Gluten sensitivity article

[whiteladder42]

businessinsider.com/gluten-...

This is an interesting article which confirms what I have thought based on my own experience and that of others I know with IBS or IBS-like symptoms.

[helen_m]

Its interesting. I choose to remove gluten from my diet because I have Hashimoto's disease - but when I looked at the FODMAPS diet and removed some of those foods, I drastically reduced my IBS-like symptoms. Dates were a big no-no for me..

[Hidden]

Great that you posted this and I hope that plenty of people read the link.

Fortunately, when the IBS label was initially pinned on to me, the very first book I read on the subject was Patsy Catsos's 'IBS - Free at Last' in which she states that unless you've been diagnosed with coeliac disease you're efinitely not gluten-intolerant, so I never fell for that one as my test for it was negative.

I suspect that many people who believe they need to eat gluten-free are actually intolerant of most of the fructans food group which includes wheat, barley and rye. This is the case for me and, avoiding that group, gives me a whole lot of control.

Unfortunately, the one food item outside of that group which gives me more problems than anything else is rice. It took me ages to work that one out as it's generally reckoned to be such a 'safe' thing to eat. It rules out anything labelled 'gluten-free' for me as rice flour is almost always the substitute component.

Rosie

[whiteladder42 in reply to Hidden]

Finally! Someone else who reacts to rice! Most people look at me like I'm mad but if I were to eat it I would be needing an ambulance/hospital care within the hour. I completely agree with the 'gluten free' products being a problem, I am finding it harder and harder to have the occasional treat (most potato crisps now contain it as do most pre-packaged sandwiches for example, and even ice cream). Having recently been on holiday to the USA, I didn't find it once in anything and it was such a relief to shop normally and eat more normally again for a few weeks. With so many restaurants catering to gluten free diets, soon even the few safe places I go for special occasions will be out. Have you tried wild rice? It's not related to rice at all, the name is misleading!

[Hidden in reply to whiteladder42]

Sorry to say I was really pleased when I read that you're a rice-reactor as well - I know I shouldn't have felt that way, but it's great to know there are other people out there with the same problem as me. I've only ever seen one other post on here (from someone in the US) who couldn't 'do' rice. Occasionally I can get away with eating a very small amount of wheat/barley/rye, but like you, the smallest amount of rice would have me rolling around in pain for several days. As a matter of interest, I used to have a little dog who was intolerant of rice which took me and the vet a very long time to work out!

I know just what you mean about the look you get when you mention it to other people; friends and family adopt an expression that says 'there, there, never mind' and the only doctor I've ever mentioned it to looked at me as if I should be confined in some sort of secure unit!

What on earth it is about rice that sets off this reaction? I did wonder whether it might be worth asking Monash, I know it's not a FODMAP, but their knowledge about all foodstuffs must be pretty comprehensive. What do you think?

No, I had no idea that wild rice was completely different, so thanks very much for the tip. Are you able to eat that without any ill-effects?

[Ralphy38]

Well that is very interesting. I actually tried gluten free for a time to see if it made a difference & it did nothing for me....in fact the gluten free bread and pasta were worse than the normal stuff! IBS is a minefield. Thanks for sharing.