3 month gluten free diet

TriceMarie

After suffering with horrible abdominal pains and bloating for years,I got tested for caeliac disease last year...which came back negative.
So I've vome to the conclusion that I either have a gluten intolerance or allergy.
So I've been advised by someone I know who has caelic disease,to go on a 3 month gluten free diet and see how I feel (the days I do go without gluten I feel great,so hopefully this will help)...
I've decided to start tomorrow,I know it's gonna be very hard as nearly everything has gluten,and the gluten free options can be expensive.
So can anyone advise a diet plan for me?
What I could have for breakfast,lunch and dinner.
And the foods I can't eat.
E.g:are chick peas and lentils out of the question too?
Thanks

EileenG

Do some searching on low carb diets. Gluten tends to come in high carb grains like wheat, so low carb diets are what you need.

Typical breakfast might be something like a mushroom and pepper omlette, then some fish and a big green salad for lunch, rice optional. Dinner could be steak or chicken and lots more veg for dinner. Good GF snacks are things like cheese (hard or cottage), nuts or seeds, natural yogurt, fruit etc.

Avoid typical breakfast cereals. You can get some specialised GF ones, but personally, I think eggs are one of the best things you can eat in the morning and there are a couple of recent studies which show they tend to result in lower calorie consumption over the rest of the day, with more fat loss than a bagel breakfast. Obviously all bread, cake, biscuits, pasta, pizza, ready meals.

As far as I know, chick peas and lentils are fine. You can use potatoes or rice in most meals where you would have used pasta.

Jim

There's really nice pasta alternatives you can get from health food stores, Buckwheat being my favourite.

TriceMarie

EileenG wrote: »

Do some searching on low carb diets. Gluten tends to come in high carb grains like wheat, so low carb diets are what you need.

Typical breakfast might be something like a mushroom and pepper omlette, then some fish and a big green salad for lunch, rice optional. Dinner could be steak or chicken and lots more veg for dinner. Good GF snacks are things like cheese (hard or cottage), nuts or seeds, natural yogurt, fruit etc.

Avoid typical breakfast cereals. You can get some specialised GF ones, but personally, I think eggs are one of the best things you can eat in the morning and there are a couple of recent studies which show they tend to result in lower calorie consumption over the rest of the day, with more fat loss than a bagel breakfast. Obviously all bread, cake, biscuits, pasta, pizza, ready meals.

As far as I know, chick peas and lentils are fine. You can use potatoes or rice in most meals where you would have used pasta.

Thanks for all you advice!:D
However potatoes are a big culprit ..but,I've heard basmati rice is gluten free,is that true?:p

Hmm yea,I wouldn't usually have eggs for breakfast,but I think I'll start giving them a go.I usually have fruit with yougurt,and nuts and museli mixed on top.So somedays maybe I can have that (with gluten free museli) and then the other days the eggs,so I won't get bored :P

Are you sure nuts and seeds are gluten free?
Oh I hope so!:P

TriceMarie

Jim wrote: »

There's really nice pasta alternatives you can get from health food stores, Buckwheat being my favourite.

Great!:D And are they expensive?

Turtwig

OP did you get tested for coeliac on gluten containing diet (6 weeks minimum) via biopsy?

Gluten diets are actually pretty easy, it just takes a while to get used to the change.

General Rule : If in doubt, leave it out.

Other Generals (they are exceptions):

Avoid Foods containing caramel e.g Mars Bar.
Avoid Wheat,Rye and Barley Products
Avoid Tayto's and Crisps (though Pringles are ok)
Avoid Sausages, unless they say they are specificially gluten free.
Avoid anything that contains non gluten free flour e.g crumbed chicken.
Avoid most alcoholic drinks except Baileys, Wine and Spirits (I think need to check up on these ones)

Avoid anything that has been cooked with any of the above - cross contanimation can easily occur.

Avoid Biscuits and cake, unless they are stated as gluten free.
Ice cream and soft drinks are generally ok, they are exceptions but I cannot think of what they are right now. Anyways Coca Cola, Club Orange hunky dory, Ice Creams such as Choc Ice plain Vanilla and Orange Split are ok too. Avoid Wafers or anything biscuity -sorry no cones allowed

Bars such as plain Dairy Milks which state 'May Contain Traces of Wheat' are generally ok for Coeliacs/Gluten Sensitives , Dairy Milks supposedly are but it's up to you if you want to risk that.
As far as I am aware, beverages such as Tea and Coffee are A-Ok.:)

Breakfast : GF Porridge,GF cereals,
Lunch : Salads, with Egg, Yoghurts (watch the flavour!) and more fruit.
Dinner : Fish, Meat,Vegetables (fibre is important so eat plenty veg:) all ok.

