There are a lot of misconceptions about being gluten-free. If you tell someone you are gluten-free, they either act like they know all about it and assume you are doing it as some short-term diet fad. Or they stare at you, the deer in the headlights look, and ask, "Can you eat fruit?". I've gotten both and each time, I just want to pull my hair out. Most of the time I just keep my dietary restrictions to myself unless it becomes necessary to tell someone. Easier for them, easier for me. People just can't grasp the fact that the reason (most) people are gluten-free is because of Celiac Disease. An autoimmune disease, not a fad diet. When you do try to explain and defend your illness and reasons for being g-free, you get asked a boat load of questions. They all have a theme though. They are all strong held myths! Myths that have been put out their by the media, lack of education, and lack of awareness.
Lets clear some of these up, shall we? Lets blow those myths out of the water and hopefully spread some truth that will give us Celiacs a break!
Myth #1: Celiac Disease is the same as a gluten allergy or intolerance.
False! Celiac Disease is a severe autoimmune disease. When the protein, gluten, enters the body, the body acts as though it is a foreign invader and attacks itself causing severe damage to the small intestine and villi. An allergy is when the food cause an immune-response that is abnormal and cause specific anti-bodies to be produced leading to an anaphylaxis or other response. An intolerance is experiencing adverse symptoms to gluten, but not having the anti-bodies or intestinal damage as seen with Celiac.
Myth #2: Your body can feel better after just one day of starting your gluten-free diet.
False! You may start to physically feels better after a week or so, but it can also take a few months. It does take a full 6 months to heal the damage done to your digestive track and intestines. It depends on the person, but it will take more than just one day to get out of the gluten-fog and body beat down. (Don't get discouraged!) Your body has been though so much distress and damage, it needs time to recover and start processing nutrients correctly again. It will take some time.
Myth #3: Wheat-free means Gluten-free.
False! This one kills me! Just because something says "wheat-free" DOES NOT mean it is also gluten-free. Wheat is just one cereal gran and part of the top 8 allergens so you will see it labeled often. Gluten is in not only all forms of wheat, but also barley, rye, and their derivatives. When I was first diagnosed I made the careless mistake of buying a cereal that said wheat-free. Little did I know it contained barley-malt. Thus, I ate it and suffered the consequences before I went back and looked more closely at those ingredients.
Myth #4: Gluten-free also means Grain-free.
False! Just because you are gluten-free does not mean you have to be grain free. The are a plethora of gluten-free grains for you to enjoy! This isn't the Paleo diet people, this is the gluten-free diet 😉
Myth #5: All oats are safe to eat on a Gluten-free diet.
False! Oats are very controversial because they have their own protein called avenin. "Some celiac disease patients have avenin-reactive mucosal T-cells that can cause mucosal inflammation. Oat intolerance may be a reason for villous atrophy and inflammation in patients with celiac disease who are eating oats but otherwise are adhering to a strict gluten-free diet.” (source). But that is a very small minority of Celiacs...very small. As long as you get CERTIFIED gluten-free oats, you will be okay. Oats are commonly grown and rotated in the same fields as wheat. You need to buy oats from brands like GF Harvest (my favorite) or Bob's Red Mill. NOT Quaker as they are contaminated.
Myth #6: You can have a "Cheat-Day" on a Gluten-free diet.
False! If you ingest gluten at any time, your body will go into its autoimmune response. Even the littlest bit, 20ppm (max!) will make you sick. This is not a diet you can cheat on. This has to be a lifestyle change for your health. Treat your body right and stop harming it. This is a severe disease that can cause detrimental consequences.
Myth #7: You can "take-the-croutons-off-the-salad".
False! Again, this goes along with #6. You can not simply remove the croutons or eat the icing off a gluten-filled cupcake. This is severe cross-contamination that will make you sick. You are ingesting gluten, it does not matter if it is one crouton or a whole piece of bread.
Myth #8: You can take a special enzyme pill and then go eat gluten.
False! No, just no. This is not lactose-intolerance where you can take some Lactaid and enjoy some yogurt. Pills like GlutenEase and Gluten Cutter ARE NOT safe for Celiacs. You can not eat gluten ever! The only treatment is a strict life-long gluten-free diet. Celiac Disease is just that, a disease. These "enzymes" are just propaganda by drug companies wanted you money. They do not work, do not even try. *I can't speak for those with gluten sensitivities using them, but really, just don't eat gluten if you have a medial problem with it. Period.
Myth #9: Gluten-free only pertains to what you eat.
False! Remember how I mention gluten can be a sneaky little thing? Well it is. Gluten can be in medications, beauty products like lipstick, eye-liner, eye-shadow, etc. Anything with an ingredients list must be checked thoroughly. Not just food!
Myth #10: If a food is labeled as Gluten-Free, that means it is healthy.
False! A cookie is a cookie, a cake is a cake. Just because something has "Gluten-Free" written on it, does not mean it all of a sudden assumes a new health status. It is just like products labeled "Organic". Just because those chips are organic and those are not, does not mean the organic ones are any healthier. Gluten-Free is not a health claim, is it a safety signal for those of us with Celiac.
Myth #11: The Gluten-free diet is for everyone!
