Wheat/dairy intolerance?

[Naki Rat]

Way off what I'd normally expect to find on KB but I have a similar poll running on another forum I belong to and am getting some surprising results.

It seems that eateries increasingly are offering a "gluten free" option on their menus which didn't seem to be the case even 10 years ago. I'm possibly more aware of this as I have learned to live with such dietary 'intolerances' over the past few years but I am curious to find out how many others in the general population have similarly compromised dietary choices.

As with my other poll I will give a multiple choice option to cater for more than one 'vote' per household.

[PirateJafa]

If it doesn't move too fast, I'll eat it.

Om nom nom.

[Hitcher]

The actual number of people who really are dairy/gluten intolerant is significantly less than the numbers of people who think they might be.

"Gluten-free" is a badge that many people choose to define themselves. Gay, gluten-free, disabled vegans with a land-rights grievance. A picture emerges.

The "worried well" have much to answer for. Supermarkets and retailers also pander to them, which doesn't actually contribute to informed debate. It's the plastic shopping bag saga in another guise.

[Naki Rat]

The actual number of people who really are dairy/gluten intolerant is significantly less than the numbers of people who think they might be.

"Gluten-free" is a badge that many people choose to define themselves. Gay, gluten-free, disabled vegans with a land-rights grievance. A picture emerges.

The "worried well" have much to answer for. Supermarkets and retailers also pander to them, which doesn't actually contribute to informed debate. It's the plastic shopping bag saga in another guise.

Pretty standard view from one who doesn't have any food intolerance issues. It can also be argued that the number of those who have wheat/dairy intolerances is under stated as many who feel unwell after overconsumption of a problem food just write it off to other vague causes.

As one of the "worried well" it's a real bitch returning from a day's ride with concentration levels comparable to having had a few pints, due to having consumed a poorly tolerated food that has slipped in under the radar

[riffer]

"Gluten-free" is a badge that many people choose to define themselves. Gay, gluten-free, disabled vegans with a land-rights grievance. A picture emerges.

Yeah thanks Hitch.

I'll pass that on to my 9-year old son. I'm sure he'll be delighted to know that his ceoliac disease is a psychosomatic illness.

I guess next you'll be saying I can throw my insulin away too.

[riffer]

As one of the "worried well" it's a real bitch returning from a day's ride with concentration levels comparable to having had a few pints, due to having consumed a poorly tolerated food that has slipped in under the radar

Try having a hypo on a motorcycle mate. It's a bitch.

[BOGAR]

My friend and her kid have been tested and are both intolerant of a few things including wheat and dairy. The test they did shows what and how bad for the different things. I no longer wont to know so I can be blissfully unaware to what I shouldn't eat. I do however notice sometimes things don't agree with me so I somewhat try to avoid things but am never sure what they are. My friend is also diabetic so that creates some new challenges but it is all good. Sometimes going off the food for a while can let the body "recover" so that you can eat small amounts again with no effect.

[Hitcher]

Pretty standard view from one who doesn't have any food intolerance issues.

Please read what I said. I never said that there weren't people with genuine food-related allergies or dietary conditions.

I am not a holocaust denier, merely somebody looking for a reasoned and scientific approach to an otherwise emotional subject.

[Naki Rat]

Please read what I said. I never said that there weren't people with genuine food-related allergies or dietary conditions.

I am not a holocaust denier, merely somebody looking for a reasoned and scientific approach to an otherwise emotional subject.

I'll stick with my reply. Unfortunately not being able to enjoy foods that to most of the population are consumed without a second thought tends to piss one off, which tends to make the issue fairly emotional (quite apart from the mood altering symptoms that go with it)

It would also seem that medical recognition of the problem has not moved forward at the same pace as the food production and processing technology that is at the heart of the problem for many individuals.

[Hitcher]

It would also seem that medical recognition of the problem has not moved forward at the same pace as the food production and processing technology that is at the heart of the problem for many individuals.

I think we'll disagree on that last point. There are a lot of urban myths and legends about many conditions that may affect people's health, which can make some people impatient about what they believe to be medical/scientific intransigence, when those on the other side see a complete lack of evidence on which to validate others' perceived concerns. And there are some issues where the "truth" does not exist somewhere between two extreme views, much to the annoyance of my mother.

And yes, I should declare my interests and state that I have worked as a professional apologist for the food and health industries in a past life.

[saxet]

I think we'll disagree on that last point. There are a lot of urban myths and legends about many conditions that may affect people's health, which can make some people impatient about what they believe to be medical/scientific intranisgence, when those on the other side see a complete lack of evidence on which to validate others' perceived concerns. And there are some issues where the "truth" does not exist somewhere between two extreme views, much to the annoyance of my mother.

And yes, I should declare my interests and state that I have worked as a professional apologist for the food and health industries in a past life.

Okay, you seem to have more answers than the Docs. Can you tell us whats wrong or is the fact that you have the answers all in your head.
So far you've said alot without saying anything.
We'd all like an explanation not more random gobbledygook. we've had speculation and denial for years and comments like your'se sound too much like a continuation. I'd speculate that this sort of medical problem is much more widespread than realised as so many people want to know whats wrong with them but get denial, pchycological b/s, or weird hippy explanations instead of help. These days I'm more inclined to listen to the hippies as at least they acknowledge that it exists.
If I sound a little emotional it's because this unexplained, uncatorgorised illness has wrecked my life, including my ability to ride.So yes I get upset when people start by slagging of the victims.

[Hitcher]

We'd all like an explanation not more random gobbledygook.

If you don't understand what I wrote, I'm not sure what your expectations are.

I said there were myths and legends about food. Here's a short list that should do for starters:

Cholesterol
Cancer
Calories
Fibre
Aspartame
"E" numbers
Additives (preservatives, colourings, flavourings)
Meat
Genetic modification
Gluten
Autism
Hyperactivity
Allergies
Alar
Water
Dairy products
Growth-promoting hormones
"Imported" food.

There is a lot of emotion about any or all of those, some of which has some basis in fact, much of which does not.

What people choose to eat is a matter of personal choice. I have no issues with people who are making informed choices about their health and diet. I do, however, have issues with people who seek to deliberately mislead others by promulgating bodgy information.

[riffer]

You forgot Morgellons.

[Skyryder]

If ya want perfect health don't eat for about a month..............then you have to make a life saving decision.


Skyryder

[Swoop]

It pisses me off when I see "gluten free" on a menu.
I always read it as "glutton, free" and look forward to a decent scoff without having to pay.