One Of The Greatest Mysteries Of All Time :headscratch:

[tex]

Hi All,

I never cease to be amazed at how many doctors go out of their way to discourage something as harmless as a GF diet. They have to be concerned about the long-term effects on their bank account - why else would they expend so much effort trying to discourage people from adopting a diet that is actually so much healthier than what most people are otherwise normally eating? Here's the latest such effort, by a British doctor writing about the new Wimbledon champion, Novak Djokovic.

It is not clear whether he is allergic to gluten, has an intolerance to it or has the more serious condition, coeliac disease.

. . . blah, blah, blah . . .

Djokovic attributed his new-found success on the court to his nutritionist, who took him off wheat, barley and rye. He is certainly right. Before he would have felt tired, lacking in energy with often terrible gastric upsets.

But now the crazies are saying a gluten-free diet is the best thing for everyone. Not so, and because gluten is found in a surprising number of foods, most people fail to stay truly gluten-free.

. . . blah, blah, blah . . .

Health fanatics who are now putting themselves on gluten-free diets will not be doing their bodies any favours. They will almost certainly restrict their diets too much, miss out on important fibre content and lose the key to a good diet: variety.

For most people, a gluten-free diet offers no benefits; in fact, it may even bring unwanted results, such as weight gain and nutritional deficiencies. Experts concur that gluten-free eating performs wonders for one group of people only: those with coeliac disease.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/health/ar ... -gluten.do

Crazies? Wow! This guy is really hurting. Why is he so worried that a lot of people will try to emulate Djokovic and adopt a healthier diet than the one they are now following? Apparently he must realize that if the diet catches on, he is going to loses a lot of patients who will no longer need his services. Otherwise, why would he have such a rabid attitude?

It's probably worth noting that Britain's current top tennis contender, Andy Murray, follows the usual high-carb diet, still recommended by most sports nutritionists, and still used by most athletes. Apparently, Murray refers to his high-carb breakfasts, for example, as his "breakfast of champions".

I can't help but wonder how long it will take before other sports nutritionists begin to experiment with GF diets, for the athletes in their charge. Probably about 10 nanoseconds. Here's a good, level-headed assessment of the situation, (as usual), by Dr. Briffa:

http://www.drbriffa.com/2011/07/04/what ... umber-one/

Tex

[natythingycolbery]

It's probably worth noting that Britain's current top tennis contender, Andy Murray, follows the usual high-carb diet, still recommended by most sports nutritionists, and still used by most athletes. Apparently, Murray refers to his high-carb breakfasts, for example, as his "breakfast of champions".

2 comments;

1- Andy Murray has been declared 'Scottish' by the Brits as he failed to win Wimbeldon again.
2- That Doctor is famous over here so people will actually listen to what he is saying... WOE!

[natythingycolbery]

OH and also, a lot of people are attacking his article!!!

[tex]

1- Andy Murray has been declared 'Scottish' by the Brits as he failed to win Wimbeldon again.

That sounds like a comedy line written by John Cleese. It sort of captures the essence of the subtle approach to handling unpleasant situations, that the Brits so often use. Love it!

2- That Doctor is famous over here so people will actually listen to what he is saying... WOE!

We have that same problem over here, too - for some strange reason, people assume that celebrities know what they're talking about.

OH and also, a lot of people are attacking his article!!!

Well, when he starts calling people who are trying to correct an existing unhealthy diet trend, (pigging out on gluten and other carbs), "crazies", he's treading on rather shaky ground. Some of the reasons that he listed in that article, for not adopting a GF diet, are so far removed from logical thinking, that he seems a bit unstable, himself.

There was a new report released, a couple of days ago, titled, New Report: Adult Obesity Increases in 16 States in the Past Year. Obesity rates in this country are skyrocketing. Does that suggest that the citizens of this country are generally following healthy diet practices? I don't think so. It appears that the government's heavy promotions of carbs over the past several decades, is finally catching up with us, in terms that are impossible to overlook. Clearly, the primary dietary recommendations of our government, (and endorsed and generally promoted by the medical community), are making us fat, and it's high time that they recognized that, and made some radical changes in their recommendations, (instead of changing the diet "pyramid" into a diet "plate").

