Newly Diagnosed & Vegetarian

[DLake]

I am newly diagnosed with having gluten intolerance and can't seem to understand how I just "wound up" with it. The hugest problem for me is that I am also a vegetarian, so all of the things I am told NOT to eat are a part of my daily diet. I was really sick for about 5 weeks with no relief, lost about 20 lbs ( I am a small person to begin with) since January and am totally stressed about this . Any suggestions or even some guidance from a fellow vegetarian would be greatly appreciated.......

[kbtoyssni]

Try replacing bread with corn tortillas or corn chips. You can make sandwich-wraps or "scoop" sandwich fillings like egg salad.

Use rice or potatoes as a base. I like to take this for lunch and add some cheese and salsa. I also take a salad everyday.

You can get good pasta. Tinkyada is a favorite brand around here; I also like Mrs Leepers (found at SuperTarget) and DeBoles (found at most grocery stores in the north midwest).

Try Quinoa, it's a gluten-free grain that looks like couscous that is also higher protein.

Not sure what you used to do for breakfast, but there are gluten-free cereals out there (usually have to go to a health food store to get them). I've switched to scrambled eggs (if you eat egg) or non-breakfast food. I love Thai Kitchen "ramen" noodles so I eat those sometimes with a string cheese for protein.

What's your typical diet like? We can help you come up with specific substitutions.

[melmak5]

I have a very good friend, who doesn't post here, but who is vegetarian and has been gluten free for 5 years.

It is not always easy, but it is very possible to be healthy in all aspects of your eating.

If you tolerate dairy (not all persons do when they are initially diagnosed do to the damage to the villi in the small intestine making it harder to break down lactose) then some yogurts are gluten-free and a good source of protein.

Sunrise burgers are really great. They are vegan, gluten free burgers that you can find in some freezer sections with the specialty food or other veggie burgers.

Where you have lost so much weight, you might also be experiencing some nutritional deficiencies. Your body can only heal if it has the tools to make you better (foods with nutrients that your body can process).

I would pay special attention to getting extra calcium, B vitamins - b-12 in particular and vitamin D. If dairy isn't working for you - try dark leafy veggies. Kale is one of my favorites. If you can tolerate soy, a soymilk that is fortified might be helpful.

Like kbtoyssni said - if there is something you really "miss" ask or search the forum and you will get some suggestions for replacements.

And welcome to starting to get healthier!

[Janessa]

Hi am a vegetarian for 13 years and gluten free for 1 year. It is not too bad they make lots of yummy bread and pasta substitutions but try not to load up on them too much or you might develop more intolerances, I did with corn Eat more fruits and veggies it will make you feel better too.

You are probably used to reading labels and asking what is in food already so that helps. Amy's brand makes lots of good frozen meals and soups and chili that are gluten free and Trader Joes is great too, they have a gluten free product list just ask someone in the store for it.

Goat cheese is a much healthier choice than cow dairy if you eat it. And a good cookbook is The Gluten Free Vegetarian Kitchen. Also go to vegiac.com for a lot more vege gluten free info

[Adelle]

The good news is, beans are gluten-free!! We're not vegetarians, but we eat a LOT of vegi meals. Roasted chickpeas, hummus, homemade baked beans, all kinds of stuff!! You can do it!!

[BallardWA]

Any suggestions or even some guidance from a fellow vegetarian would be greatly appreciated

Welcome!

There is a website that deals specifically with celiac vegs called vegiac.com. There is a wealth of information there, as well as support for your choice to not eat meat regardless of your diagnosis. Seeing a naturopathic nutritionist helped me tremendously as well. With a few blood tests we found out what I was lacking and came up with a recovery plan.

Good luck on your journey,

Karen

[KimmyJ]

There are so many great foods that you'll be able to eat while gluten-free! Like others said, quinoa is a fantastic grain, very high in protein, and complete protein at that. Millet, amaranth and teff are also gluten-free grains that are high in protein and vitamins. Beans and legumes of course are good choices, all foods soy-based. All the great fruits and veggies of course. If you eat dairy you have that source of protein and calcium, otherwise tons of dark leafy greens like kale, spinach, collard greens. Nuts are also good if you can tolerate them well. Good luck with everything. Even though it's challenging, it's also kind of a fun time to explore some new foods.

[Katester]

My doctor suggested shakes like Ensure or Boost to help get all of the vitamins and minerals I need. They're gluten and lactose free. I think they're delicious and they've helped me a lot.

[AndrewNYC]

It's time to start eating meat. At least try some chicken. You're going to waste away otherwise.

[BRUMI1968]

You certainly don't have to eat meat. But, you do have to eat fat and protein. My favorite source of fat and protein is AVOCADO...and guess what, it's also full of fiber and magnesium and B vitamins, etc. I also like nuts, especially walnuts and almonds, and those are relatively high calorie, high protein, and high fat. All these things are very high in minerals, which we are often deficient in.

Something you need to worry about, and this is true of all vegetarians, especially vegans (like I usually am), B12. I take sublingual drops of B12, some folks get shots of B12. But folks with celiac are notoriously short on this vitamin, as it is digested in a highly acidic tummy in a bunch of special circumstances that we can't always manifest. But it's not really in anything vegetarian, for the most part. Algae has some (spirulina, etc.). This is something we don't make inside our bodies, and which we need. We save stores of it so we won't know for a long time maybe that we are getting low. If you have low energy, this could be why.

If you need to gain weight, you should definitely include almond milks or rice milks (if you like them), hemp protein shakes, avocado, sweet potato, etc. I don't eat any grains (except quinoa and amaranth) and have never felt better in my life -- but, it is hard to keep the weight on when you are low carb.