Be Careful! Some foods that sound GF free may not actually contain glutten but contain another similiar protein called Hordein. This is usually contained in food that have Barley Malt Flavour, Barley Malt Extract listed as ingredients.

If you are gonna commit long term to a gluten free diet, then I recommend consulting your GP and maybe getting him/her to forward you onto a dietician who can best advise you.Common problems people supposedly have is that they lack fibre, folic acid or calcium in their diet so be careful : It is a big step to take and I wish you the very best with it


*(The bar is produced in a factory that contains wheat ingredients but the line is usually wheat free and this means that content of gluten is usually insignificant most manufacturers, however, just cover their asses by saying 'may .. .' - Check with the Coeliac Soc of Ireland to be sure as they constantly do revisions:))

Also, just thought I'd warn you that GF bread tastes like cardboard:mad:

And GF foods tend to be a little bit on the more expensive side...:(

TriceMarie

Malty_T wrote: »

OP did you get tested for coeliac on gluten containing diet (6 weeks minimum) via biopsy?

No,my doctor just took blood samples and sent them off to the lab.

Malty_T wrote: »

Avoid Tayto's and Crisps (though Pringles are ok)

I think Velvet Crunch are ok too yea?Because they're actually not potatoe,they're cassavana plant!And taste yummy and little calories!

Malty_T wrote: »

Avoid most alcoholic drinks except Baileys, Wine and Spirits (I think need to check up on these ones)

Yea,I'm usually fine with wine and spirits...beer or cider is a big no no aaah the cheapest drink!But I'm never sick with vodka and that's yummy :P

Malty_T wrote: »

Ice Creams such as Choc Ice plain Vanilla and Orange Split are ok too. Avoid Wafers or anything biscuity -sorry no cones allowed

So sorbets would be fine too?:p:p mmmmm yummy!

Malty_T wrote: »

As far as I am aware, beverages such as Tea and Coffee are A-Ok.:)

Thank god for that!!!!:p

Malty_T wrote: »

If you are gonna commit long term to a gluten free diet, then I recommend consulting your GP and maybe getting him/her to forward you onto a dietician who can best advise you.Common problems people supposedly have is that they lack fibre, folic acid or calcium in their diet so be careful : It is a big step to take and I wish you the very best with it



Also, just thought I'd warn you that GF bread tastes like cardboard:mad:

Yea,its not the best,unless you toast it.I've made it a few times with the GF flour you buy

Do you think I should take suppliments or vitamins then while on this diet?
Thank you for all your advice!:D:D
So far so good lol:p

jdivision

Malty_T wrote: »

Avoid Tayto's and Crisps (though Pringles are ok)

Most Walkers crisps are gluten free and coeliac friendly

Malty_T wrote: »

Avoid most alcoholic drinks except Baileys, Wine and Spirits (I think need to check up on these ones)

Cider is okay too.

I'd agree with a lot of Eileen and Malty said. That and homemade caesar salad, no croutons, is great providing you get a dressing athat's gluten free, which you can in places like Dunnes. There's an Italian one that's a green wrapping on a clear bottle and that's fine. I use those Linseed ground up nuts etc instead of croutons, tastes good.
Lots of eggs, lots of fish, lots of veg and take it easy on the starch eg potatoes and rice. I wouldn't use any of the gluten free breads etc, they're horrible

neuro-praxis

True allergies and intolerances are very rare. If potatoes cause you a problem (and they are totally gluten free) you probably have irritable bowel syndrome, which is something you simply have to learn to live with. Have you been checked for Crohn's disease or other bowel disorders?

I know that's not very helpful but I sincerely doubt that if potatoes cause you bloating problems that eating gluten free will do you any good.

I would advise doing a low-carb diet for a while to see if that helps. Gluten is not your problem.

_ZeeK_

why are you going gluten free when you've been tested negative for having the antibodies?

TriceMarie

neuro-praxis wrote: »

True allergies and intolerances are very rare. If potatoes cause you a problem (and they are totally gluten free) you probably have irritable bowel syndrome, which is something you simply have to learn to live with. Have you been checked for Crohn's disease or other bowel disorders?