This year, for the first time, the report examined how the obesity epidemic has grown over the past two decades. Twenty years ago, no state had an obesity rate above 15 percent. Today, more than two out of three states, 38 total, have obesity rates over 25 percent, and just one has a rate lower than 20 percent. Since 1995, when data was available for every state, obesity rates have doubled in seven states and increased by at least 90 percent in 10 others.

USDA-approved Carbs are slowly killing us.

http://www.rwjf.org/newsroom/product.jsp?id=72574

Thanks for the response.

Tex

[sarkin]

Tex & Katy,

I actually was one of those cranky comments on that article.

If there is a reason why someone should not adopt a GF diet to see whether it helps them, and some medical or nutritional professional would like to state it - please, tell us! What they say is - "don't try this at home!" or "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain" or (my favorite!) "just because what Djokovic is doing is working like crazy magic doesn't mean it's a good idea."

Now, I can accept that I probably shouldn't eat what a professional athlete eats, despite the significant aerobic workout I put in today at a family wedding. I haven't been that energized on a dance floor since I partied like it was 1999, probably well *before* 1999 (thank you, GF diet!). One of my biggest beefs with this whole line of thinking is the "missing vital nutrients" argument. They don't tell you what nutrients you'll miss you on, other than fiber - which you can get from vegetables, or from a supplemental source... and they sometimes mention the micronutrients that are *added* to grain products - which, obviously could be added to any food, or one might take a supplement. Or you could go crazy, and eat a food that naturally contains folic acid (in every green leaf), or calcium (in a lot of green leaves, actually, among other things).

Regarding celiac/nonceliac, and 'gluten sensitive' vs. 'allergic' vs. whatever Djokovic had: He felt awful and didn't do well when he ate gluten. He cute that s*t out, and feels great and performs at 'best in the world' level. Obviously talent and hard work are also involved; do we really need to argue about blood tests and biopsies at this point? Like any athlete, he tried whatever he could think of to optimize his performance, and this one worked out gangbusters.

I agree, Tex - this guy sounded especially deranged. Probably should lay off the gluten. (Thanks for that obesity link, too.)

xox/S

[harma]

the one thing I love about a glutenfree (or/and soy free, dairy free, yeast free, corn free and whatever more free), that I can try it out, all by my self, I can start it when I want to, end it when I want to, do it for the rest of my life if I feel well on it. It's one of the view things when it comes to diseases and health, you don't need a doctor for it, you can do it all by your self. Like being a vegetarian or not.

Still everytime when I read or hear about another "expert" telling there is only a relation between gluten and celiac and the rest is BS and between people's ears, or how unhealthy it should be (I still miss the point why a glutenfree diet should be more or less healthy, everything stands or falls with people's food choice) or the celiac society feels the need to exclude us (the non celiac gluten free eaters).

I think fine, do whatever you need to do, thanks god I can 100% totally decide myself when, what and how I eat!!!!!

and maybe that is the frustration of some of these doctors (of course not all). When it comes to exams and pills patients need their medical care taker, but diet every day I am so glad for this choice I don't need the approval of my doctor or anyone else.

[tex]

and maybe that is the frustration of some of these doctors

I think you're right on target - I suspect that's exactly why so many doctors feel threatened by the GF "movement". Deep down, they don't want people to take charge of their own health, because they feel that's their turf, (the doctor's turf). The sad fact is that they're not trained to be nutrition/diet experts, anyway - they're trained to treat health problems, (diseases), after they develop. If anyone should be upset, it's dietitians/nutritionists, because this is really their turf. I would assume, though, that people who are likely to adopt a GF diet would be more likely to consult with a dietitian, rather than less likely.

