to not understand the fuss about gluten?

[Bleakhouse1879]

This has probably been asked on here before, if so, shoot me down.

When I was a wee nipper I had never heard of gluten or its dangerous life changing properties. Now everyday I'm hearing about gluten-free this and gluten-free that, "I'm a celiac" or "my wife is intolerant to wheat and everything else in life"

Please could someone explain to this confused and rather befuddled gentleman of advancing years what all the fuss is about? Is it genuine or is it just another attention-seeking illness?

[meglet]

once you've had a colonoscopy, endoscopy, blood tests and tried several different diets you too would be glad to see the back of gluten.

[MadrigalElectromotive]

When I eat gluten, I get awful mouth ulcers and I can shit through the eye of a needle. I hope that is a good enough reason for me to be eating "gluten free this and gluten-free that."

And fwiw, people don't just stop eating foods for the fun of it. I miss pastries and croissants in particular with a passion - gluten free just isn't the same. Would love to be able to eat gluten rather than be considered one of these fussy gits who only eats gluten free food to be a pain in the ass or because it is 'fashionable'.

[DiamondsInTheFlesh]

I don't mind at all people who think they have intolerances or whatever, for us coeliacs that 'trend' has meant s massive increase in variety of food and also understanding

[maybebabybee]

the endless slices of carbtastic bread with other healthier foods is anyone's guess.

It's fashionable to think carbs are bad for you. They aren't. In 20 years' time it will be something else being seen as bad.

[GiddyOnZackHunt]

My great grandfather's professional baking books have a bit to say about gluten. Imported wheat often had higher gluten content than traditional British varieties. That wasn't approved of as we weren't used to it.
That's 1890s btw.

[Edenviolet]

2 of my dcs are intolerant of wheat and gluten as they have IBS

[Birdsgottafly]

OP, I'm glad you started this thread, I won't answer it because it's been explained that it's the modern day (started around the 80's) ingredients that are causing the issues.

The reason why I'm glad, is because you've stated you are Male. I don't disagree with what you post, the bluntness of it etc (as some do), but most of it now makes sense, what with you being a Man.

[chippednailvarnish]

Is 1879 your year of birth? It would explain why you don't know how to Google.

[Bakeoffcake]

When you were a child you wouldn't have heard about AIDS, that doesn't mean it didn't exist, or that it would in the future.

[WitchofScots]

It's certainly on the increase, I know of one person who was gluten intolerant when I was in my late teens but now three people in my work place claim to be gluten intolerant. However I am slightly more sceptical than I would otherwise be as they sometimes will choose to eat ordinary cakes/biscuits because 'the discomfort is worth it'. Compare that to, say, a nut allergy where the result can be life threatening and I am less likely to take their intolerance seriously.

I'm inclined to think that if you have a true food allergy then you can't eat the offending ingredient at all?

[ArendelleQueen]

Coeliac Disease is a genuine autoimmune disease, so YABU for that comment. However, there is a fad about being gluten free and I'm a bit bored of people exclaiming it's oh so bad for you. I have on-going health problems and I roll my eyes at people who claim I'll be cured if I give up gluten.

[SillyStuffBiting]

I do think the amount of people declaring they're gluten free does minimise the importance of needing to lead a proper gluten free life when one has Coelliac's disease. It's a world away from someone avoiding bread as they bloat, it has serious effects on a body and goes undetected for some time in a lot of people, causing internal damage.

[laffymeal]

It's either a wind up or Charles dickens got exhumed at the weekend.

[JohnFarleysRuskin]

I find food allergies a boring topic of conversation.

But what can you do? I have coeliac disease and can't eat gluten. My apologies to you op.

[PurpleDaisies]

Two minutes on Google would have told you Coeliac's disease is a real illness that has a massive impact on the lives of sufferers. You already had your judge pants hoiked up so far they must have been cutting off the circulation to your brain and you couldn't be bothered.

