Of all the things that Miley Cyrus has done, I don’t get how this has become a controversy, but it has. Earlier this week Miley tweeted that her recent weight loss was due to an “allergy” to gluten and lactose, and that she feels so much better after giving them up. Miley also recommended that people try a gluten free diet for a week. Many of you pointed out in the comments that Miley may have an “intolerance” to gluten and lactose, but that it was incorrect to classify that as an allergy. We also heard from some of you who suffer from celiac disease, who bemoaned the fact that it is now trendy to give up gluten when you have no choice but to avoid it entirely. Well US Weekly contacted dieticians who said that going gluten free for weight loss is dangerous:
Cyrus then told one fan: “Everyone should try no gluten for a week! The change in your skin, physical and mental health is amazing. You won’t go back!”
Not so fast!
Rachel Begun, a registered dietitian and food industry consultant, told Today’s Health that only those who have been diagnosed with a gluten-related disorder should go on a gluten-free diet.
In fact, Begun said “People who go gluten-free may gain weight if they rely mostly on highly-processed gluten free foods, many of which tend to be higher in fat, calories and sugar than their gluten-containing counterparts.”Karen Ansel, also a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, agreed.
“There’s absolutely no evidence that a gluten-free diet promotes weight loss,” Ansel explained. “However, there is data that indicates that following a gluten-free diet can result in a diet that’s low in key nutrients — especially iron, zinc and B vitamins such as folate and niacin.”
[From US Weekly]
Of course if you give up gluten and keep eating crappy processed food, whether corn, rice or soy-based, you’re not going to get the nutrients that you once had from whole grains. It’s similar to going vegetarian and substituting all the meat you used to eat with processed soy products. It’s not healthy to eat like that. If you give up gluten and are eating more whole foods like fruits, vegetables, beans and lean meats it can only be better for you.* My mom has a friend with celiac disease and she said the same thing as these dietitians quoted by US, you really shouldn’t go gluten free unless you have to. From what I understand, a gluten free diet can be beneficial for a lot of medical conditions, although its efficacy is not proven. One of my friends has Crohn’s disease and she gave up all gluten and dairy and improved significantly.
Years ago I read The Okinawa Program, which revealed the lifestyle of the healthiest longest-living society in the world, in the Okinawa islands off Japan. People regularly live into their 90s and beyond in Okinawa, and they eat a low calorie diet rich in fish, rice and vegetables. I also had a doctor who introduced me to the work of Weston A. Price, who found that traditional societies ate locally sourced whole foods in season. It’s just about eating foods that are healthy and whole, not created in a lab. I don’t see how Miley has harmed anyone who would actually take her seriously by recommending a gluten free diet. It’s not necessarily about going gluten free, though, it’s about cutting out the processed crap and eating healthier overall.
*I am not a doctor, etc. This article in Wikipedia has more on the potential nutritional drawbacks of a gluten free diet.
Here’s Miley outside of pilates on 3-29-12 and 4-6-12. Credit: WENN.com
i hope that people wouldn’t take any cues, dietary or otherwise, from a 19 (?) year old twit…
Exactly.I think she should start eat that gluten again because she has some problems with her memory. She forgot to wear her underwear few days ago.
I did. Researched it, decided to cut out weheat , afetar downloading wheat bellly. Yesterday Was my first wheat free day. I feel tired.
Give it a shot before you give up! Your body will go through a detox, and in a few days you will feel more bright,alert,energetic, and the bloat will be gone!
I tried it for a few days and I felt like I was going to pass out. Maybe that’s “detox,” but I normally eat well and feel fine, so I gave it up anyway.
Becky-if you’re feeling tired after one day without wheat, you very likely have either a wheat allergy or gluten intolerance to some degree. You might be able to eat wheat again less frequently if it’s a “cyclic” allergy – google “food allergies” and “rotation diet” for info and ideas.
Wheat is not an essential part of the human diet. It is very much possible to be allergic to something you enjoy and eat every day and often at every meal. It’s the “allergic addiction” phenomenon – as long as you have the allergen in your system, your body has learned to compensate (like walking a tightrope carrying weights in both hands). Take away the allergen, and the body is temporarily even more out of balance. Give it a few days for your system to clear-you should start feeling better in a few days, for some it takes a couple of weeks. Basically, you should not feel bad if you are eliminating any food that is not a problem for you, as long as you are getting enough nutrition otherwise. If you do feel bad – it’s likely a withdrawal symptom, just as with drug addiction or quitting smoking or caffeine. Certainly removing wheat should not affect anything unless wheat is a problem. While you’re still eating the allergen, the symptoms (including fatigue) are masked and delayed, making it hard to figure out what’s wrong.