Incidentally, note that there is a difference between dietitians and nutritionists. In most jurisdictions, nutritionists are not regulated by licensing/training requirements, and of course, dietitians, are specially trained, and licensed by the state in which they practice. Virtually anyone can be a nutritionist, simply by claiming to be one. All dietitians are nutritionists, of course, but not all nutritionists are dietitians.

This still leaves the question, "Why are so many doctors so uptight about people trying the GF diet, pro se?" Of course, not all doctors feel that way - maybe the ones that do, think that they own our health, and we shouldn't be allowed to mess with it. The way things are going, it wouldn't surprise me to see someone try to introduce a bill into congress, that would make it illegal for anyone to adopt the GF diet, without a bona fide medical diagnosis of celiac disease.

Tex

[harma]

The way things are going, it wouldn't surprise me to see someone try to introduce a bill into congress, that would make it illegal for anyone to adopt the GF diet, without a bona fide medical diagnosis of celiac disease

That is exactly what I mean, if they could, I think probably someone would. As if eating so much carbs (promoting, supported, encouraged by any western world government) is so healthy

[sarkin]

Harma, I absolutely agree - it really is wonderful to "stick it to the man" by treating my MC with my own thinking, at least as successfully as my doctor ever could With some things (blood test levels), I need their help to collect some data (is my thyroid OK, is my blood sugar elevated...). But with attention to diet and symptoms, *I'm* the one with the data. So I know whether a food agrees with me or not - my doctor would first have to get that information from me, and then persuade me that they have given it as much thought as I have *and that they care about the outcome as much* - which I honestly can't see why I'd ever believe, especially from a doctor with an axe to grind about "true" celiac or "GF craziness."

Tex,

They're going to have to do something about that 13-year failure to diagnose celiac, if they want to get all righteous about who's allowed to eat like a celiac patient. They're doing an awful job helping the "real" celiac folks - who the heck would want to sign up for that club, and their help???

When you remove proteins and fats to an excessive degree from your plate, you almost have to put some low-nutrient starches in there to keep the calorie count up. Since they're talking us out of meat and protein, it's no wonder they've been pushing the grains.

And at some point, while howling about the vital nutrients we're missing if we don't eat gluten grains, they might want to wave the magic wand of science and NAME SOME, and CITE EVIDENCE that eating those grains will provide the missing, health-giving elements.

They got nothin' - and the louder and more vituperatively they state it, the more obvious it becomes.

Harumph.

Love,
Sara

[tex]

They're going to have to do something about that 13-year failure to diagnose celiac, if they want to get all righteous about who's allowed to eat like a celiac patient. They're doing an awful job helping the "real" celiac folks - who the heck would want to sign up for that club, and their help???

That's what's so ridiculous - do they actually expect their patients to sit in the bathroom for 13 years while they, (the doctors), twiddle their thumbs and bill their patients for not doing anything to help them? When you look at it that way, it's no wonder that so many celiacs are "snobbish" about the club - they've earned their stripes by suffering needlessly for 13 years. I have to say, though, that most of them seem to accept the pathetic service that they received from the medical profession on the way to their diagnosis, mighty gracefully, for the most part. Personally, I'm 99.99% sure than I'm a celiac, and I'm bitter as hell that no doctor ever bothered to check me for celiac disease during the 2 years that it took me to figure it out for myself. I'll never make a "good celiac", because I don't have near enough patience to qualify for club membership.

They got nothin' - and the louder and more vituperatively they state it, the more obvious it becomes.

If it weren't so pathetic, it would be funny. So many GI specialists, especially the ones with that attitude, are just plain hypocrites - they make stupid claims, such as , "there's no scientific proof that food sensitivities are associated with MC", and yet they arbitrarily choose to ignore the fact that there's no scientific proof to the contrary, either. Using science selectively, changes them from being a scientist, to being a manipulative hypocrite, IMO.