False! So false. The only people who need to be gluten-free are those with Celiac and other gluten-related medical disorders. A normal person who eats wheat is going to be no healthier than a celiac eating gluten-free. Gluten is not a poison to 99% of the population. However our agriculture practices have gotten so bad that genetically modified forms of wheat and other foods has caused a rise in food allergies and food related disorders. Thus, the diet for everyone is to simply eat clean, whole foods from the Earth. Local and organic when possible and very very minimally processed. Do that, eat for health, and you own food-allergies and you are golden.
Now for the biggest one of all! Myth #12: I should go Gluten-Free to lose weight.
False! False! False! Please, just stop the madness! Going Gluten-free is not a weight-loss diet! Going Gluten-free actually helps those Celiacs who have lost a significant amount of weight from malapsorption, to gain weight. Gluten-free processed products can actually be more calorie and carb dense than their gluten-filled counterparts. However, when people go Gluten-free for medical reasons, they may just become more health conscious to begin with. They are going to start cooking more of their own meals, using a larger variety real whole foods, and getting a more balanced diet. That is why it may be a misconception that going gluten-free can be used as a weight loss diet. But no, it is not and never will be. Just stop eating processed, sugar-filled, chemical/artificial laden food and then you can loss weight. It is not about eating "Gluten-free", it is about eating real food.
Please tell me you won't believe these myths ever again. Erase them from your memory and start letting people know the facts! And please, whatever you do, never ever ask a Celiac if they can eat fruit. Please, just don't.
So tell me:
+ Are there any myths out there that I missed? I tried to think of all the big ones!
+ If you have Celiac or a food allergy/intolerance, what is your biggest pet peeve? The extreme ignorance and lack of understanding...even when you explain things.
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Amanda DeWitt (@SemiHealthNut)
This was so informative and I’m so glad you shared it!
I often wonder if I have gluten intolerance but obviously it’s not bad enough that it’s making me super sick, but I have acne as a 27 year old and that’s weird to me. But not everything is because of food allergies like we food bloggers tend to think!
Thanks for linking up to our Did You Know Friday! Please do make sure to link back to one of our blogs (unless I missed it somewhere). 🙂
Strength and Sunshine
Its such a tricky thing! Food intolerences are so hard to figure out just like Celiac. It would almost be better if they had direct symptoms like an allergy since you could tell right away!
Raia Torn
Great list! So, so good! I'm one of those weirdos you mentioned in #5... :p I'm going to feature this on Savoring Saturdays tonight - I hope you'll stop by and link up again!
Strength and Sunshine
Well now you know! And thank you! I of course will be sure to link-up this week 🙂 XOXO
Astrid
Wow, I held many of these misconceptions until now. I did know that going gluten-free is useless unless you have a gluten-related condition and that Celiac sufferers need to go 100% gluten-free. I didn't know that gluten intolerance and Celiac Disease are different though.
Strength and Sunshine
Well I'm glad I could some of the others things up for you!
Becca
Nice job compiling these myth debunkers. Honestly, I've sorta fallen for #11. Though over time I've realized that I should just eat healthier (ie organic and such) overall instead.
Strength and Sunshine
As long as you don't fall for it now!
Megan @ Meg Go Run
I think one of the reasons people are confused about g-free is because so many people took it up as a "fad" diet that they just assume everyone does it for that reason. It's like the people who do it for the fad cheapen the fact that others have celiac disease and simply CANNOT HAVE GLUTEN. I think it is good to answer people's questions about celiac disease and g-free because the only way they will understand it is if they are given the information. I remember... oh, 8 years ago, I was doing choreography for the musical the HS i work at was doing and one of the senior boys was eating this weird bread. He explained to me he had celiac disease and couldn't eat gluten. BOY did I have questions for him! What is gluten? What CAN you eat? What about PIZZA? hehe. This was way before g-free became mainstream and I had never heard of it before. I never heard of it again until Elisabeth Hasselbeck on the view started talking about it and then I was like, "Omg, that's the same thing that boy has!" Obviously there is a lot more information out there about gluten but some of it is myth. Thank you for debunking it!
Strength and Sunshine
Wow, thank you for your comment Meg!
It is how the media and mainstream society has basically destroyed the true credibility of what gluten-free means. It is sad and angers me so much. To people with Celiac it is like a kick in the face when someone takes gluten-free the wrong way. It is like someone going "peanut-free" as a fad diet!
Years ago Celiac and gluten-free were so under the radar, but now that it is forefront and prominent it is still not "educated" correctly and even though more people know about it, they don't know the facts.
Hailey @ Striding Strong
Very informative thank you! In college, I had a few girls on my team that started eating gluten free because they thought it would make them run faster. Needless to say, it didn’t because they didn’t have Celiac disease. I think it’s great that they have a ton of products now that are gluten free, but the fact that people think gluten free cookies are healthy? Umm no. Drives me crazy haha
Strength and Sunshine
Its going to be an adventure with my food allergies and restrictions in college next year! But that's silly they thought that! I hope they stopped quickly!
And it drives me crazy too 😉 I blame the media and marketing!
