Anyone deal with Gluten Intolerance...and how do you eat?

There is a lot of controversy regarding Gluten intolerance and/or allergy.  I think there is some truth to it.  More stores/brands are catering to the gluten free people.  Whole foods and Trader joes stores carry a lot of glute free stuff.  There are also a lot of books about it. 

I end up replacing a lot of wheat products with corn products.  For mexican food I generally order items that are served with corn tortillas instead of wheat.  There are a lot of name brand cereals that are gluten free; corn flakes, and some specialty cereals that you can get from Whole foods or trader joes that are gluten free.

 For pancakes and waffles there are a few choices.  You can buy gluten free pancake mixes, you can make your own gluten free substitute flour, or you can buy gluten free frozen pancakes or waffles.

 When you go for fast food and want a hamburger you can get the "protein style" at in n out.  Instead of a bun, they give it to you with two large lettuce leafs to hold the burger.  It is really tasty.  Eliminating the bun removes about 100 calories, so then I can spurge on a small french fry.

I personally dont eliminate all wheat, but I have drastically reduced the amount I consume.  I feel better.  Good luck.

 Also search for gluten free, or GFCF diets on the internet.

Just want to add that decreasing "processed flour" isn't quite enough for a true Celiac.  Many flours, not just processed flour, must be omitted.  Including wheat/whole wheat flour.   Sugar has nothing to do with it. 

Also, to get an accurate diagnosis, like Lisa said, a biopsy of the small intestine is done. 

However, if the biopsy is done weeks/months after avoiding gluten, then the biopsy can show a false negative.  It is actually best (for an accurate diagnosis) to have the biopsy while consuming gluten.

Here is an excellent site/resource: 

http://www.bidmc.harvard.edu/display.asp?node_id=5449

Good luck!

The controversy lies in many areas.  The fact that the biopsy can give a false negative, the belief that there might be different levels of "intolerance", etc.  It took many years before western medicine admited that there was such a thing as celiac disease.  Western medicine does not believe in food intolerances, but there is a lot of anecdotal evidence supporting the possibility. There really has not been much research done on various food intolerances.  The little bit that has been done shows that there could be some issues and more research should be done.  However, dont hold your breath for the government to fund research that may determine that wheat and dairy is not healthy for a large percentage of the population.  Not a conspiracy, just politics.

 Anyway, just stumbled upon the "Paleo Diet Book".  Have not read it yet, but the say to get rid of wheat and dairy too.  Their premise is based on a Darwinian viewpoint.

While I completely agree that there are many controversies surronding many things, there isn't much of a controversy regarding a false negative result from a biopsy to diagnosis Celiac.

If a patient omits gluten for a period of time, their small intestine may not be damaged enough or at all to allow for a positive test d/t his/her current wheat avoidance.   Therefore, many Drs do recommend consuming gluten/wheat prior to the biopsy so that the small intestine will show a reaction i.e. a positive result.

As far as gluten getting into people's pores...it is more from them using a lotion or shampoo that has gluten in it, and then touching their mouth with lotioned hands and digesting the gluten.  Fortunately I see more and more Drs and health professionals becoming educated in Celiac, at least in this region. 

I started going to a metabolic clinic a year ago and I have have great results regarding various issues. During this time I found out that my tolerance for gluten was very little. Aside from  my bi-weekly pizza, flour products are not part of my diet and gluten is limited. I was also told to quit drinking beer because of the gluten. Havent had one since last August. My body has tolerated the bi-weekly pizza as long as it is not fast food pizza (dominos, Pizza hut, etc).

My diet is mainly meat, fish, veggies, and fruits. 

I tried the majority. Did not like. Big fan of Smithwicks & Guinness.

I am now on the cab/merlot couple of glasses on fri, sat, and sunday.

Training w/ Celiac -Gluten Intolerance is pretty easy if you plan ahead. The times I have the most challenge is during a race as most race site snacks (power bars ect..) and pre-race meals (pasta dinners) include gluten.