Anyone here Gluten Free?

[Painted Goat]

Originally Posted by GloriousMusicbox

What do you think that she misses? I personally have trouble saying anything against the diet because it has given me an oportunity to be healthy and live again. But I understand that this diet is not the only one that helps people get healthy. Just interested if you have had a different experience. I know that tests are not acurate. The test I got said I wasn't celiac, but I decided to stay off wheat anyway.

It is my understanding that the initial blood test is not a good way to eliminate gluten sensitivity, but it is a good way to start for those who are included. Meaning if it is a negative you may still have sensitivity and can either seek further diagnosis or just go gluten free and call it good. The only way a person can be truly diagnosed with Celiac (unless this has changed since I read about it) is to have the small intestine biopsy. If this is done and you are diagnosed with it then gluten free food can be applied to tax deductions because it is a medical condition (would have to see accountant for specifics). My sister had a negative blood test when she took it, but she went gluten free anyway because she felt better. Later she had the genetic blood test done to see if she had the genetic marker for it for the sake of her kids and she does. This test is done yearly by the a celiac group in the Chicago area I think. I find most docs don't recognize any food sensitivity that isn't a full blown allergy. I was looked at weird when I tell docs I can't have corn. I did that blood sugar test when pregnant and failed the one hour when I drank the corn syrup beverage (yuk). I had to do the 3 hour drinking the same beverage and when the tech was taking my blood sugar for the last time I told him there is no way I'll fail because my sugar is crashing. He told me that was impossible and yet I got an extreme case of the shakes, disorientation and had to hang out at Borders with a snack before I could drive home. When I did the test with my second child I ate raisins instead and had no problem with the first test.

[herb girl]

Tasty, could you post a link about rice and estrogen? Please....
Because if that is true, I'm in TROUBLE!!!

[Anguschick1]

We're GFCFEF (Gluten, Casein, Egg Free) My oldest son has a whole host of allergies (MSA, Merdian Stress Testing) and so the entire family is on this diet on this house. Dh gets to eat however he wants when he's not here and occasionally he and I will cheat w/a pizza or buffalo wings (like every other month) on some dedicated pans/utensils that we keep for just such an occasion. We've been GFCFEF since May 19, 2008. I didn't get tested, but feel much better GFCF so I'm 95% there.

We use a lot of millet, sorghum and buckwheat. We don't eat a whole lot of bread anymore (prior to diagnosis we would go through a loaf/day!) but when we do I'll splurge on Ener-G's Light Brown Rice Loaf, it's not too bad when toasted.

Our diet now is mostly meat/poultry and veggies. Everyone is in better health and it's the occasional extended family gathering where our real problems lie.

[Painted Goat]

Originally Posted by Anguschick1

We're GFCFEF (Gluten, Casein, Egg Free) My oldest son has a whole host of allergies (MSA, Merdian Stress Testing) and so the entire family is on this diet on this house. Dh gets to eat however he wants when he's not here and occasionally he and I will cheat w/a pizza or buffalo wings (like every other month) on some dedicated pans/utensils that we keep for just such an occasion. We've been GFCFEF since May 19, 2008. I didn't get tested, but feel much better GFCF so I'm 95% there.

We use a lot of millet, sorghum and buckwheat. We don't eat a whole lot of bread anymore (prior to diagnosis we would go through a loaf/day!) but when we do I'll splurge on Ener-G's Light Brown Rice Loaf, it's not too bad when toasted.

Our diet now is mostly meat/poultry and veggies. Everyone is in better health and it's the occasional extended family gathering where our real problems lie.

Makes the holidays fun doesn't it?

[TastyofHasty]

Herb Girl, I can't pull up what I had been reading about estrogen and rice; but ...
here is a link that is quite interesting. Lots of herbs are mentioned.
http://www.annieappleseedproject.org/chemfoodhert.html
Too much estrogen is quite the problem in our diet nowadays apparently.
Xenoestrogens are non-natural estrogens from things like DDT, and plastic BOTTLES, that we need to eliminate and/or prevent our bodies from absorbing; one suggestion is that phytoestrogens (from plants) if they are weak, will block the estrogen receptors from absorbing Xenoestrogens.
From the link above:

Licorice, Red Clover, Yucca, Hops (Beer) and Motherwort David Zava, PhD showed that these herbs stimulated estrogen receptor positive breast cancer cells to grow. Red Clover and Yucca were found to be equal in potency to estradiol at the same concentrations. Women who harvest hops for beer begin menstruating 2 days later anecdotally. Zava has confirmed that beer has a significant amount of phytoestrogens that have moderate estrogen activity from hops used in the flavoring of beer.

