by "Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing." (granfury)
Published 09/17/2017 at 23:48
by "Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing." (granfury)
Published 09/17/2017 at 23:48
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STARS: 3
On my recent vacation back home I visited my little (46 year old) sister and her family. As a family that is interested in all things culinary, her decision to go gluten-free came up. I asked why she did it, knowing that she nor anyone in her family has celiac disease, and got a lot of double-speak but no solid, logical answer.
I didn’t press the issue any further, so I don’t think I was a complete ass. Is this kind of dietary change something logical when one does not have a medical condition that requires it, or is it just something that upper middle class yuppies do to feel special somehow? I just don’t get it, especially when it means depriving yourself of so many tasty bread varieties.
"Kiltedpadre" (kiltedpadre)
09/17/2017 at 23:58, STARS: 1
Of course it’s hard to say without knowing exactly how you asked, but I don’t think asking with curiosity about a shift that major without some sort of solid explanation isn’t being an asshole.
As far as your second question it definitely seems to be a yuppie thing. At least she’s not one of the people claiming a bs allergy as being behind it. That’s assuming she doesn’t tell others that but not you since you’d know she’s lying.
"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
09/17/2017 at 23:58, STARS: 7
It’s a classic case of “THIS will finally make me ______ and has been the cause the whole time!” and it makes people analyze their dietary choices for once, isntead of just guzzling down whatever they want, whenever they want.
I agree with the people who say “Gluten free diets make my stomach less upset”. But that has less to do with celiac’s and more to do with how they consumed gluten. If all you do is eat greasy pizzas, eat heavy pasta dishes, and eat more breads with other breads, it isn’t the best for you. So it’s not the gluten itself that was giving them an issue, it was the dish itself being replaced with something lower calorie and more balanced nutritionally. Lean proteins, vegetables, and some “lighter” carbs like rice and corn tortillas are just easier in general for our systems. And had they, say, just eaten lighter and more balanced meals, they would have a similar effect even if the dinner had gluten in it.
So it “works” but it’s one of those times where someone is right for the wrong reasons and makes a false assumption about the source. But they will oh so loudly proclaim all about how it is the BEST THING EVER and berate anything that differs from it.
"Tristan" (casselts)
09/18/2017 at 00:00, STARS: 2
To prepare gluten free meals requires a lot of extra effort on the part of the preparer, as far as I know... So in my opinion, if you don’t suffer from celiac and you are gluten free, you’re probably a self-absorbed asshole.
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
09/18/2017 at 00:06, STARS: 4
No. People have been eating gluten for literally hundreds of years without issue. Unfortunately, your sister bought the bullshit food trend of this generation.
"ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)" (adabofoppo)
09/18/2017 at 00:06, STARS: 12
As a 35 year old pasty white guy who has recently been diagnosed with Celiacs, your relatives are idiots.
Going ‘GF’ for non-medical reasons is bullshit of the highest order. If they truly knew what having this was like, and how hard it is to eat non-contaminated food, they’d be miserable. I certainly am. Granted I feel loads better, but gluten is in almost everything, so they aren’t truly going to go GF by simply avoiding breads and beer.
[insert the longest and loudest stream of explitive-filled raging you can imagine]
"Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch" (bman76)
09/18/2017 at 00:07, STARS: 5
Of things to give up for health purposes, gluten is one of the dumbest.
"Viggen" (viggen37)
09/18/2017 at 00:07, STARS: 0
A few members of my family have gone gluten free. We talk shit to each other whenever we’re out eating. It’s all in jest and they know it, One of the victims of this shit talking, my mom, made the swap and it has been beneficial for her. I wouldn’t say it makes you an asshole. What sort of family can’t shoot the shit at each other, even if it’s something that could be considered offensive?
My cousin went gluten free for about two years before going back to a diet containing gluten. Not being able eat rice pealoff was a strong reason for the return.
"RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire" (ricerocketeer2)
09/18/2017 at 00:09, STARS: 1
well ... with more people going gluten-free (for now), presumably the market will respond and you’ll have more dietary options available (again, for now). So hopefully it’s not all for naught ...
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
09/18/2017 at 00:11, STARS: 3
I don’t know how you asked the question or reacted to the answer. I can tell you that there is no scientific evidence of which I am aware that gluten free diets have any specific benefits for non-celiacs. I think themanwithsauce is right though. The very act of paying attention to ones diet and having to plan meals causes many people to eat healthier. This may make them feel better, and so they credit the lack of gluten. If that and the extra money spent are what it takes to make them healthier, then maybe it’s worth it to them. I have little patience with nonscientific blather, however. So in your place, I would have to just not bring it up to keep calm.
"Svend" (svend)
09/18/2017 at 00:11, STARS: 2
Speaking as a coeliac in remission, being coeliac is hard enough to find good food at an affordable price for todays busy lifestyle. It’s not like there’s not a hell of a lot of choice, even these days for coeliacs and I live in the U.K. where there’s a lot more choice and support for coeliacs and those with dietary requirements than in the states.
To say, ‘I’m giving up gluten’, to me screams ‘look at me everyone’.
There is a something to be said for reducing the amount of gluten in your diet but to eliminate from your diet entirely ‘just because’ is silly.
At least you’ve a valid reason not to invite her anywhere (ie We would of invited you but we are aware of your commitment to go gluten free and our regular choice of restaurants and eateries we believe would of put a strain on your resolve to keep gluten free).
"sn4cktimes" (snacktimes)
09/18/2017 at 00:12, STARS: 3
I have 2 friends with very serious Celiacs. And while I agree the people doing it for kicks are mostly riding the fad, it has given my friends a lot more choice in things that are now GF in grocery stores and restaurants. Both are VERY hesitant to eat out or even eat things friends prepare. A lot of Celiacs tend to have other pretty extreme food allergies too. It’s pretty shitty.
"ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)" (adabofoppo)
09/18/2017 at 00:15, STARS: 3
Oh there is indeed quite the variety. But the fad driving the market is still bullshit, even if it does help me find food easier.
Imagine if there was a huge cultural fad of claiming to have cancer to lose weight. It’s like that.
"ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)" (adabofoppo)
09/18/2017 at 00:18, STARS: 1
Dairy is common, and I’ve had that one for a while. I used to be able to get away with aged cheeses like sharp cheddar, but now that isn’t working.
Just spent the early part of this week in Chicago. Eating out was a huge ordeal.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
09/18/2017 at 00:28, STARS: 6
People who eat too many processed simple carbohydrates and then decide to stop eating gluten tend to feel better because reducing/eliminating the gluten in their diet reduces the level of processed simple carbohydrates in their diet. The excess processed simple carbohydrates were what was making them feel worse, the gluten was just along for the ride.
The reality is that many gluten-free processed foods are actually nutritionally worse than their gluten-containing original versions. Sometimes the more expensive ones use other exotic grains as substitutes for wheat, but even when this is the case, they still might have higher fat, sugar, and simple carb content than the original, with-gluten version.
My wife still thinks that gluten is something that messes with her, even though it’s very unlikely. But we’re more on the general healthy eating bandwagon rather than trying to go gluten free.
A couple weeks ago, she asked me to pick up some gluten free maple brown sugar instant oatmeal. Oats don’t have gluten in them anyway. I bought some fancy steel cut kind with other hippie friendly grains like flax of something mixed in. It was NOT certified gluten free for celiac purposes. I knew this, because I got it in the regular oatmeal aisle. She was all happy that it was a hippie friendly looking package and she’s been eating and enjoying the stuff regularly. I still haven’t told her it’s not officially gluten free. Sssshhhhhhh.
