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mmsd Posts: 87
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Jill, Based on small intestine biopsy, I don't have celiac disease. But like you, I figured that a gluten-free diet might help my IBS, so I have tried it to varying degrees over the past decade. While nothing close to a cure, it does actually help somewhat, mainly with bloating and gas. A few things I learned with this: (1) Completely avoiding gluten takes some effort, since wheat and other gluten-containing grains are added to many processed foods. That said, many grocery stores now have a small "gluten-free" section with quite a lot of choices. (2) Xanthan Gum, which is used as a thickener/binder in many gluten-free foods, causes me nausea, bloating, and diarrhea that is actually worse than my usual IBS symptoms. Apparently, some people have this kind of sensitivity to it. Hopefully you are not one of them, but this is something to consider as you choose gluten-free foods. (3) It can be difficult to get enough dietary fiber, since most gluten-free foods have very little. For example, a pound of whole wheat pasta has approximately 40 grams of fiber, but a pound of brown rice pasta has only 16 grams of fiber. White rice pasta has even less. As another example, Arrowhead Mills gluten free pancake mix, while tasty, has zero fiber. (4) Gluten-free breads may be healthy and have a decent flavor, but of all those I've tried, none come close to the wonderful chewy texture of wheat-based breads. Gluten is what provides that chewy texture, so you'll have to live without that. I've gathered gluten-free info gradually over the years, so I don't have any particular websites to recommend, but it shouldn't be too difficult to find info on-line. I encourage you to go gluten-free for a couple of weeks and see how you feel. You might just get enough benefit to make it worthwhile to continue. If you actually have celiac disease, then I recall reading that it can take longer (i.e., months) on a gluten-free diet to reverse the damage that gluten does to the small intestine of a celiac patient. But there can be quite a remarkable improvement in symptoms in that case. Good luck. mmsd |