Bloodroot, Ocotillo, Mandrake, Oregano, Damiana, Pennyroyal, Verbenna, Nutmeg, Tumeric, Yucca, Thyme, Calamus rt., Red Clover, Goldenseal, Licorice, Mistletoe, Cumin, Fennel, Camomille, Cloves. There are separate estrogen and progesterone receptors. Zava, PhD was able to show that the above herbs are able to bind to the progesterone receptor. These herbs would compete against any natural progesterone taken and should also be avoided.

Interestingly enough all the progesterone binding herbs were antagonists or neutral meaning they competed against progesterone and worked against it or blocked progesterone. None of them were progesterone stimulators.

(As I understand it, women should have a balance of estrogen and progesterone.)

More from the article:

Chemicals, Food, Herbs that are Estrogenic

Ann's NOTE: Some researchers believe that naturally estrogenic products are not harmful - of course that means taking them in moderation. When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993 I was told that carrots were estrogenic. I stopped eating them, only to go to a Gerson clinic in 1995 where carrot juice was one of the major items. I too think that a natural source is okay in limited amounts or may actually occupy the receptors that a more harmful form of estrogen might otherwise use (not yet proven

Avoid Chemicals, Foods and Herbs that Act as Estrogens

Source: Women's Therapeutic Institute

Phytoestrogens, Naturally Occurring Plant Estrogens Plants produce chemicals that mimic estrogen, and block progesterone. In general, it is thought that they tend to wash out of the body within several days in contrast to months or decades that the xenoestrogens take to be excreted. Whole grains, fruits, seeds, beans and herbs all are know to have estrogen and/or progesterone activity. In general, any food that has been eaten by a culture or people group for centuries is probably all right to eat if the people group in question is relatively free from these estrogen related diseases.

When referring to phytoestrogens, it is generally thought that a "weak" estrogen may actually be protective against cancer causing xenoestrogens. The best example, is Lilian Thompson PhD's work that showed that oral ground flax seed reduced breast cancer size to one half between the time of diagnosis and surgery. A strong phytoestrogen may actually make the disease worse. Again the list that follows is incomplete because of the lack of research money and interest:

Coffee is a known phytoestrogen. Coffee is commonly known to make fibrocystic breast disease worse. It is not thought to be the caffeine, but coffee itself mimics estrogen strongly. Thus, decaffinated coffee still may be estrogenic.

Clover, Red Clover tea, Alfalfa Sprouts. Australian sheep grazing on imported European clover developed still births and sterility 3 years later. Finally, formononetin was determined to be the culprit. Formononetin mimics estrogen.

Sunflower Seeds. Coumestrol found in sunflower seeds when fed to the mother rat caused permanent reproductive problems in the rat pups: female pups when grown did not ovulate, and the male pups had altered mounting behavior and fewer ejaculations. Neonatal rats and immature rats exposed to coumestrol had premature estrous cycles. Flax seed oil and Soy oil are known NOT have the active phytoestrogens. Sunflower oil MAY or MAY NOT have active hormone components in it.

Queen Anne's lace (wild carrot) During the fourth century B.C., Hipocrates noted that Queen Anne's Lace prevented pregnancies. It is now know that that seeds contain a chemical know to block progesterone needed to maintain a pregnancy.

Pomegranate The Greeks used this plant as a contraceptive. Modern research confirms strong estrogen activity.

Fennel Used in the ancient world to prevent pregnancy and precipitate abortions.

Licorice, Red Clover, Yucca, Hops (Beer) and Motherwort David Zava, PhD showed that these herbs stimulated estrogen receptor positive breast cancer cells to grow. Red Clover and Yucca were found to be equal in potency to estradiol at the same concentrations. Women who harvest hops for beer begin menstruating 2 days later anecdotally. Zava has confirmed that beer has a significant amount of phytoestrogens that have moderate estrogen activity from hops used in the flavoring of beer.

Bloodroot, Ocotillo, Mandrake, Oregano, Damiana, Pennyroyal, Verbenna, Nutmeg, Tumeric, Yucca, Thyme, Calamus rt., Red Clover, Goldenseal, Licorice, Mistletoe, Cumin, Fennel, Camomille, Cloves. There are separate estrogen and progesterone receptors. Zava, PhD was able to show that the above herbs are able to bind to the progesterone receptor. These herbs would compete against any natural progesterone taken and should also be avoided.

Interestingly enough all the progesterone binding herbs were antagonists or neutral meaning they competed against progesterone and worked against it or blocked progesterone. None of them were progesterone stimulators.