It might seem counter-intuitive, but if you’re trying this make sure to LOTS of other non-carb food – think 2 egg omelets with cheese and veggies and bacon (if you like it), lots of prime rib at dinner (or whatever) with a big salad, peanut butter or cream cheese spread on flax crackers for a snack. Smoothies with berries, spinach (can’t taste it) and whey. Nuts and hard boiled eggs to go. There are lots of ways to eat without thinking about calories. When I started this myself I lost 2lbs. in 6 days without feeling hungry. It is a big shift in old habits, and may take awhile to come up with new ways of eating. Here’s a good recipe link, with desserts too(!!):
http://www.yourlighterside.com
I just came here to say at least she’s wearing a bra like a proper person but didn’t know about the underwear fiasco. Ew.
I think I might have some sort of intolerance to something, but dunno what exactly -_- I should go probably to the doctor for that… but I’m not the kind of person that easily goes to the doc
I gave up all diet soda and aspartame about two months ago. It gave me migraines at first, which may be due to the lack of caffeine although I still drink coffee and tea. Sucralose/Splenda gives my son rashes, and I’ve heard of people being sensitive to that too. Might be worth a try.
lol, giving up soda in general is something I have been contemplating the past few weeks. But it’s soooo yummy! (drinking a coke right now…)
I’ve already stopped eating crisps and cheap ice-cream (I know for certain that I react heavily to cheap dairy products like store brand mozzarella and ice-cream, feels like I’m choking) and feel an improvement already.
And I drink green smoothies for breakfast which are awesome. My hair and nails are so much tougher and shinier and -tmi warning- my bowels are functioning semi-normal which is a miracle in itself.
these changes are actually making my adult acne gradually disappear, I’m so happy. I’ve had a pizzaface for the past 5-6 years, when my skin suddenly became super sensitive to all kinds of stuff.
I just gave up Splenda and caffeine myself. For someone who lived off of energy drinks, energy shots and coffee, it was rather challenging. I actually just did a 5-day fast (no caffeine or food only tea and water, diluted vegg juice) and that really helped me to restore my system and give me a good jump-off point to quit. I was obsesssed with Splenda though-put it in everything!
I’ve heard of people having some pretty bad reactions to Splenda too.
I used to drink diet soda and other stuff like Crystal Light, but started getting bad headaches. I’ve cut all that out, I only drink water and unsweetened tea now, and if I have anything with fake sweetener in it, it feels like an elephant has stomped on my head. That stuff is not good.
Sisi, try switching to sparkling water instead. There’s a ton out there now that have no sugar/artificial sweetners but have fruit flavor added to give you a little taste. I found when I gave up soda it wasn’t the sugar I missed but the carbonation. So I drink sparkling water.
p.s. I cut sweets and alcohol out of my diet and my skin has never been clearer.
Hey sisi, I just started this detox [wholeBrown rice with and veg,Nuts and seeds, no Caffein and dairy]
can you give me a good green smoothie recepie?
Thank you
Sisi I drink green smoothies too! I bought a refurbished Vitamix and I love it. My recipe is tons of kale, like 2-3 cups plus about 2 cups spinach, mixed frozen fruit (1 cup of that, it’s from walmart and is pineapple, peaches and strawberries, cheap) 1/2 banana, some ginger and a packet of stevia. Sometimes I add cilantro. It’s delicious!
@ Celebitchy
awesome! I envy your Vitamix. My blender is a cheap $10 thing. It does it’s job though, only has trouble grinding citrus membranes and grape skins.
Wow you really use lots of greens already in your mix! I just begun with the smoothies a couple of months ago so the ratio fruits-greens still leans heavily toward the fruits. However I don’t add extra sweetener like Stevia (considered it though).
Strawberries are super yummy I agree, but they are really expensive here atm so I’ll have to wait ’till summer to make my strawberry-kale smoothie again.
Hey Celebitchy:
With all the leafy greens you are taking in be careful because they can lead to kidney stones. A friend of mine (mid 30s, female) has been on a primarily low glucose/leafy green/nut based diet and landed in the hosiptal with stones. The leafy greens were likely the culprit.
