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Having a Laugh About Gluten
Townhall.com ^ | July 6, 2014 | Bruce Bialosky

Posted on 07/06/2014 8:45:50 AM PDT by Kaslin

It all started while we were on vacation and watched a video on the Daily Caller from the Jimmy Kimmel show. Jimmy likes to continue a tradition of the “Man on the Street” interviews started by the original late night guy – Steve Allen. This time Jimmy was on a mission to show that anti-gluten is fueled mainly by ignorance. Four saps were lured into telling the world that they would never let gluten touch their lips or enter their body. Then when asked to describe what gluten is they were left on the clown pile of life helplessly babbling.

Personally, I was a naysayer on the subject of gluten as the California crazies hopped on the bandwagon of the mania. That was until my endocrinologist told me that avoiding gluten would help me control my blood sugar level while I was losing weight which aided my avoiding diabetes. Mr. Kimmel sent me to the internet to research the subject to avoid the pratfalls of other health-crazed Californians.

What I found was that gluten is a protein found in grains – particularly wheat, rye and barley. Gluten causes dough to rise and gives it a chewy texture. It is true that some people have intolerance to gluten, but it is not an allergy – it is just an intolerance. That is estimated to be one person out of every 133. Here is where the fun starts – there has never (yes, never) been a study that has shown that avoiding gluten for the other 132 people without an intolerance has any beneficial effect. But don’t try to convince the crazed people who have sworn off gluten as if it were a deadly poison.

Then I found out that corn, rice, and potatoes have no gluten. Being the cynical person I am, it occurs to me who might be behind this entire fad. Certainly there is no science behind it, but there sure is plenty of push to avoid gluten. Could it be corn, rice, and potato growers have banded together to convince the American public to eat their product and avoid those other foods? No that would never happen – would it? We never been told something was good for us and then later experienced an Emily Litella (Gilda Radner) moment – Never Mind.

Then I read about Peter Gibson, a professor from Melbourne, Australia, who did a study in 2011 that found gluten intolerance is a genuine condition. The study was widely accepted and accelerated the concern about gluten launching an increase of 50 percent in the sale of gluten-free products in the United States. However, Gibson did not have the “settled science” lobby breathing down his neck and redid his testing. He discovered that the reactions found in the first tests were not actually related to gluten. As stated in the article in Real Clear Science, “The rise in non-celiac gluten sensitivity seems predominantly driven by consumers and commercial interests, not quality scientific research.”

Concurrent with the world realizing that gluten-mania was driven by both false science and irrational exuberance, we have found out that the entire basis of our diet has been founded on bad science. The original research was done by a man named Ancel Keys and then accepted unflinchingly by the establishment that embraces these issues, like the American Heart Association, Centers for Disease Control and the Agriculture Dept. Some have questioned Keys’ work over the past 50 years, but we have been told that the consumption of animal fat in our diet was too high and we needed to avoid it. It has become “settled science.”

Then the Annals of Internal Medicine actually did an extensive study and found out animal fat is not the leading cause for heart disease, diabetes and obesity. So butter that corn and down that steak because that is not what is causing heart disease. Just do it in moderation.

Now the entire food world has turned over the essence of what is a good diet except – the American Heart Association (AHA). For good fun we read a column in that radical, right-wing publication—The Daily Beast – telling of the AHA’s refusal to alter their guidelines regarding consumption of saturated fats. Wow, nothing more amusing than seeing the left go after the left. But the doctor who wrote the column blamed “commercial interests.” Excuse me! The AHA is part of the left-of-center, East Coast intelligentsia. Don’t try and hang this one on us – the Republicans. We still eat our meat and baby backs. We didn’t fall for all this malarkey. But accepting blame for their errors has never been a big feature of the left – (note their blame of GWB for the last decade).

The reality is that food fads are food fads, science is never settled, and eating a well-balanced diet which includes fruits, vegetables, grains, meats, and yes some fats, will keep you in good stead unless you indulge in gluttony. Also, what you eat is your choice and if you want to die with a cheeseburger hanging from your lips God bless you. But watching the left genuflect to the latest food fad or any other unscientific craze is always great entertainment.

So this 4th of July weekend eat those hot dogs and burgers and enjoy yourself with reckless abandon while you celebrate your freedom from the food police.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: food; gluten; glutenfree; grainlobby; july4th; junkscience; science
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To: ROCKLOBSTER
"Good booze?"

----------------------------->

I truly miss good booze!

I do, I do!

181 posted on 07/07/2014 3:34:58 PM PDT by hummingbird (Mark Levin and Article 5. Period.)
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To: caww
"If my son even takes a nibble of something with Gluten in it his skin breaks out with oozing rashes.....not to mention his digestive system gets wacked real good. So he has to stay away from it."

-------------------------------------->

Poor fella'....but sounds like the cure - gluten free - liberates him from the pain and other symptoms.

182 posted on 07/07/2014 3:39:50 PM PDT by hummingbird (Mark Levin and Article 5. Period.)
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To: caww
"In Europe ‘every newborn’ is tested for Gluten....primarily because it’s European in origin and affects mostly those of European descent."

--------------------->

Did not know this...thanks for the info!

183 posted on 07/07/2014 3:40:58 PM PDT by hummingbird (Mark Levin and Article 5. Period.)
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To: caww
"Well I have a Protein Drink every day along with a Multi-Vitamin/Mineral. If I go without that Protein drink I want to eat everything sweet I can get my hands on!"

-------------------------->

What Protein Drink do you recommend?

I crave sweets A LOT!