"Manwich - now Keto-Friendly" (manwich)
09/18/2017 at 02:02, STARS: 2
Of course you’re an asshole because you burst someone’s bubble.
But don’t worry... I’m an asshole too!
And like you, I wasn’t trying to be. But the fact remains that I burst someone’s bubble.
And people don’t like that.
Ignorance is bliss.
"Manwich - now Keto-Friendly" (manwich)
09/18/2017 at 02:03, STARS: 0
Only tell her after you get divorced...
"Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing." (granfury)
09/18/2017 at 08:42, STARS: 2
Talking to my dad on the way home he mentioned that it’s probably another symptom of her perpetual search for happiness and am attempt at feeling special. She makes a shit-ton of money (as does her husband), had multiple degrees, a couple of smart and attractive kids, a $1.2M house, a ranch up the coast, a couple of newer German cars in the garage, but it never seems to be enough to make her satisfied. Contrast that with me - technical certifications and licenses, renting a place, driving a 5 year old cheap minivan, no relationship at the moment and no kids (to the best of my knowledge...) If one of us should feel unhappy and dissatisfied with life it should be me, by all accepted standards, but it’s not. I feel somewhat sorry for her, knowing that she’ll probably go to her grave with a sense of dissatisfaction in life, and that’s probably the saddest part of this. I hope she finds what she’s looking for, but I doubt that it will come from following yet another fad.
"yamahog" (yamahog)
09/18/2017 at 09:18, STARS: 1
Sounds like someone got sucked into the whole Wheat Belly thing. One of my bridesmaids has diabetes and an actual gluten allergy so we made sure to keep that in mind when we picked out wedding food, but other than that idgaf what other people eat.
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
09/18/2017 at 09:45, STARS: 1
haha, it’s not even this generation, it’s like, this decade or less. It wasn’t that long ago that everyone was afraid of carbs. I remember a guy I worked with who was perpetually unhealthy, smoking, drinking, etc. and he went “on Atkins” and ate cheese and pepperoni at his desk all day. I just shook my head and kept quiet. Needless to say it didn’t have any positive long-term effects.
"ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)" (adabofoppo)
09/18/2017 at 09:45, STARS: 1
I do feel sorry for those who latch onto this idea seeking attention. But what enrages me is that their need to feel special makes it that much harder for people who really do have to change their diet to be taken seriously.
There are a surprising number of places that offer “gluten sensitive” or GF menu options, the issue is all the people playing the fad means that I have to be an asshole and insist that I do have a legitimate medical condition that they need to take seriously.
Trust me, you want some attention, try actually having Celiacs. You are going to create so much attention; almost all of it entirely unwanted.
"Carsbikesscooters" (carsbikesandscooters)
09/18/2017 at 10:07, STARS: 1
Sounds like my aunt. Million dollar lakefront house, 6 figure income, plus her husband owning a large engineering firm. No kids, 3 degrees that she doesn’t know what to do with, and slowly accumulating credit card debt to the moon. She’d like to be a counselor, but that seems to not make enough money, but she hates her medical device sales job. She has a really empty life, and takes up stuff like aromatherapy to make her happy. She has celiac too, though.
"brianbrannon" (brianbrannon)
09/18/2017 at 10:17, STARS: 0
Why are Celiacs such crybabies about people also not eating gluten? It’s not good for anyone but don’t expect the wheat industry to pay for a study
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
09/18/2017 at 12:45, STARS: 0
Unless you were using a particularly assholey tone, then no, I don’t think you were being an asshole. Yeah, it is something pretentious middle class people are doing these days. It’s the new organic. My sister feeds her kids brownie bars for breakfast, but it’s ok ... they’re organic. Could you sense my eye-rolling there?
"gmporschenut also a fan of hondas" (gmporschenut)
09/18/2017 at 23:42, STARS: 1
My friend from high school who has celiac would always joke, “on one hand i hate all these people... on the other I now have a section of all gluten free at the supermarket so draw?”