Gluten-free? What did it do for you?

I went gluten free this summer. For me the decision was about trying to resolve my remaining gut issues, which were pretty limited to occasional soft stool, crampy bowels and motility issues. Within a couple of weeks I noticed the first significant change - I had better concentration. Within 3 weeks the soft stool was gone. The motility issues remain and are probably due to chronic inflammation in my bowel, both large and small.

I have Crohn's, not UC, so for me the issues with gluten sensitivity were conflated with other small bowel problems. My GI was very supportive of me adopting this diet and I am glad that I did it. I've been thinking about it for about 2 years before I decided to start it. My main concern was that I prepare the majority of my family's meals and I did not think the husband and kids were interested in going gluten free with me. We've worked out the meal planning and it's not as hard as I feared. Tonight, for example, we're having tostadas on corn tortillas, with veggie beans and cheese. Not a spec of gluten to be found.

I went wheat-free a few years ago after I noticed I was having horrible pain after eating bread, which I would eat to try to soothe my stomach. I don't have a gluten sensitivity, so I don't watch out for dressings and stuff like that (and I can tolerate fried food) but I just decided to stay away from baked wheat products like breads. I haven't had that sort of stomach pain since (though other UC related pain in my last flare) so I think it did something.

Really, the biggest reason why I've stuck with it is you naturally eat better, or at least more aware of what you put in your body, when you make a big diet change like that. I can't just grab anything off the shelf (and I avoid high sugar, processed stuff, HFCS, etc) so I guess I make better choices. That said, you had to make better choices a few years ago--now there are gluten-free products for EVERYTHING (saw gluten-free corn dogs at Whole Foods) and those aren't really any better for you than their wheat-based counterparts.

I'd be interested to eat breads and pastas and pizzas again, but I've read that once you've made a change for so long, you can become intolerant, so don't think it's worth it to try. Plus the idea of GF is much more mainstream than it was just 3 years ago, and I'm lax enough with it it's rarely an issue.

Oat bread boiled egg sandwhich for breakfast, multiple sandwhiches throughout the day with almond butter on Harvest Seed bread.

Gluten-free is not for everyone, it is for most with UC but I love good oat bread which of course comes with wheat. Has no effect on me.

I buy a lot of gluten free foods but I slip up often. I only eat spelt breads. All natural & taste good.

I tried the wheat free diet aout a year ago just for fun.
I still had some gluten though.
I think your body changes as your get older so its good to always keep an eye on these changes and not go to the ohhhh i used to eat bread a lot before and it was fine...
I noticed i wasnt as much bloated. But having a wheat free diet comes with lots of healthier choices too... You dont splurge on your cofee break with cookies or muffins... you dont take pizzas or sandwiches at lunchtime or deep fried stuff... so overall you have other benefits than just taking off the wheat...

The thing i missed the most was proper bread... wich is a pain to find! really even wheat free bread are horrible... no texture and how many times they burn!

Not having proper bread putted me in a position to have temptations... so I decided to make my own bread! Whole spelt flour bread that is moist, tasty (nutty flavour) and has only a few ingredients! This saved me from temptation.

If you fancy a cake they are many amazing recipes with almond flour.

I would say its definatly a try and i noticed when i splurge on wheat i have tint of blood days after.

I find the wheat free diet to be much more manageable than gluten free. Then again depends on your sensitivity. If you dont have high sensitivity or allergy to gluten i would go wheat free first.

good luck!

I've been in remission for the past couple of years, but decided to go gluten-free for all of my other issues. It has helped with firming up my BMs, decreasing the amount of gas and bloating; but it hasn't helped other issues (fatigue is my biggest concern).