Britons May Be Avoiding Wheat Unnecessarily, UK

[HuckleB]

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/176895.php

Too many people are self-diagnosing food allergies and could be restricting their diet unnecessarily, according to a new report by the University of Portsmouth and commissioned by the Flour Advisory Bureau.

Research shows that up to 20 per cent of adults think they suffer from a food allergy or food intolerance. However evidence suggests that the real prevalence of food allergy and intolerance in adults is less than 2 per cent. It means that millions of people could be avoiding certain foods unnecessarily and without proper medical advice.

The report also reveals that over half of the British population believes that wheat allergy is a common illness and in 2009 wheat was the most commonly self reported food allergen for both men and women. Those living alone and those aged 35-44 were most likely to report such an allergy or intolerance. But the report highlights that confirmed wheat allergy is less common than other food allergies such as peanuts and other nuts, eggs and milk.

...

"If not properly managed avoiding wheat can have an impact on nutritional intake and quality of life, and should not be undertaken lightly or without a confirmed diagnosis. If people have symptoms which they think may be caused by a food allergy or intolerance, they should seek help from a qualified medical professional. Wheat should not be excluded without appropriate advice on how to maintain a healthy diet."

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I'm sure this is just propaganda from BIG WHEAT.

Anecdotally, I know far too many people who have self-diagnosed themselves with loads of food allergies, and dramatically changed their diets. It's almost impossible for anyone to cook a meal, should they come to visit. What's more, they all complain about their illnesses as much as ever, but don't connect the fact that the changed diet changed nothing for the positive and led to big negatives in their lives. Heck, I'd surmise that there is a subculture of people that actually compete to see who has the most food allergies.

[crim son]

1. I take it we have wheat to sell. n/t

[eilen]

2. I'm not an aggressive diet advocate

however, there are plenty around that are. I do have some kind of wheat sensitivity. I know this because if I eat too much of it (even whole wheat... especially whole wheat) I do get an itchy tingly, swollen palate as well as the sldes of my mouth and a bit of brain fog. This goes for regular bread, pizza-- anything made mostly with wheat.

Some people are sensitive to gluten and it makes their stomach upset when they eat it.

When I was little we were often broke thus had spaghetti more than once a week. It always made my stomach upset even though I loved to eat it as it tasted good. It has taken me time to discover whether it was the tomato sauce (nightshades), meat (fat), milk (I drank with it) or the actual pasta. I am leaning toward the meat/fat and pasta. Which is a shame because it is so yummy and has pleasant familial associations.

I can eat sprouted wheat bread with no problems. So I am not convinced that some of whole wheat flours that are used in supermarket bread might have gone rancid -- it is not something I can find out. Unless it is the particular sugar in the the grain that must be fermented before my body is good with it... who knows. I am not very knowledgeable about the processing, or the biochemistry however... I am knowledgeable about what works for me.

My solution for dinners are to throw potlucks. I'd rather bring my own than make my host feel uncomfortable or put her/him out in any way.

[Warpy]

4. If by "upset stomach" you mean gas and bloating

it's probably the milk. If you mean bad heartburn, it's probably the combination of fat and tomato.

[eilen]

5. It was more like a dumping syndrome, within 30

minutes of eating, like a painful big D, cramps and could be accompanied by gas or bloating. My father has a hx of colitis but I don't know if that is something hereditary. I have a very reactive GI to stress and wrong foods. I am sensitive to sodas (the carbonation and high amt. of sugar), too much alcohol, milk unless it is yogurt or kefir or raw, fatty foods, stuff that is deep fried etc. I find I do best when I keep my intake high in vegetables, legumes, whole grains and fruit-- plain regular food. I try not to overdo on nightshade veggies. I still have some tomato and peppers for flavoring a few days a week. When I eat processed foods I don't do very well. I have not read that book on overeating (The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite) but I have heard interviews and read reviews and it sounds like the same loop I get into when I eat the processed foods (high in HFCS and salt)-- the back and forth of sweet/salt -- it is like an addiction. I hope my problem is not gluten (can't afford to test) because it seems very complicated as it is added to so many things. My friend quit everything-- gluten, meat, dairy, (with organic grass fed exceptions), sugar and basically only eats vegetables, fruits and juices. She did this because she has breast cancer and it is one way she is trying to heal herself -- I admire that but don't believe I could make such severe changes. I have read Real Food and some parts of Sally Fallon's cookbook and am very interesting in pursuing it in small measures.

[Warpy]

6. You need to get to a GI doctor and get a workup

Not getting a specific diagnosis and appropriate treatment means you could be damaging your health.

Not everything is caused or cured by diet.

[eilen]

7. Thank you for you advice

However, I am no longer plagued by these symptoms. At one time I did see a Dr. and he thought it was IBS. He just gave me a script for a drug to slow peristalsis. I find that if I do not eat the offending foods, avoid overstress I don't have any problems.

[Warpy]

3. I certainly agree with that

Celiac sprue has a specific disease profile and specific tests to rule it in or out. A lot of people who think they have it but who have never gotten diagnosed might actually be suffering from equally severe diseases like ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Diagnosing themselves means going untreated and damaging themselves in the meantime. Anyone with chronic diarrhea leading to weight loss needs a definitive diagnosis, in other words, if they're to get the right treatment.

If we ever manage to get the insurance mess sorted out in this country, maybe more people will turn away from Dr. Google and find out what really ails them instead of playing the food allergy causes all ills game.

[lizerdbits]

8. Having a wheat allergy is a pain in the ass

why would someone avoid wheat if they don't have to? I have to learn to bake all over again and it's a bitch to go out to eat (most sauces, many salad dressings and some seasonings are out). I went to an allergist and came up for wheat, dairy and soy. I avoided all 3 for 3 months and after trying all 3 separately (several weeks in between trying each) seem to only have problems with wheat and soy. Fortunately it's not severe so I don't have to worry about things processed on the same equipment and if I do consume any it's discomfort and not life threatening. I just got back from a business trip to Germany and did eat some just because I wanted to have the pretzels. I get gas and bloating but not diarrhea so I decided to enjoy the food and deal with it occasionally.

My mom had some GI problems after eating something with blue cheese and something with shellfish on separate occasions. She is convinced she has allergies to these 2 things despite never being tested. She has good insurance so I don't understand not getting tested. If someone was uninsured I could understand not paying for it.

[astral]

9. There is Wheat, and then there is Gluten

you can be allergic to wheat without being allergic to gluten. I believed what I had was a gluten intolerance and went six months avoiding gluten -- oh absolutely not 100% perfectly. It was a major learning experience finding out how widespread gluten is, and the many hidden sources.

Finally I got tested by a doctor. I wanted to make sure I had been eating gluten for awhile before the test and the doctor said it doesn't matter. (Now, this is a very expensive and important test.) I said yes it does, you have to have been eating gluten for the past 30 days for the test to be accurate. Doc went away into another room and emerged awhile later and said, "you're right."

Supposedly I did not have a problem with gluten after having been tested. But I learned so much about it I certainly believe it is not a healthy thing for anyone and avoiding it is something to consider, at least to avoid it to some extent.

I think I'll try to go gluten free again sometime, but to go 100% takes a lot. You have to be on your toes constantly, and for people who get seriously sick from it and have to worry about cross-contamination, it is very hard to not accidentally ingest it sometime no matter what you do.

I know one thing, whether we avoid wheat or gluten or what, trying to eat more close to nature is a good idea for all of us.