I'm more than a bit "iffy" on this whole gluten free business. Humans have been eating grains for thousands of years. But then I'm also more than a bit iffy on many of the other diet restraints for certain illnesses too.......like the whole cholesterol business. I agreed to follow my renal diet to a certain extent only after a very long discussion of the logic behind it as much chemistry wise as other things. But I am not strict about it because the body still requires a certain amount of animal protein as well to get other nutrients we need. The way I'm doing it is working so far.....for me at least.
I worry the medical community tries to focus on diet to make us feel we're taking an active role, instead of it actually "helping", when they themselves are not quite sure of "cause" and treatment. So for me? I look for cause and effect. If a certain food increases my symptoms......I may stop eating it or look at preparing it differently. That may be permanent or temporary, depending. This is both for the kidney and the IBS. Because to be frank if I followed both diets I'd starve to death.......literally. What I'm supposed to eat on one, I'm not "allowed" to eat on the other. So there ya go. This is not even including what I shouldn't be eating for the heart either.......which I ignore completely.
I'm leaning more toward what are they doing to our food, than anything else. Because when you research it.....it is more than a bit disturbing. It's not just the processing, it's in the growing / raising. When I eat food out of my garden, either fresh or home canned, I not only notice a difference in taste but in my symptoms and how it makes me feel. My produce is not bathed in chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and heaven knows what to make it look attractive and stay "fresh" in the store. My own canned goods aren't loaded with that stuff (or lord knows how many insect parts) and I can control the amount of salt added. I'm learning to make most of the things I used to buy processed from canned goods to noodles. I don't have room to grow my own wheat (and wouldn't have a clue about doing so) but I can buy organic wheat in bulk, grind it myself, and use it instead. Cheaper, healthier....and yes, I notice a difference...it's not as aggravating to my system.
Organic is expensive normally unless done this way. Meat especially. But we do have Amish locally and I can at least get my chicken that way........and I have a local market that buys local meat. The taste is dramatically different, and I feel better.
Grandson Brandon with the horrific bowel issues has become drastically more normal eating a more organic diet and for the first time ever can enjoy the fresh fruits he loves so much. This was a side effect we weren't really expecting but still a good one.
And ya know what? Since I started eating this way............well, maybe that is why I'm losing the weight?? My "muffin top" is also disappearing.
