Wheat/Gluten

 This is a topic that really "gets me going" so I've tried to stay out of discussions like this, but something snapped in me today.

Yes, there really are people who have gluten/wheat allergies and they should avoid the stuff.

But for the rest - can you say the words "food faddists?" (And you didn't mention the credentials of this "nutritionist.")

I have a friend who underwent extensive testing for gluten/wheat allergies and all the results came up negative.  She still claims to be gluten intolerant because "doctors cannot be trusted." (Although she trusts her banker - go figure.) So this interests me.

There is a theory that the "Atkins lifestyle" caused the internal flora that helps us digest food to change into flora that is no longer effective at digesting wheat and if folks just kept eating wheat it would change back.

There are theories that newer hybrids of wheat are less kind to the human digestive system than older varieties.

There are the "modern" processes for making "bread" (well described just recently by Mike Avery) that produce products that can't really be good for anyone.  I, personally, react to factory prepared "bread" - but never to the stuff I bake myself.  So, why would I blame wheat?

But humans have been successfully eating grains for thousands of years.  Suddenly in the late 20th and early 21st century, these grains have become "bad for you?"  I have a word in mind, but it is too rude for TFL.

I'm just going to ignore this fad until it goes away.

And try to calm myself.

Pat

Relax and enjoy your bread, Thomas.

David

One of my neighbors has credentials similar to the person you listened to and leads her life accordingly. She is about 40, anerexic, has a gray complexion with red eyelids and a low energy level.

Not exactly a shining testament to her philosophy. Fortunately, her husband wants no part of it and her children get most of their meals from school. They all appear to be healthy and normal.

Michael

For me,  I try gluten free bread when I feel like that I want to eat gluten free bread with interest, or for my friends who can't eat wheat bread.   

More than considering about healthy food, It is very important for us to eat meal with your family or friends and enjoy :)   Stress is the most bad for your health in my opinion.   Of course, People who are suffering from allergies, they must eat limited food. but they can eat tasty meal with their effort ( love?) :)

Here is a good recipe that I recommend

http://www.thefreshloaf.com/node/20057/loaf-my-wifefinally

Cheers,

Akiko

So, let the nutritionist eat her green smoothies and uncooked vegetables.  While you enjoy those delicious rolls.  As Julia Child used to exclaim "Oh those food police, they've ruined everything!"

Larry

There are way too many chemical foods ingested, but home baked bread is truly the staff of life I believe.  The overly processed, chemically altered stuff that's sold as food is probably damaging our DNA.  Food should be grown without excess chemicals, preferably none, prepared simply with ingredients you know are pure and tasty, cooked minimally, with a heavy amount of fresh or frozen vegetables simply prepared on the plate, and a wonderful bread to accompany the meal.  It is how food is meant to be enjoyed.  Fresh - simple - pure.  No harm done there.  Food fads come and go, and this gluten-free thing is just another fad, IMHO.  So are all those supplements that people take.  Blech.  We nurses call it self-medicating. 

...who climbed a high mountain to ask the guru for the secret to long life.  He found the guru and asked "How can I live forever?"  The guru thought for while and said "Give up sex.  Give up wine.  And give up good bread."  The worried man, relieved to have the secret at last, asked the guru "So, if I give up sex, wine and good bread, will I live forever?"  And the guru replied "No, but it will seem like it."

Glenn

Yikes!  We are all different, and some people have problems with fiber and have auto immune diseases that cause them to not be able to eat breads with a higher fiber content.  There are also people who it simply causes them indigestion, but they can eat the white bread.  Another group, can't eat sourdough because their body reacts to it and can eat whole wheat.  Then there are those who have gluten allergies, which cause them other problems.  I just wish that they would not try to control what I eat, because they can't handle certain foods!!!!

To many people out there want to be in charge of what others do in their own homes.  They obviously know better than us what upsets our tummy's, or makes us sick.... and obviously we are just not smart enough to figure out for ourselves how we want to live our lives.  Geesh, next they will outlaw salt....  or happy meals....

Joanne

@Glenn - I"m passing that tip on to my husband.  Bet it goes over like some of my brick loaves of bread! hehe

the I'm smarter than you syndrome, and believes they are gluten sensitive. I have a relative that was certain her kids were such, they finally were tested and are not sensitive or allergic to any foods, but you can't tell her the dr knows whats right.
This same person, cut the entire centers out of the strawberries (wasting over half the pint of berries) because she didn't think the white part was good for you (just the red outside) She is not a bad person, just misguided, and rather misinformed.
I too am happy to eat smoothies, and raw veggies (as a child you couldn't get me to eat anything other than potatoes cooked anyway) and while I won't eat cilantro (hate it) I will dust everything with parsley that I can think of, and grow tons of it in summer to dry for winter.
Parsley and probably cilantro are bitters, which like arugula are good for your liver functions.
I know that Proth5 feels that one shouldn't discuss this type of thing, but why not, you don't have to scream at each other, but in the end, I would have just said to her, that I'll just continue to eat my bread, and if you believe that grain is bad, that's fine. Each to their own as the old lady said when she kissed the cow!