Gluten Free Diet

[MCC]

Do any of you have experience of a gluten free diet 'helping' with Wegeners?

A friend of a friend who is a doctor who specialises in disease prevention through healthy nutrition suggested it. I'm not sure how exactly she thinks it would help though. I don't really want to try it as I am already vegan and don't want to restrict my diet further so thought I'd see what you guys thought!

She also suggested high dosages of Vitamin D.

[elephant]

I heard of that too, but I don't want to restrict my diet too. I thought about trying it for a couple of months, but too busy trying to manage everything else. I think many of us need to get back to eating whole foods...baking a sweet potato, eating a orange, steamed broccoli, handful of walnuts, bowl of oatmeal with blueberries, ...sorry I love talking about food.

[Natalie]

Never thought of changing my diet . I did ask a imuneoligist once if I shoud avoide any foods and he said Mushrooms ? . I have avoided them since . loved mushrooms but stay clear of them now . I have had a few since but not many . I couldnt do the whole glutin free thing . love food to much

[Sangye]

Avoiding gluten only helps if you are sensitive to gluten. If you are and continue to eat it, it's a chronic assault on the immune system. Autoimmune diseases have been linked to undiagnosed gluten sensitivity in some people-- enough that it's worth checking. The best way to check is avoid all gluten for at least 2 weeks. You have to be extremely careful not to have the slightest exposure. Check online for a complete list of foods to avoid. If you feel better after 2 weeks, you probably have a sensitivity. If not, probably not. Symptoms that may improve can be anything from post-nasal drip to joint pain to fatigue. Keep a daily journal of symptoms to help you.

Elephant's suggestion of eating whole foods is excellent. Also, following an Anti-inflammatory diet really helps. It won't cure Wegs, but it can decrease many symptoms and possibly keep us from flaring.

[MCC]

Thanks Sangye. Perhaps it is unnecessary for me as I don't have any noticeable symptoms. I got some anti-inflammatory diet info from a Wegener's diet forum.

Do you think the vitamin D is necessary?

[elephant]

I might just try the gluten free diet for two weeks. I better start Monday, and see. I will let you guys know what I ate everyday and how I am doing. I know it will be fruits, veggies, gluten free bread. I will try it. I can't believe I just committed myself. I can always back out right??? Whole Foods store here I come.

[MCC]

hehee Elephant! Me too, sometimes I wish I could go back to my pre diagnosis days where I felt too ill to be bothered with food.