184 posted on 07/07/2014 3:48:49 PM PDT by hummingbird (Mark Levin and Article 5. Period.)
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To: MiddleEarth
"They do make gluten-free beer now. I haven’t tried one yet, though. Yes, wine, scotch whiskey, champagne, tequila etc, all distilled alcohols, are gluten-free. So, there is still a lot there."

------------------------------>

Now we're talking!

185 posted on 07/07/2014 4:16:00 PM PDT by hummingbird (Mark Levin and Article 5. Period.)
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To: hummingbird
"Gastroenerlogist (sic?) told me to stop daily."

-------------------->

D'oh!

That should be gastroenterologist told me to stop DAIRY.

I guess daily dairy works, too!

186 posted on 07/07/2014 4:20:54 PM PDT by hummingbird (Mark Levin and Article 5. Period.)
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To: hummingbird
"I loved mild with spaghetti!"

------------------------->

D'oh, again.

That should be "I loved MILK with spaghetti!"

187 posted on 07/07/2014 4:23:07 PM PDT by hummingbird (Mark Levin and Article 5. Period.)
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To: GeronL; MamaTexan
"is that another term for reefer?"

---------------------------------------->

I don't think so - lets ask MamaTexan!

But "keifer" did remind me that '24' is on tonight - starring Kiefer Sutherland!

*snicker* to your question!

188 posted on 07/07/2014 4:30:54 PM PDT by hummingbird (Mark Levin and Article 5. Period.)
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To: hummingbird

lol


189 posted on 07/07/2014 4:35:46 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: Ditter
"I see all kinds of gluten free

food but I haven’t seen any gluten free bread. where did you find it?

-------------------------> At Kroger we go to the gluten aisle (!) and find Schar gluten free, wheat free "Classic White Bread" and "Classic White Rolls" (no gluten, wheat, lactose), too.

My s-i-l says the new Randall's will be carrying a lot of gluten free foods - nothing like riding the wave!

We always toast the bread because it does taste kind of 'cardboardy' when not toasted.

It takes on kind of a bagel experience! Chex has a gluten free Rice Chex cereal...I've used Almond Milk with it. Sometimes something bothers me; sometimes not. So, my personal experiment is not finished.

YMMV!

190 posted on 07/07/2014 4:43:17 PM PDT by hummingbird (Mark Levin and Article 5. Period.)
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To: Ditter
"I see all kinds of gluten free

food but I haven’t seen any gluten free bread. where did you find it?

-------------------------> At Kroger we go to the gluten aisle (!) and find Schar gluten free, wheat free "Classic White Bread" and "Classic White Rolls" (no gluten, wheat, lactose), too.

My s-i-l says the new Randall's will be carrying a lot of gluten free foods - nothing like riding the wave!

We always toast the bread because it does taste kind of 'cardboardy' when not toasted. It takes on kind of a bagel experience! Chex has a gluten free Rice Chex cereal...I've used Almond Milk with it. Sometimes something bothers me; sometimes not. So, my personal experiment is not finished.

191 posted on 07/07/2014 4:43:48 PM PDT by hummingbird (Mark Levin and Article 5. Period.)
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To: ROCKLOBSTER
"....many or most fruits contain enough sugar to fatten you up if you eat a lot of them. Especially orange juice."

-------------------------------------------->

I've read that it is better to eat the orange than drink the orange juice. I'm not sure why. Maybe the juice is more concentrated.

192 posted on 07/07/2014 4:46:16 PM PDT by hummingbird (Mark Levin and Article 5. Period.)
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To: hummingbird
Sorry for double burp post.

Maybe I accidentally ate gluten today!

193 posted on 07/07/2014 4:49:29 PM PDT by hummingbird (Mark Levin and Article 5. Period.)
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To: hummingbird

Thanks for the info. As far as something bothering you some times and sometimes it doesn’t............ It is dose related. A small amount might not set off a reaction. It is confusing to say the least, a food diary might help you figure it out.


194 posted on 07/07/2014 5:02:47 PM PDT by Ditter
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To: hummingbird
But "keifer" did remind me that '24' is on tonight - starring Kiefer Sutherland!

LOL!

Keifer is a fermented milk drink. You can get 'live' keifer grains, but I use the freeze dried ones I get online from accompany called yogourmet.

You just scald the milk, let it cool, add the keifer grains and let it sit for about 24 hours until it thickens.

I make a 2 quart batch and use a cup every morning in a fruit smoothie, so I only have to mess with making it about once a week.

Like other fermented products, you can reserve some to make the next batch, too.

195 posted on 07/07/2014 5:56:41 PM PDT by MamaTexan (I am a Person as created by the Laws of Nature, not a person as created by the laws of Man)
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To: MamaTexan

So Keifer is just yogurt only more trouble than buying at the store! Right? :)


196 posted on 07/07/2014 6:00:43 PM PDT by Ditter
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To: Ditter

LOL! No it’s actually got more beneficial stuff for your digestion. I started out using yogurt for smoothies, but switching to keifer made a very noticeable difference....for me anyway.


197 posted on 07/07/2014 6:14:38 PM PDT by MamaTexan (I am a Person as created by the Laws of Nature, not a person as created by the laws of Man)
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To: MamaTexan

I will check it out, thanks.


198 posted on 07/07/2014 6:19:00 PM PDT by Ditter
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To: hummingbird

The orange has the pulp, which is fiber. Most people drink pulp-less OJ. Fiber helps control blood sugars.

I buy OJ that is from Florida only - not a mix from Brazil and other countries and I always get Lots of Pulp.


199 posted on 07/07/2014 7:57:16 PM PDT by CARDINALRULES (Tough times never last -Tough people do. DK57 -- 6-22-02)
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To: hummingbird

gnc soy protein


200 posted on 07/08/2014 8:40:08 AM PDT by caww
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