Patty @ Reach Your Peak
Very interesting about oats being gluten free - I'll have to keep that in mind! Also, totally agree about gluten free not meaning healthy. Just because a cookie is gluten free means nothing!
Strength and Sunshine
Exactly, all processed food is processed food. So if you start picking up gluten-free labeled goodies thinking they are somehow healthier, you will end up gaining weight, consuming sugar, carbs, and calories, you didn't want, just like anything else!
Oats are tricky though, and they have to be certified for safe Celiac consumption!
Jaclyn @ Bumpsweat
Great post! I didn't know that about the oats containing a different particle some people with celiac can react negatively to. I think the gluten-free craze has gotten blown a little out-of-proportion. Those who need to be gluten-free should do it, but yeah, there's a lot of lies people will believe about it, like the weight loss and such.
Strength and Sunshine
Every way of eating, fad diet or not, always comes with a boat load of myths, facts, confusion, and the like! We just need to focus on the facts though!
Kimberly
Yikes! So complicated!!
Strength and Sunshine
But now you know and can share the facts!
Breckenridge Clare
I'm so glad you posted this! I'm gluten free due to an allergy. Though I'm not celiac, it's not a fun experience when there's hidden gluten or when a restaurant makes the mistake of not substituting the gluten free pasta into the dish. One bite in and it's seriously painful. It's so annoying to hear people talk about "being gluten free" and then see them demolish a hamburger (bun and all) without a second thought. It takes me at least two days before even feeling somewhat normal and even then my body is still reacting. Thanks so much for this post, hopefully people will be a little bit more knowledgeable now!
xx
Strength and Sunshine
Thanks friend! I know, I hate all these people going gluten-free or saying they are and knowing nothing about it! Gluten-free is not just a diet choice like Paleo or Vegan, it is a real medical necessity!
GiGi Eats Celebrities
I say, DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU!!!!!! If gluten makes you feel like crap, well then... It's obvious you should ditch it!
Strength and Sunshine
Hopefully it if for an intolerance or sensitivity and not just in your head form the media!
Sami
Great info! I have heard that people begin to feel better right away, but I'm sure it takes a while for the body to cleanse its self. Thanks!
Strength and Sunshine
It really does depend on the person, but it usually takes more than just one day!
Theresa
Thank you for dispelling these common GF myths!! I have such a hard time getting my friends to understand "no, I can't just scrape the icing off the cupcake" They just don't get it!
Strength and Sunshine
It's really hard to change people's set mindsets on food that they have held so long! It makes me so angry that people just can't understand the severe consequences of cross-contamination!
Tina Muir
This is great Rebecca! I learned a lot, but you also backed some of my own findings. I tried gluten free for a month earlier this year, and I found that it did not work for me....because I did not need to!!! I also put on weight, you are so right about people misunderstanding it to lose weight. As an athlete I wanted to try to see if my stomach reacted well, but I did not really notice a difference at all...and that is okay!!
very interesting about the cross contamination though! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Strength and Sunshine
That's great to hear that you know it is not for you! Sometimes I can understand why people are curious to see how they react to eating gluten-free, but really the majority does not need to which IS perfectly fine! Then everyone just needs to respect the ones of us who so and continue to educate 🙂
Kristy @ Southern In-Law
Oats and Coeliac disease are definitely misunderstood (which is probably why my Can Coeliacs Eat Oats post is one of our most popular posts!). 4 out of 5 coeliacs can tolerate avenin/oat gluten with no issues where 1 in 5/20% have the same or similar reaction they have to gluten.
I'm so so thankful that I can eat oats seeing as I have so many food issues!
My biggest pet peeve would have to be contamination because people just don't understand how sick you get. I've given specific instructions to restaurants and told them how seriously I can react only to be feeling like death warmed up 6 hours later when the glutening sets in.
My biggest issue is that I have so many other food intolerances plus coeliac disease so when someone says "what CAN you eat" I can't really blame them haha
Strength and Sunshine
I had that whole time last Summer where I thought I had an oat problem too, but I seem to do okay now with small amounts! I love my granola 😉
Cross contamination explaining is the worst. A lot of my family still does not get it, my mom and I try to explain, but it seems like they just close off their ears and think about something else.
Same here with the many restrictions. All anyone needs to know is, I have plenty I CAN eat even though I don't/can't eat certain things.
Debbie Rodrigues (@DebbieInShape)
I have gluten intolerance and I only realized it when testing the gluten-free life. Since I have been eating it again, my joints are making themselves noted again. 🙁
Here in Belgium, bread is part of most meals, but there is very little gluten awareness. My mom in Brazil finds gluten free products everywhere, while I struggle a lot (and pay a little fortune when I find them).
Anyways, I loved the info you posted. There is so much misunderstanding that is great whenever someone brings light to the subject.
Strength and Sunshine
Thanks Debbie. It is interesting to see how other cultures handle Celiac. The markets for gluten-free are ever expanding so hopefully you will get more option soon!
jessielovestorun
I think you about covered it! Great list. I always wondered why people assume gluten free diet is healthier & think they can loose weight. Crazy folks. Haha!
Strength and Sunshine
Yes, crazy! It is my biggest pet peeve!