Some people choose not to eat gluten. That is totally up to them but don't put them in the cane category as people with Coeliac's.

[Celticlassie]

I can assure you, that a genuine coeliac can not eat ordinary cakes, etc, because the pain and discomfort will not be 'worth it'. The other thing to consider is that, even if the symptoms are not extreme, the damage being done to the intestines is considerable, and can, as mentioned earlier, lead to stomach cancer.

[ApparentlyImDoingItAllWrong]

I think the problem is that whilst most people that eat gluten free do so for very valid medical reasons there are others that are going gluten free as a form of dieting and others that have self diagnosed a gluten intolerance that they blame other symptoms on.

I have a family friend who claims that she is intolerant to dairy and gluten, dhe takes her own milk substitute and her gluten free sliced bread with her wherever she goes, saying how severe her symptoms are. However, whenever she sees something she fancies in a cafe or wherever we are she says 'well, just a bit will be fine.....' and scoffs whatever she fancies.

Now, its basically none of my business what she eats but it's frustrating when she spends ages telling the waitress what she can't have but then ordered a milky cappuccino and a lovely slab of cake.

I often think of her when I'm trying to explain our serious, life threatening allergies when my children and I eat out. When I am explaining and the waitress rolls her eyes, I try not to be offended - its probably because she's used to people coming in and telling her all sorts that isn't necessarily true. Its frustrating because I need the staff in cafes and restaurants to take me seriously or they'll be dialling 999!

[mollyonthemove]

My sister has Coeliac disease. When she was growing up in the late 50s and early 60's no one knew what on earth was wrong and my parents were advised to 'fill her up on bread' Until she was about 8 she was constantly ill and has growth restriction because of the lack of diagnosis. I cannot be doing with people who think it is trendy and hip to be gluten intolerant when actually they are just faddy followers of food fashion. Seriously why would want to pretend to have such a horrible disease

[MaidOfStars]

Coeliac disease:
Autoimmune, not an allergy/intolerance
Intestinal damage
Bloating, pain, diarrhea, vomiting
Peripheral neuropathy (your extremities go numb)
Edema
Malnutrition, failure to thrive, growth retardation
Anemia

Attention seeking fuckers.

[Bleakhouse1879]

I can assure everyone I didn't post this to cause trouble. I genuinely did not know about it. I watched last nights Dragon's Den and they had someone on pitching gluten free food. I've heard about gluten-free stuff but I never understood the basis. I did google it and it told me about illnesses, but it is always better to canvas peoples own experiences and knowledge rather than just believe the first thing you read. I didn't mean any dis-respect to those who suffer from this. I was genuinely unsure whether people did suffer or fussy eaters were using it as an excuse. Thank you to everyone for responding I can use your knowledge so I don't appear insensitive the next time I meet someone that suffers for this.

[DishPig]

Coeliac's disease is an awful business. We have one Coeliac in our family and she'd kill for a slice of fresh bread if she could, but it's never be worth it.
We also have a number of supposedly low/no/intolerant gluten people who will complain about bread but not about cake .
It is these folk who I think the OP is (or should) be referring too. It is a strange fad but on the bright side, its become so mainstream that there are now endless options for genuine gf folks - they have the pick of the menu now, rather than being stuck with a stale old crusket.

[DurhamDurham]

My mum started loosing weight in the last few years and felt really ill and down all the time. She was eventually diagnosed as having Coeliacs Disease. Since she has cut our gluten she has put on weight and looks so much better, I doubt all of her symptoms were a figment of her imagination and it can't be a coincidence that she has now feels so much better.

[Owllady]

I've become wheat intolerant at thirty bloody seven

[PurpleDaisies]

I did google it and it told me about illnesses, but it is always better to canvas peoples own experiences and knowledge rather than just believe the first thing you read.

That is not necessarily true. You want a reputable scientific source such as the NHS website, patient.co.uk or similar. People sometimes believe all sorts of rubbish (detoxing being a good example).