I know that's not very helpful but I sincerely doubt that if potatoes cause you bloating problems that eating gluten free will do you any good.

I would advise doing a low-carb diet for a while to see if that helps. Gluten is not your problem.

Yes,I've been told it's possible I have ibs.
But gluten is the trigger

TriceMarie

_ZeeK_ wrote: »

why are you going gluten free when you've been tested negative for having the antibodies?

Because gluten triggers my abdominal pains,bloating and nausea

neuro-praxis

TriceMarie wrote: »

Because gluten triggers my abdominal pains,bloating and nausea

But...you don't seem to know what has gluten in it!

El_Dangeroso

I have IBS and your symptoms sound quite similar.

IBS isn't really a disease as much as it is the lack of a diagnosis of other diseases, I was only diagnosed after a battery of tests failed to show anything else wrong, despite being doubled over with agony for weeks on end and being hospitalised.

Gluten definitely makes it worse.

For me what worked is a low carb diet, definitely not the only solution but I can only speak for myself.

Try it for a month and then start reintroducing different carbs and gauge your reaction. For example potatoes and small amounts of rice (about 50g) are fine for me, but even a tiny amount wheat has an almost auto-immune like reaction including headache, bloating and stomach cramps, also high fibre foods like cabbage and turnip are a nono for some people.

Best of luck whatever you decide!

corkcomp

op, assuming you are not gluten intollerant (as the test for this is normally accurate, unless you cut out gluten before having the test) then it may be iritable bowel as mentioned - I know a few people with this and its caffene, fatty foods, spicy foods and foods high high in insoluble fibre (like some veg) that seem to cause problems - ive never heard of potatoes causing problems though nor whole grains (lots of soluble fibre) so that seems strange ..

Turtwig

Hi TricieMarie,

Blood tests are by no means definitive, biopsy samples are only thing that really tell. If you tested negative for anti bodies and still have abdominal pain you really should consider consulting your GP and describing the extent of your symptoms.

You could have one of a plethora of things. So although cutting out gluten may ease the symptoms there's no gurantee things won't get better (or worse for that matter). You need to tackle this thing on the head and find out exactly what's wrong (if anything:)), it may take time and many tests but it's best be safe than sorry.Also, if you are Coeliac/glutten sensitive/have something else these things could potentially put you at more risk to other things in later life so it's best to know for sure. Afterall, you're health is the single most important thing.

If you do see your GP make sure to tell him/her everything you can possibly think of even if it seems unimportant to you.
Take Care,
Malt

thinktwice

Hi guys, I've just been reading all of your posts

I'm hoping someone or many of you could advise me please. I'm really struggling, I can't eat gluten (makes be bloated, irritable and sleep uncontrollably), yeast (rash) and dairy (makes me sick)

Ok from the start:
When my son was born in Dec '05, I developed a wide range of allergies mainly yeast and dairy. Doctors couldn't diagnose it even though the rash was visable she said my bloods were clear. I did the Candida diet with a homeopath and lost 1.5 stone very quickly without exercise and symptoms disappeared (I was like a new person). After my second child was born 19 months ago, I developed an intolerance to Gluten on top of the yeast and dairy. Since this began I have been back & forth to doctors and no-one can tell me what's wrong. (I would go back to Homeopath but I think it's a short term solution to something more serious going on inside) I have cutaneous urticaria as I seem to react with colourings, additives and flavourings (basically everything). I don't know what to eat. I changed doctors as he was useless. The new one did a Celiac test but it came back negative. I went to hospital to see a consultant in November and he said I'd have to eat Gluten for a month before a camera is inserted to explore, but it'll kill me to eat it once let alone a month!! I still haven't had a follow up appointment (and I won't hold my breath)

I give up it's been four years now and I'm so so sick of it. Sorry for the essay but there's so much going on and I'm fed up.