@Sisi I used to drink A LOT of diet pop but about 4 years ago I ended up in the hospital for 2 days because of it. They said I had so much in my system that it was basically poisoning me and I had to give it up altogether. The thought of artificial sweetener totally grosses me out now.
@ DD
get your blender out 🙂 I use several recipes, but this this is my no-brains recipe that is foolproof
1 large ripe mango – peeled, 1 pear (or sweet apple if you prefer it) – with skin (just wash-em & deseed), 1,5 frozen banana (peeled & cut in chunks before freezing), handful of washed spinach leaves. Cut the fresh fruit in chunks. Put the moist fruits at the bottom, they are easier for the blender. Maybe add a little water to get the thing going (1/4 cup).
Optional: I also add a tbsp. supplement powder mix from the vitamin store made with wheatgrass, spirulina, chlorella, seaweed, fruit&veg and all that jazz.
Pulse the blender a couple of times and then put it on the highest setting for 1-2 minutes. This gives about a liter of thick smoothie. Because of the high amount of fiber the smoothie will keep for several days in the fridge. I store them in jam jars because Im cheap XD and eat a jar full for breakfast
You can also switch the mango with pineapple and add 2 instead of one pear and add 2 bananas and two handfulls of spinach. Don’t add extra water if you use pineapple. This gets you 2 litres of smoothie, and just throw some half liter bottles with the stuff in the freezer. What I use as main flavor depends on the price at the store. Last week the big pineapples were only a dollar and the mango’s were tiny at $1.80 so Im eating pineapple atm 🙂
It’s important to alternate what greens you use because eating spinach everyday forever is not good for the body (too many of the same minerals). I have portion size baggies in the freezer with shredded kale, spinach leaves and leftover carrot greens. All are quite flavorless in comparison to the fruit used. Btw I also always have a plastic baggie with quartered peeled bananas in the freezer – most are ripe rejects from the fruit basket that get a second life through my smoothie. In the past these would’ve gone in the bin.
interesting links:
http://www.crunchybetty.com/clear-skin-from-the-inside-out-green-smoothies
http://www.rawfamily.com/recipes <- site by Victoria Boutenko, green smoothie guru. they even have a smoothie recipe app for ipod/iphone which is very handy. She also has interesting youtube vids, just search her name.
hopefully this was helpful 🙂
@ Laura
Thanks for the tip, that sounds like it might be true for me too. I’ve been drinking water with slices of lemon added in an attempt to kick the cocacola habit but I’m missing a certain sensation. I assumed it was the lack of sugar.
Yah seltzer works wonders if you are trying to give up soda.
@DD – I do a simple green smoothie every morning. I just dump some cucumber, spinach, lemon juice, a few drops of stevia and 1/4 – 1/2 a small banana in some filtered water and blast it in my vitamix.
the trick to being able to handle any bitterness of some greens or wheatgrass is a little bit of banana.
you can also get a bunch of green smoothie recipes from the vitamix website, http://www.thewellnesswarrior.com.au/ and, probably, happy herbivore.
Banana is pure sugar. Try strawberries. The taste overwhelms all the greens.
thanks Becky, everyone suggested banana aso I use as little as possible to limit the sugar (and because they’re binding) I’ll have to try to refrain from finishing off the strawberries I have so I can try this tomorrow morning
delete
This is ridiculous. No adult (I hope) is taking a 19yr old pop star’s TWEET (not even a commercial or interview) as medical advice. The only people that could be “vulnerable” to this “advice” are children or teens that like Miley, and that would be their parents’ job to teach them healthy eating habits. So stupid! The moment a celeb says anything slightly off the script some magazine hauls in an “expert” to critique them. And then we bemoan “boring” interviews where the celeb no longer says anything close to an opinion. *eyeroll
think about all the fad diets people follow because celebs swear they lost weight from them
Miley’s gluten-free eating is just another diet. I myself lost 22 LBs by going gluten free 15 years ago, but I was not ‘allergic’. Its a fad really, and a form of no-carb eating. Her next step will be to go ‘vegan’, if she isn’t already. And she said something about being lactose-intolerant. So she isnt eating or drinking milk either. Soon she will have excluded everything except veggies from her diet – no wonder she’s thinner!
I don’t know why this has become a big deal. So she said people should try it for a week. She didn’t say YOU MUST DO THIS OR BE DAMNED TO ETERNAL FAT HELL. Relax, Dieticians.
