriously more than people choosing to go gluten free without a pressing need.

[WednesdaySpinner]

Agree completely with Balloonflowers, the difficulty comes when people are not consistent with it. I am coeliac and my SIL has advised the family that she is gluten intolerant, however she can still eat gluten when it suits her . She definitely does the whole ‘I’m Gluten free but this pizza looks amazing so I’ll have some’ and doesn’t have any side effects at all which leads the family to say ‘well you can have gluten though can’t you because SIL does when she wants to’. The number of times I have been accused of being awkward now at family meals!

[frogsoup]

I look with glee at the explosion of vegans in the last year or two, as it means my dairy-allergic DD now has half a chance of finding meals (and cakes!) she can eat in cafes.