Pembily

thinktwice wrote: »

Hi guys, I've just been reading all of your posts

I'm hoping someone or many of you could advise me please. I'm really struggling, I can't eat gluten (makes be bloated, irritable and sleep uncontrollably), yeast (rash) and dairy (makes me sick)

Ok from the start:
When my son was born in Dec '05, I developed a wide range of allergies mainly yeast and dairy. Doctors couldn't diagnose it even though the rash was visable she said my bloods were clear. I did the Candida diet with a homeopath and lost 1.5 stone very quickly without exercise and symptoms disappeared (I was like a new person). After my second child was born 19 months ago, I developed an intolerance to Gluten on top of the yeast and dairy. Since this began I have been back & forth to doctors and no-one can tell me what's wrong. (I would go back to Homeopath but I think it's a short term solution to something more serious going on inside) I have cutaneous urticaria as I seem to react with colourings, additives and flavourings (basically everything). I don't know what to eat. I changed doctors as he was useless. The new one did a Celiac test but it came back negative. I went to hospital to see a consultant in November and he said I'd have to eat Gluten for a month before a camera is inserted to explore, but it'll kill me to eat it once let alone a month!! I still haven't had a follow up appointment (and I won't hold my breath)

I give up it's been four years now and I'm so so sick of it. Sorry for the essay but there's so much going on and I'm fed up.

You are not alone, I am 25 (no children) and I feel for the last 5 years I have been trying to figure out what is wrong with me!!! Many symptoms and no answers until I went to an accupuncturest - I eat really healthily - don't eat wheat, dairy or yeast and did the candida diet but it was useless - still no energy!!! The accupuncturest knew my problems straight off, she is re-doing my diet and said I shouldn't eat brown rice (one thing I would eat alot as its too hard for me to digest) Dr can be useless, I was basically told to live with chronic constipation and severe tiredness at the age of 25 and I exercise!!! Would defo recommened an accupuncturest...

thinktwice

Pembily wrote: »

You are not alone, I am 25 (no children) and I feel for the last 5 years I have been trying to figure out what is wrong with me!!! Many symptoms and no answers until I went to an accupuncturest - I eat really healthily - don't eat wheat, dairy or yeast and did the candida diet but it was useless - still no energy!!! The accupuncturest knew my problems straight off, she is re-doing my diet and said I shouldn't eat brown rice (one thing I would eat alot as its too hard for me to digest) Dr can be useless, I was basically told to live with chronic constipation and severe tiredness at the age of 25 and I exercise!!! Would defo recommened an accupuncturest...

Thanks Pembily, I might try that I'm very open to alternative meds/therapy too. I'm shocked you had no let up after eliminating wheat, did you try gluten (Rye, Oats, Barley and wheat) maybe that would help a bit. Ya docs more or less are telling me struggle on, but I know just because they haven't a medical reason they think it cannot be fixed. I honestly believe they really don't understand the body fully!

Sapsorrow

Pembily wrote: »

Would defo recommened an accupuncturest...

+1 to that

My accupuncturist worked wonders with my IBS when I had the cash to see one and made me aware of loads of foods that were triggering my symptoms.
Be wide though not all acupunctuists are any good so try get one someone reliable reccomends.
Yogas great for IBS certain poses work wonders for getting rid of cramps and clearing gas, bloating etc..

Amigone

Hi all,

I'm in the same boat... long time sufferer but of what I don't know. I've had scopes and blood tests and nutritionists telling me nothing of use for 8 years!

Basically when I was about 17/18 I developed what I myself surmise to be IBS (oh the all encompassing IBS label!). I can't, can't, can't eat bread, pasta or any pastries. They are the big no no's. Then further down the scale is potatoes, brocolli, spicey food and crisps. While I eat brown rice, if I have it more than 2/3 times a week i start to get that groggy feeling in my gut from what i call 'the starch effect'.

When I had my scope done I paid a consultant ridiculous money to give me some answers because I was desperate and this is what I was told 'Drink plenty of water, exercise and take in loads of firbre'... fibre??! Fibre?? He actually told me meuslis and brown breads would help my chronic constipation AFTER i told him i thought i had IBS and bread aggrevated it!... needless to say I started to doubt the traditional medical expertise on IBS. Oh, and he didn't do a biopsy when he was there!

So most recently I had blood tests done which came back negative for celiac. I follow a very low gluten diet so either 1) it didn't register cos low gluten in my system or 2) i haven't celiac at all!

Either way I'm still no further on now all these years later. I may/may not have a gluten/wheat intolerance, I may have IBS, I may even have celiac disease after all! Who knows.

For me when I'm good I feel great. No tiredness, no bad moods, no naseua, no unbearable bloating and wind, but can't seem to shake the constipation no matter what i do or don't eat.

Not an informative post by any means but more just to share my story!

enda1

The amount of self-diagnosis on this forum is mad!

Go see a doctor OP and make sure you are OK.
You could have any number of conditions, diseases or parasites.

Have you had a scope done and samples tested?
Have you had a ecosound performed?

I'm no doctor so can't and wouldn't diagnose, but I do know that the best thing to do is consult the specialists!