Seriously. It’s not outright unhealthy, and she is suggesting it for a week. People have way too much time on their hands if this really upsets them.
Yes US Weekly, let’s talk about her “diet” – not the cuts/scars on her arm that she tries to hide with a lot of bangles…
Exactly!! And the fact that she flashes her vag to the world! I can’t believe that hasn’t got more coverage!
i’m still embarrassed for her pic at her peen bday cake…before gluten I guess?
This is silly. Yes a gf diet has drawbacks nutritionally because you aren’t getting the iron fortified wheat anymore. But that’s why there are supplements. Sheesh. I love how they assume anyone giving up gluten is going to binge on other crap. You are exactly right. How you give up gluten is way more important than the gluten itself.
Oh and there is growing evidence that going gf can improve many autoimmune disorders such as MS, Crohn’s, etc. as well as helping autistic children. It’s being studied more and becoming less anecdotal.
I think that’s what the dietician meant in referring to gluten-related disorders. I avoid gluten because it interferes with thyroid function/supplements if you’re hypothyroid (I also have to limit soy and only eat it very infrequently). To be honest, I think a lot of the inflammatory related diseases/disorders (including cardiovascular diseases like hypertension) is related to the abundance of processed (and over processed) foods we’re exposed to even when we try to eat healthy.
“Iron fortified wheat bread” isn’t a great source of iron. Neither are the impossibly high iron cereals. They use forms of iron that aren’t well absorbed by most people. Better to just take a good supplement with iron in “chelated” form such as the gluconate. Don’t overdose, the body stores iron. It’s currently speculated that menstrual bleeding may protect against heart disease precisely because it gets rid of excess iron. Likewise for regular blood donation. If you’re anemic, make sure you are getting enough B vitamins, along with extra B-12; lack of iron might not be the real problem when your red blood cell or hemoglobin count is low, although doctors usually prescribe an iron supplement since iron is also needed and the reserves may have been depleted for some reason. But they usually are going just by the red blood cell count.
I don’t get the criticism either. I have a couple if friends who’ve gone gluten free.
One friend had undiagnosed celiac disease that was so severe that she was underweight and needed weekly Vitamin B shots for years. She’s now put on some lbs and has been able to cut back on Dr visits.
Of the friends who don’t have actual celiacs but do have intolerances.
One friend discovered it helped her psoriasis.
One found it alleviated her roseaca.
One found it helped prevent his migraines.
Maybe Miley was suffering from one of those problems or had digestive issues she didn’t want to talk about.
I’ve tried going gluten free and yes I felt great. I found I was less bloated and much more energy. Still I love bread and I didn’t have any extreme symptoms that would keep me away from it for good.
if you’re having problems (and think you may have undiagnosed celiac) you shouldn’t go GF prior to seeing your doc about it. Going GF prior to a formal evaluation may end up giving you a false negative (at least that’s what one of the gastroenterologists I used to work with used to say)
I live in Okinawa, Japan, and let me tell you it isn’t only their diet that keeps them young and living to an older age. They walk EVERYWHERE. Everyone jogs and exercises. There is a lot of emphasis put on health here. It’s an awesome place to live :).
do they still have the rajio taiso broadcasts there? it was the one thing above all that intrigued me to no end.
that, and kappabashi.
I went gluten free a month ago, and it has made a huge difference. I had been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I kept asking my doctor about my digestive problems, and he would shrug his shoulders and say “dunno”. I figured it out myself, when my acid reflux got really bad, and I started searching the internet for an answer and gluten intolerance kept coming up. My lower back pain has disappeared too. I can see why Miley said this, most doctors don’t know anything about gluten intolerance.
Even if she said nothing and just posed for cameras I would still find her vile. Yuck.
I take all of my life advice from Miley Cyrus and Lindsay Blohan!! It’s working like a charm so far :)~
Actually, thank you, I was wondering what the big deal was about Gluten Free, and your piece brings it a bit more into focus.
Wheat Belly, an excellent book by a cardiologist, Dr. William Davis, addresses this issue, and backs up his recommendations with a great deal of science about both the modern wheat we are bombarded with, and the body’s negative response to it.
North America has been following the establishment’s advice for the last 50 years to eliminate fat and increase whole grains, and it sure hasn’t eliminated obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Perhaps huge industrial food producers have a vested interest? Not to mention big pharma which then rakes it in to treat the results?