Bloodroot, mandrake, pennyroyal, yucca, and mistletoe all have very strong progesterone binding activity and are used as abortifacents (create an abortion), and to bring on menses. Bloodroot was used in England to treat breast cancer 100 years ago, and was used by Native Americans to treat surface tumors. Herbalists today use it to treat breast cancers, nasal polyps, and cervical dysplasia. Mistletoe has been used for 100 years in Europe to treat breast cancer and leukemia.

Herbs that Suppress Breast Cancer Cell Growth Zava, PhD also found that Mandrake, Bloodroot, and Juniper stunted the growth of BOTH estrogen receptor positive breast cancer cells and estrogen receptor negative breast cancer cells. Saliva estradiol results also showed very low estradiol in women taking the Chinese herb Dong Quai. It is thought that Dong Quai suppresses estradiol synthesis.

Chemicals that Mimic Estrogens (Xenoestrogens) In last decade, new research has come to light that demonstrates that synthetic chemicals that are very different in structure to estrogen may act as an estrogen. The Xenoestrogen in question may either bind to the receptor strongly or weakly. It may also stimulate the receptor strongly or weakly to imitate the effect of estrogen, or it may elicit a response that is an abnormal estrogen response. Thus, these chemicals can cause breast cancer, uterine cancer, fibrocystic breast disease, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, premature sexual development and uterine fibromas. Some have hypothesized that since the prostate and uterus are embyrologically the same, xenoestrogens may also cause benign prostatic hypertrophy and prostate cancer. Critics have proclaimed that these chemicals are for the most part "weak". However, they exist in the body in concentrations 100's to 1000's of times of the natural body hormones; also one researcher demonstrated that two "weak" estrogens may act synergistically to give a strong estrogen response. Some of these Xenoestrogens like DDE (a metabolite of DDT) may persist in the body fat for decades. Since this is a new field of research only a few chemicals have been tested (this by definition is an incomplete list), and are listed below:

Pesticides & Herbicides such as DDT, endosulfan, dieldrin, methoxychlor, kepone, toxaphene, chlordane, and other chlorinated hydrocarbons. DDT is banned in the U.S. Baby roosters exposed to DDT grew up looking like hens. The U.S. produces it and ships it to other countries. However, it is present in imported produce. DDT found in the fat of U.S. citizens is traced to imported produce. Combinations of the other pesticides above are found on U.S. produce that exceed FDA safe levels, and are typically greater on U.S. produce compared to imported produce.

It's a huge subject.

[TastyofHasty]

... here's the last bit I couldn't fit in the post above, sorry:

Synergistic effect is known to occur between pesticides yielding greater toxicity and estrogen effect. However, exact combinations and levels are unknown. Farms, lawns and golf courses use pesticides and herbicides that easily enter the body through the skin and lungs. Golf courses use 7 times the amount of pesticides than farmers use.

Products associated with plastics such as bisphenol A and pthalates. Bisphenol-A was originally designed for use a synthetic estrogen replacement. It was found to work quite well as an antioxidant to prevent plastic from breaking down in the sunlight. Bisphenol-A is used in drinking water bottles, plastics used in baby bottles, plastics used to pack food, and some dental composites. Pthalates along with excess estrogen given to chicken used as food were suspected to cause girls as young as 18 months to begin to menstruate in Puerto Rico in the '70's and '80's.

In one Dartmouth University study, the researchers found that plastic wrap with olive oil heated in a microwave produced a concentration of xenoestrogens 500,000 times the minimum amount of estrogen needed to produce breast cancer cell proliferation in a test tube.

Bishphenol-A contamination was also found in the majority of canned food as high as 27 times the minimum amount of estrogen needed to stimulate breast cancer cells to grow in the test tube.

"the majority of canned food"!!

[TastyofHasty]

okayyyy ... I found the first link I had read about rice:
http://www.ironmagazineforums.com/di...ogen-rice.html

then following from that, list of "Foods Containing Natural Estrogens," and
"Estrogen Inhibiting Foods" :
http://www.holisticonline.com/Remedi...d_estrogen.htm

[herb girl]

Thanks tasty, your a great researcher! (none of my business but I DO sometimes wonder how much time you spend on the computer though?)
I read it, doesn't seem like it's an appreciable amount, not anything too much too worry about.
Seems like the leftover fat on my tummy from having my babies is more of an estrogen producer than anything else!

[TastyofHasty]

Just throw out all those plastic drink bottles; don't keep using 'em! And don't live next to a golf course ...

[kefirmaven]

I put a wheat free, tree nut free, peanut free sweet potato pie recipe in the Holiday recipe thread.