El_Dangeroso

Amigone wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm in the same boat... long time sufferer but of what I don't know. I've had scopes and blood tests and nutritionists telling me nothing of use for 8 years!

Basically when I was about 17/18 I developed what I myself surmise to be IBS (oh the all encompassing IBS label!). I can't, can't, can't eat bread, pasta or any pastries. They are the big no no's. Then further down the scale is potatoes, brocolli, spicey food and crisps. While I eat brown rice, if I have it more than 2/3 times a week i start to get that groggy feeling in my gut from what i call 'the starch effect'.

When I had my scope done I paid a consultant ridiculous money to give me some answers because I was desperate and this is what I was told 'Drink plenty of water, exercise and take in loads of firbre'... fibre??! Fibre?? He actually told me meuslis and brown breads would help my chronic constipation AFTER i told him i thought i had IBS and bread aggrevated it!... needless to say I started to doubt the traditional medical expertise on IBS. Oh, and he didn't do a biopsy when he was there!

So most recently I had blood tests done which came back negative for celiac. I follow a very low gluten diet so either 1) it didn't register cos low gluten in my system or 2) i haven't celiac at all!

Either way I'm still no further on now all these years later. I may/may not have a gluten/wheat intolerance, I may have IBS, I may even have celiac disease after all! Who knows.

For me when I'm good I feel great. No tiredness, no bad moods, no naseua, no unbearable bloating and wind, but can't seem to shake the constipation no matter what i do or don't eat.

Not an informative post by any means but more just to share my story!

I could have wrote your post. I was hospitalised at age 22 with severe stomach cramps. Must have had every single test going. Everything came back negative which only left a diagnosis of IBS (although I will say it is important to eliminate all other possibilities first)

Like you I can't eat insoluble fiber in an real quantity, even though that is what I was advised to eat by the doctor. The medical community is only now coming around to the fact that a low-fiber diet is essential to managing IBS.

I'm fine with soluble fiber in fruits and veggies now though, although this is only after 3 years of healing my gut with a no-grain low carb diet. Effectively I'm 'cured' but will still get the odd twinge if I eat wheat.

Amigone

I had pizza last night!

Wow - I know this sounds totally random but I can't eat pizza obviuosly.... but my boyfriend and I ventured to make our own gluten free base and... it worked! And it was sooooooooo good!

I'm still learning my way around a GF lifestyle and to know I can enjoy something as fun as pizza and salad every now and then like a 'normal' person just felt so great!

I still haven't attempted to make my own bread... i can't forget the smell of the store ones I've tried. They make me gag. But i hear with enough practise a lot of gluten intolerant people can actually tweak a homemade GF version that's not so bad!

Darkginger

I know I keep blowing the low carb horn - but your symptoms sound so much like the ones I used to have that it's worth posting this.

I used to bloat every day, I had awful trapped wind issues - really painful - plus extreme lethargy after lunch - you know, the yawning till you're crying thing. Pizza kept me awake half the night with indigestion. As far as I know I don't have caeliac disease. Since I stopped eating bread and wraps and all wheat AND oat based products, plus sugar - this has totally stopped.

I've cut out all bread, oats, pasta, rice, pastry, starchy veg and sugar - and I feel absolutely wonderful in comparison now. My typical day's food would be fried eggs and grilled rashers for breakfast, tuna salad for lunch, and steak, pork or lamb chops, or roast chicken + salad or cooked cauliflower and broccoli for dinner.

I've also stopped drinking milk, though I don't think that's a contributory factor, just saying. I do indulge in full fat Greek yoghurt from time to time - yoghurt's supposed to be good for your internal flora - it doesn't upset my tum, anyway.

For me, protein + salad + fat = happy tummy. I still lust after the occasional doughnut or similar, but the resulting bloat/wind just isn't worth it, really.

jamescc

hi all some interesting reading i have a few questions as fairly new on the diet

1. what is with all the different type of flours (expensive and loads of storage)
2. rye bread is that alowed?
3. i find it had to get the things that i love has anyone made their own meat pies . am still trying with that . What tins would you use how to cut it out i have tried cake tins holding 12. turns out hard

i do have my quiche down with the use of greese prove paper like a sandwich (but i must remember the next time to greese the tin.)
4. buckwheat is that safe?

one more question is there anyone out there that has to cook for them self and then to do the same for non gluten people and if so how do you cope?

thanks james:D

please excuse my spelling