Here’s a link I mentioned in the last Miley post about wheat and it bears repeating:
http://www.greenmedinfo.com/page/wheat-gluten-research
thanks for the link, I shall be checking it out
Not sure if this is accurate, but for years the rumor going around is that the USDA grain based food pyramid is the exact percentages that cattle farmers use to fatten their cows. Which are also USDA based recommendations.
Not exactly a glowing recommendation for those ratios.
Here’s a link to a Maclean’s Magazine interview with Dr. Davis that I should have included yesterday. It gives a nice synopsis of his book on wheat:
http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/09/20/on-the-evils-of-wheat-why-it-is-so-addictive-and-how-shunning-it-will-make-you-skinny/#more-215040
I want to thank you again for bringing up wheat belly. It makes a lot of sense.
I don’t think you should give stuff up unless you talk to an actual dr. or do thorough research. That’s why I’m actually going dairy free. My mom is lactose intolerant and I have some sensitivity to it. It took me forever to realize that my acne breakouts were worse after eating cereal or ice cream. My mom is sick with a cold and taking antibiotics for a sinus infection so she can’t eat dairy but she’s also noticed her skin is cleared up as well. She’s waiting to see if she will give up all dairy or just give up everything except her lactose free milk. I caved a couple nights and ate ice cream even though I’m sick too and I noticed the next morning that I had yet another breakout.
My mother’s best friend has celiac disease, and it was diagnoses late, leading to many nervous problems: it’s a good thing that one of the first thing doctors/dieticians check for allergies and intolerance now is celiachy, when in the past a celiac would have probably died in a few months if not found.
However, Miley Cyrus is a dumb girl: OF COURSE if you are gluten intolerant, giving up wheat it’s good. But only if you are really intolerant – or have some kind of sensibility, like with lactose. All those people who stops eating wheat (and treats the celiac regime as a diet) are idiot who just need an excuse to stop eating A LOT of processes food – bread, pasta…and many other things with addictives which contain gluten.
Um, she said for a week, not eternity. The tabloids just wanted to make it a controversy and found someone to back them up. I don’t see them going after Gwyneth for all those cleanses…doing those all the time for weight loss can’t be good for you either.
I seriously hope there aren’t people out there who would change their diet and nutrition based on Hannah Montana’s advice, and not seeing their doctor and doing a little research on their own.
She shouldn’t be doling out advice for “everybody”, but I think the US Weekly response is overblown, she never told everyone to do it forever.
I don’t really see that as criticism more as setting the record straight. I go to a dietitian, and I’m studying to be one as well. Her take on going gluten free is only if it’s necessary because you have an intolerance or celiacs. If you’re doing it just because it’s the “latest health fad” (still wondering why that is?) you’ll spend more money on the gluten free products, they are usually more processed and therefore not better for you, and the textures are different from what you may be used to.
If you’re looking for a good low cal, low sugar, 100% whole grain bread try “Natures Own” 100% whole wheat bread. It’s 50 cal a slice and only 10g of Carbohydrate (and of that 2g of dietary fiber only 1g of sugar). Compare it to any other whole grain bread out there you can pretty much guarantee the other brands are going to be higher in calories, carbs and sugars.
Agree. Loved your point about going vegetarian not always being healthier. My best friend has been vegetarian for about 10 years now, but I would say I have a much more nutritional and well-balanced diet. She doesn’t eat as many veggies as she does bread and cheese and pasta. Ended up gaining a good bit of weight in college, too.
BUT she has been training for a triathalon and has been adding more veggies and she looks awesome. BIOTCH
You’re totally right that giving up gluten for healthier foods (mainly vegetables, fruits and meat) is a better way of eating. People don’t have to eat processed crap to go gluten-free. Try these books: The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf, The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson, Everyday Paleo by Sarah Fragoso.
Fantastic! I have Sisson’s book & Make It Paleo by Bill Staley. It truly does make you feel fantastic- my hormonal bloat just went away after 4 days. Other happy effects- off my controller medicine for asthma, and can breath as deeply as if I just took albuterol. Arthritis better, and I don’t feel as tired/slow. Digestion is great- specific improvements I will not mention! ;P The improvement is really shocking- and it’s only been 9 days for me. Additionally, losing 4# in a week is icing on the cake.
That’s great!
Celebitchy….do you mean your friend has Crohn’s disease?