Love,
Tex

[Kari]

Wow - I agree, this is definitely a subject that should raise our ire. I have no plans to ever see a GI, unless it becomes essential for me to get a prescription that only they can write.

As far as eating gluten free, I can testify that my son and my grand children are in better general health, and also have less airborne allergy problems than before. Eric (my son) was here yesterday, and said that as a family, they are now eating home all the time, and eating a very healthy, "unprocessed food" diet, and yes, the kids now eat "real" veggies. No more McDonalds, etc. They're only going out treat is for gluten free pizza, which he claims tastes better than regular.

Anyhow, the longer I'm gluten, dairy, etc. "free", the better I feel. I look at what many other people eat, and understand 100% why they are "obese". I have to stop myself from becoming "evangelical" about it, and leave others to make their own choices:). It's just such a crying shame that our government and medical establishment are steering people in the wrong direction!!!!!

Love,
Kari

[patc73]

I can vouch for the GIs having their own "one-size-fits-all" approach to having MC...at my appointment, I expected guidance and help in getting better. I didn't get it. I had been GF for just 3 weeks and already was SO much less bloated and the D was gone. The first thing he tried to push was for me to take a prescription med for gastric reflux, which I don't even suffer from. Next, he said that I did not "need" to be GF, and I should go back to gluten immediately, in order to do an endoscopic procedure in a couple of months and verify if I needed to be GF! I didn't need proof from a medical procedure; I already had the proof in how I felt! (And I've lost 8 pounds in 6 weeks from dropping bread from my diet.) Don't docs ever listen to their patients?

[sarkin]

Pat,

Great picture!

Remember "first, do no harm"? Isn't that page 1 of the Hippocratic Oath? How is it responsible to suggest that someone *seek* small bowel damage so severe that it can be found on endoscopy?

I bet it would also work to "go back on heroin" to prove that you need substance abuse treatment.

They just hate it that we actually have the power and the knowledge. Heck, I would be *thrilled* if I felt I had a doctor with the power and knowledge to improve my health. Show. Me. That. Doctor.

Tex, I figure I'm another unDx celiac, and don't care what you want to call it, I'm not eating that stuff ever again. And I also lack the patience (that's a very polite word for it, sir) to put up with the process.

And let us be clear: if there were scientific proof that food sensitivities are associated with MC, which of us has a doctor who would have seen that proof? Oh, wait, there IS proof! Darn... but until a pharma rep starts dropping off pamphlets proclaiming this, which is to say no time soon, most doctors will be as ignorant of this as they are of the recent cholesterol studies showing that the program they are advocating is wrong enough to have passed "misguided" several exits back, and is now totally backwards-wrong.

Oh, and let's not even review the other dietary advice doctors have been passing out all these years, in the interest of kindness.

Trying to stay sub-rant here, and actually I was kind of tickled that the GI in that particular article was such an idiot.

I really should put together my booklet of snappy remarks. I have become very good at saying "it's not like there's any vital nutrient you miss out on when you don't eat grains," and you'd be surprised how people suddenly realize they don't know much about nutrition, and I seem to have given it a moment or two of thought.

My BIL is a surgeon (love that man, but you *really* don't want dietary advice from a surgeon! - the docs who see patients mostly when awake can't even get it right). He asked me on our recent visit whether I thought he'd live longer if he cut out gluten - he wants to live a long life. His wife is doing 'modified Paleo' (and Crossfit) - I believe her modifications are likely to keep it from working, as they're pointing things toward the standard dietary advice to avoid fat... and she still feels and looks fantastic, so we were bonding over that (except of course, that she was eating croissants, and I was not!).

There was probably a little edge in his question, but I went for it - said any answer would be speculation, but I told him how I'd place my bets *if I were him, without known gluten sensitivity* - and why. It was a great conversation. (I'm trying to decide whether buying my SIL the Paleo book for her birthday is a heartfelt response to her interest, or overstepping my bounds - it feels friendly to me, but how would she take it?)

Love,
Sara