(no subject)

[the_rck]

My FIL believes every syllable in the book Wheat Belly and is evangelizing about it. He told Scott that the bone spurs in his knees would heal if he gives up wheat. Scott’s father is practically shoving the book in people’s faces and assures me that it contains links to multiple reliable studies. I’m 99% sure that his definition of that doesn’t match mine.

I could see arguing that diversifying our diets would be a general good, but for me that has more to do with avoiding something like the Irish Potato Famine and for having more ways for people with different needs and resources to get the things their bodies need. Wheat isn’t good for everyone under all circumstances, and one size fits all nutritional advice is almost always going to be snake oil.

I should note that Scott’s mother who has real issues with gluten think the claims in Wheat Belly aren’t accurate.

Comments

[alexseanchai]

uh yeah that sounds no

[lunabee34]

Yeah, after being diagnosed with celiac, my mom started reading all these books that were saying all autoimmune diseases can be cured by going gf and I think that's bs.

[the_rck]

I think it gets confusing because people with celiac can get relief from other autoimmune problems by going gf because they’re no longer doing the equivalent of poking the immune system with a sharp stick a dozen times a day.

Back in the early 90s, there were a couple of influential books (by the same author) that claimed that fibromyalgia could be completely cured by going both gf and salicylate free. The books focused really heavily on the latter. The gf part was just incidental. The books pinged me as the author having tried several things that helped her, personally, and being sure it generalized.

There’s a lot of hope that having a functioning hammer means other tools aren’t necessary., especially since getting the hammer took so damned long.

[lunabee34]

Yep, yep a thousand times to your first paragraph.

I accidentally ate some gluten about two weeks ago; it was so stupid; we buy all these breakfast bars that are the same brand and therefore in similar boxes but only some of them are gluten free. I picked up the wrong one and accidentally ate a bite or two before I realized. I didn't really get sick, but a few days later, I had a psoriasis outbreak (haven't had any issues in years). I don't think the gluten gave me psoriasis, but eating it activated my immune response which kicked my other disorders in the butt. (Also, since being accidentally glutened, I have had the worst gas; I mean, I'll take it over being really ill, but two weeks of farting? So ridiculous)

[tinfoilvardan]

I gave up bread a couple of months ago after a lifetime of gorging on bread in every meal possible it could be added to. Since giving it up the only benefits I've noticed are reduction in bloated stomach and my skin looks fresher. I can't say it has any benefits for inflammation or the like.

[the_rck]

Scott’s knee have major wear and tear but zero inflammation. It’s just clear from the x-rays that the cartilage is gone and a bit of the bone, too. Just no inflammation.

For some reason, I don’t think eating or not eating meat will bring back bone.

[ramenkuri]

fascinating. How does Scott's mother bear it?

[the_rck]

Scott’s mother believes firmly in other completely whackadoo alternative medicine things. Homeopathy for one.

I think she’s dubious about the claims in Wheat Belly because she’s been GF for a decade and knows what has gotten better and what hasn’t been affected at all. Her arthritic hip has stayed bad, for example.

Some other dietary supplement or diet changes will end up as her next Magic.

[tinfoilvardan]

The only foods I regard as miraculous for arthritis are these three: garlic, ginger and turmeric.

In the winter I grate either ginger or turmeric into a cup and add boiling water to make a tea. Being from Britain our winters are quite damp, so they're terrible for arthritis, but for the past few years when I've drank this tea my own arthritis has been much better than it used to me. Especially the swelling around my joints.

[the_rck]

I have to be extremely careful with garlic and turmeric because my digestive system doesn't like them much. Small amounts of garlic are okay before noon but become progressively more unwise as it gets later in the day. Turmeric is okay in the amounts added to foods for color but not if it's enough to taste.

I make a lot of ginger tea and tend to add ginger to a lot of things, but it's seldom fresh. My daughter hates it, so we're limited on that front.