I have been reading Dr. Oz’s book, “You, the Owner’s Manual” and he recommends elimination diets(to last 3 days each) to see if you feel better when you eliminate certain things since you may truly have an allergy. Here is a link to a shortened version of what he said:
http://singlemindedwomen.com/womens-health/best-summer-health-tips-fromdr-oz-food-allergies/
I think he is pretty sane and I intend to try it. I don’t think she is totally off base and I bet a doctor recommended that she try it.
And suddenly gluten became the new carbs for celebrities.
She’s not a doctor or dietician. Consider the source. If people are naive enough to take dietary recommendation from a pop singer, then so be it.
Another tempest in a teapot for Miley…
Hello All, I am a Registered Dietitian… and I just thought I’d weigh in. I do agree with the majority of what has already been said. It is odd that Miley’s proclamation is being so over analyzed (but I suppose she is influential to young girls and women… as sad as that is). Similar to a vegetarian diet, there is a right way and a wrong way to go gluten free. If done correctly, I don’t see the harm in going gluten free, but in the same light I never advocate for a restriction when it’s not medically warranted or just because it’s “trendy”. GF is a difficult lifestyle change for those who need it… and that’s the key, it’s meant as a lifestyle change. Most of us could simply benefit from eating more whole (less refined)foods and just mixing up your whole grains as opposed to relying solely on wheat (think oats, millet, quinoa, spelt, rye & buckwheat). Appropriate portions of grains is important too. Fruits and veggies should make up the majority of our diet… then followed by grains. Eating a varied diet is of course important for balanced nutrition and the dietitians in the article make the keys points re: potential vitamin and mineral deficiencies in an improperly managed GF diet. Sorry if I sound preachy… I just wanted to give my point of view. Basically whatever “fad” you’re going to follow… be smart about it and seek advice from the right source. 🙂
has anyone had any experience with psoriasis and going gluten-free, or any dietary changes that has helped or worsened it?
i’m trying to find some help to get rid of my psoriasis without the awful/toxic meds my dermatologist has prescribed.
Not psoriasis, but horrible eczema. Completely went away when I went GF. And on Easter, I stupidly ate a bunch of bread and guess what. Yeah. I’m trying to not to scratch myself raw.
It is worth a try.
Thanks for responding. I will definitely give it a try, as hard as it seems :/
Weston Price and Celebitchy together at last! Two of my favorite websites joined. Pinch me, I must be dreaming. As long as Miley’s not replacing gluten with gluten-free processed crap, which judging by her body it doesn’t look like she is, I agree with her.
I’ve been grain-free (and nearly sugar-free) for a year—I do eat raw dairy and 7 stars yogurt—and more than anything it’s *emotionally* healing. No more blood-sugar crashes, no more heinous mood swings. My husband and kids are grateful for the change. I used to be filled with self-loathing and for the most part that is gone. For that kind of relief alone it is worth exploring. Mark Sisson rocks. Check out his success stories page.
There is much to be learned by questioning and investigating conventional wisdom, including Salma Hayek’s high fat dietary “advice.” Weston Price would be on-board with that too.
She is trying to impress her boyfriend’s Australian parents who are vegan..
A lot of people who go gluten free tend to eat more vegetables and fruit. When you change your diet from wheat and grain-based products to a vegetable base…weight loss will likely follow. It’s not rocket science, and I think the criticism from dietitians is a bit overwrought.
Dieticians will usually slam the elimination of grains because they’re bound by certain standards to recommend a grain heavy diet. Someone else brought this up in the first Miley thread, but it’s pretty clear to most people that getting rid of gluten whether you have a “legit” allergy or not is better for you.
The problem is that a lot of medical professionals still go by the book (not all, though!), forcing a lot of people to make their own diagnoses. And for whatever reason, when someone does that, there’s always criticism. Fact is, you need to see what works FOR YOU.
The thing is that wheat is not the only, or even the best, source of whole grains readily available to us. Wheat products can be inflammatory to people who are so used to the way they feel that they don’t even realize they would feel better without it.
Quinoa is a perfect whole grain, for example. Tastes delicious, usable in many, many recipes. I’ve had many breads and pastas made from quinoa since I went GF a year ago and they taste delicious.
It’s really not harmful to give up gluten as long as you maintain a balanced diet, which is not difficult to do. I agree that some dietitians are getting a bit overwrought here.
I have been cutting down on gluten (busy period in my life so I can’t be perfect) for the past few days. I feel good. Normally I become nauseous and/or feel bloated and uncomfortably full at least one or twice a day shortly after eating. I want to get myself checked out, but for now it’s making me feel better so I am going to try to stick with it.
I agreeabout the dairy. It was causing digestive issues
She said she felt great and recommended it – that doesn’t sound so bad.
“Of course if you give up gluten and keep eating crappy processed food, whether corn, rice or soy-based, you’re not going to get the nutrients that you once had from whole grains.”
Er, there are two problems with this statement. First, most gluten products consumed by people, such as bread, pasta, and cereal, ARE crappy processed foods. Second, corn, yes corn, and rice are grains, too, and can be consumed as whole grains. Soy beans are legumes rich in nutrients and best consumed fermented in products like tempeh and soybean paste.
Calorie for calorie, grains, even whole grains are a poor source of any nutrient. There is no vitamin or mineral that cannot be obtained for fewer calories from other foods. For example, one 65-calorie egg contains 24% DV for real vitamin A, not beta carotene which must be converted by the body to vitamin A, 25% DV for iron, and 13% for calcium. One slice of whole wheat bread yields a measly 4% DV for iron, 3% for calcium, and less or even zero for other vitamins and minerals. There’s a whopping 2 grams of fiber that is easily attained through a half-serving of vegetables or fruit. For example, a 49-calorie cup of cooked spinach contains 4 grams of fiber along with loads of beta carotene, 38% DV iron, albeit in bound form not easily absorbed, plus 29% DV vitamin C and 24% DV calcium. I repeat, there is no vitamin or mineral that cannot be obtained in larger quantities and for fewer calories from animal, vegetable, and fruit sources, compared to grains. For most of the world, grains like rice, wheat, corn, and sorghum are daily staples because they are a cheap source of calories that can be stored for a long time without refrigeration. It is understandable why people in the developing world rely on grains. It is less understandable why nutritionists with college degrees insist that whole grains are a vital part of a healthy diet. Do a little math like I’ve illustrated above, and you’ll see it’s actually quite easy to eat a healthful, grain-free diet.
Excellent comment – well-reasoned and explained. This change-out makes weight loss so easy – with wheat gone, and healthy whole foods filling the gap, blood sugar becomes stable, and cravings end.
She said you should try it for a week. Sheesh.
When I was 19 I ate whatever I wanted and still had a pretty damn good body. It’s not the gluten. She’s NINETEEN. As in, still a teenager. Age and metabolism. Have a few kids and call us in 15 or 20 years.
I have Crohn’s disease, and while I don’t have celiac disease to go with it, pretty much everyone else I know with Crohn’s does… or at least has some form of intolerance to wheat. That said, I can’t eat whole grain at ALL… but I also have an extremely balanced diet. Good article.
I don’t understand why people are giving her so much crap about this. So she called it an “allergy”. From what I’ve seen a great number of gluten-free websites still use the word “allergy.” It may be technically incorrect but it’s largely inconsequential. Big deal.
My brother has celiac disease, and he got very seriously ill before they finally figured out what was wrong with him–fortunately for him (I guess?) this whole gluten-free thing became big not long after he was diagnosed. My GP told me I have a gluten sensitivity. I’ve been meaning to try giving it up for a while. So what if she told people to consider giving up gluten for A WEEK. What would it hurt most people?
I agree with what JennJenn M said. Honestly it wouldn’t hurt most people to practice a general “gluten avoidance” diet just because the majority of stuff Americans eat that has gluten is pure JUNK. Those dietitian quotes are kind of ridiculous–who would make a quote as if to assume most people going gluten-free would gravitate mostly to OTHER processed foods? Because breads, pasta, beer and the like are some holy source of nutrients?
omg, a lesson from an uneducated supposed celebrity. She probably thinks the word gluten means glucose. Unreal..gluten has nothing to do with being overweight or obese. It’s the excess glucose that does!
I just found out I’m celiac. About 1 in 133 North Americans are. If you’re related to someone with celiac, you have a 1 in 22 chance of having problems with gluten yourself.
In other words, a lot of people have problems with gluten. Furthermore, most gluten products the average person consumes are really low in nutrients — white bread, pasta, pastries, cakes, cookies — so eliminating them does often result in weightloss.
Instead of pasta, I now use a spiralizer to make “spaghetti” out of zucchini. Instead of all purpose flour, I use a mix of various gluten-free flours (made from beans, coconuts, potatoes, tapioca) — a lot of them are far more nutritious than the typical white flour that most people use.
Anyway, the bottom line is that I can’t understand why Miley is getting such grief about this. Anyone would think that she told people to eat nothing but Twinkies!
Oh, come on. Going gluten free for a week won’t kill anybody. It’s a good way to find out if you do have a problem with any food or group of foods, although sometimes you might need more time. It is NOT difficult for an adult to eat gluten free once they adjust to eliminating certain grains, and doesn’t even have to be expensive if they can get away from wanting something that looks like their traditional foods. The big problem with GF kids is that kids invariably want to eat like everybody else (meaning parents struggle to find lookalike substitutes) and they may accidentally eat or be fed something containing gluten. Also it’s harder to track down some symptoms with children. For an adult with a mild gluten intolerance, no biggie. But a sensitive celiac can be sick for days or even weeks/ months due to some exposures. Children with allergies face similar problems and if the allergy is life-threatening, the parents are under a lot of stress trying to protect them.
I would question the competence of any dietician who thought there was anything wrong with what Miley said. As far as the intolerance vs allergy thing – people often call things allergies just to simplify. They just mean that they get physical symptoms in response to exposure. I tell people I’m allergic to perfumes/artificial fragrances because if I say I have an intolerance, they’ll think I’m saying they smell bad to me. But they don’t, the problem is the headaches, respiratory tract problems, lungs on fire, etc. Yeah, it’s much much easier to just say it’s an allergy even though modern allergists are stuck in a narrow antigen-antibody mode of thinking. You come near me brightly scented and I’m gonna be coughing, sneezing, hurting while breathing, and using a lot of excedrin for a long time after you skipperdee on your merry scented way.
Ha Ha haa. dietician and “FOOD INDUSTRY CONSULTANT.” Sit down, you paid ho. I’ve practised HOLISTIC nutrition for 3 decades and can tell you de-facto, that the “wheat” of today, is NOT the wheat of yesteryear. It’s been hybridised in such a way that it is not compatible with the digestive system. Even if one experiences no symptoms of allergy or intolerance (which are terribly debilitating), gluten causes mucous congestion in the body. It’s like GLUE nowadays. And again, I’m not talking about your grandmother’s whole wheat flour here. Folks need to realise how SEVERELY the corporate conglomerates have messed with the food supply of the “serfs” and take a stand. against it, and demand complete transparency. Genetic manipulation of the food supply is at and all time high, with PERMANENT consequences, none of them good.
Regarding her comment that substituting highly processed gluten alternatives for wheat, will cause weight gain, well DUH. Thats like saying, if you give up wheat but eat a bowl of faeces, you’ll get sick. What the what?? Does this bought-and-paid-for b*tch think we are dumb and don’t realise who cuts her check?
There are a TON of grains that provide ALL the nutrients wheat does! Brown rice, Millet, Quinoa, Spelt (gluten but many with gluten issues can easily tolerate as it’s not been genetically TAMPERED with, like modern wheat), same with Amaranth. The list goes on. Eat nuts, seeds, a variation of grains, soaked and sprouted things, fruits, healthy fats like avocados, etc, etc. Not to mention that pumpkin seeds and hemp both contain FULL SPECTRUM of amino acids, b-vitamins, iron, etc. Carrot juice has WAY MORE “ABSORBABLE” calcium than milk (body doesnt dump it like it does dairy due to high protein imbalance), and greens provide iron. These are just a few examples. Much more to be said but I’ve ranted long enough.
It just makes me see RED when I read these SYCOPHANT LIARS leading people down the path toward illness, based on FILTHY LIES about what has been done to the food supply.
Bottom line: the wheat of old was NOT “high” in gluten as it is today. It was akin to spelt, and kamut. So for all you wheat lovers, try a few subs I mentioned, and tell me that your skin doesn’t glow after a week and you have more energy.
Miley is RIGHT ON with what she says.
PS intolerance/allergy….semantics people. The chick didnt say she would die if she took a bite of pasta. Both situations provide for highly discomforting symptoms. And now, my fellow reader, you know why.
SAY NO TO GENETICALLY ALTERED FOODS! PRESERVE HERITAGE SEEDS! Just like the elite have done for their exclusive benefit (NOT FOR THE LITTLE PEOPLE they peddle their franken food dog-sh*t to). In massive silos all over the world they have stored the seeds to what used to be NATURE’S bounty). You think they eat the wheat products you buy? THINK AGAIN.