Don't worry if some folks on here try to convince you to eat animals - they do it with their hearts in the right place. Some veggies end up feeling so much better if they eat meat - but others don't. I can go either way, but find my digestion definitely prefers vegan - mostly raw.

Things to watch out for as a veggie: too much soy, too much dairy; too much "fake meat" based foods.

Anyway, good luck to you. I'm going to check out that vegetarian celiac board mentioned earlier!

BallardWA - do you live in Ballard? I live in Bellingham.

[pele]

I am newly diagnosed with having gluten intolerance and can't seem to understand how I just "wound up" with it. The hugest problem for me is that I am also a vegetarian, so all of the things I am told NOT to eat are a part of my daily diet. I was really sick for about 5 weeks with no relief, lost about 20 lbs ( I am a small person to begin with) since January and am totally stressed about this . Any suggestions or even some guidance from a fellow vegetarian would be greatly appreciated.......

A quick search of this site will tell you that many vegetarians begin to crave meat when they go gluten free. So hold on to your hat, it may be a wild ride. And keep an open mind.

In the meantime, Gardenburger makes a few gluten-free meat substitutes. Check their website to see which ones.

[kbtoyssni]

It's time to start eating meat. At least try some chicken. You're going to waste away otherwise.

I disagree. It's very possible to eat veggie and gluten-free and not starve. I've been gluten-free for almost three years and mostly veggie, and I'm certainly not wasting away. Eating out is tough, but eating at home isn't.

I did start eating some meat after going gluten-free (I'd been veggie for five years). I was having a lot of stomach issues for the first year or two of being gluten-free, and veggies were difficult to digest. Meat just sat in my stomach better and didn't make me feel sick. My stomach is feeling better now, and I only eat meat maybe twice a month, mostly when I'm out to eat.

[ShayFL]

Sunshine burgers are yummy and sunflower seed based. Eaten cold or hot.

It is not easy to be vegan and stay healthy to begin with. B12 will need to be supplemented at some point. Most people have a 5 - 10 year reserve in their bodies, but if you stay vegan long enough it runs out. I didnt take veganism lightly. I went to school to study to make sure I knew what I was doing and could stay healthy. I ended up with a degree in Holistic Nutrition from Clayton College.

I was vegan for about a year and just didnt have much energy and then went vegetarian for another couple of years. I did it because I thought it would be healthier. Not for ethical reasons as I understand that millions of birds, squirrels, rabbits, fox, mice etc. are killed by the tractors, plows and harvesting equipment to get my vegetarian food (and they dont die humanly either). Even the harvesting of sea weed kills fish, shrimp and other ocean animals. Animals must die in order for me to live is what I know to be true (veg or no). This is my truth. At any rate, after about 3 years, I started craving meat (and I wasnt gluten free). But I resisted for a long time. I went to an acupuncture doctor and when he did his exam he said, "You need to eat some red meat.". I didnt even mention I was vegetarian. So I did buy some steak and ate it and I felt sooo much better after putting meat back into my diet after a few months. I have never looked back.......

I still dont eat much meat. I am 90% vegan. I mostly eat fish and fowl. But some red meat once a week or every 2 weeks.

[1965kid]

Why dont you eat meat? Meat is good for you, and its a renewable resource. Having to be gluten-free is torture enough. Be good to yourself and cook yourself a big thick, juicy steak, and enjoy it.

[BRUMI1968]

Why dont you eat meat? Meat is good for you, and its a renewable resource. Having to be gluten-free is torture enough. Be good to yourself and cook yourself a big thick, juicy steak, and enjoy it.

I don't really think this is the most appropriate response.

First, there are various reasons folks are vegetarian - so your opening question of why seems good to me: is it mostly health reasons, environmental reasons, socio-political reasons, ethica reasons, religious reasons. Yes, some denominations are vegetarian by faith -- I assume you don't wish to challenge or disrespect an entire sect of Christianity, and virtually the entire Buddhist population of the world...that's a lot of folks.

So the first question seems valid; it is the rest of your repsonse that is disrespectful, in my opinion.

Meat being a renewable resource is not exactly supportable by facts, if one examines the immense environmental impact of meat eating, and dairy consumption. If you google environmental impact of eating meat, you will find endless reams of evidence that it is not "renewable" in the true sense of the word.

Lastly, and maybe this is just me, being gluten-free is not torture, nor is foregoing animal flesh (or animal products if vegan). What was torture was immense pain, constant toilet time, anxiety, extra weight, brittle nails, canker sores, etc. If you feel tortured by your diet, I am sorry for you.

Anyway, my two cents, espcially about how this board is supposed to be supportive, not flippant.

[1965kid]

Lastly, and maybe this is just me, being gluten-free is not torture, nor is foregoing animal flesh (or animal products if vegan). What was torture was immense pain, constant toilet time, anxiety, extra weight, brittle nails, canker sores, etc. If you feel tortured by your diet, I am sorry for you.

Anyway, my two cents, espcially about how this board is supposed to be supportive, not flippant.

Never meant to be flippant. Whatever that means. (Im sure its not good, and I dont have the time or the inclination to google it!)

I actually was trying to be nice.

Meat is a renewable resource. We are not running out of animals. So dont give me that stupid PETA line of bunk!

I think the OP should enjoy meat. Meat is wonderful.

And being Gluten Free is torture to me. I hate it. It is ruining my life, socially and mentally. I cant be with normal people and partake in anything good. Unless it is a cookout where meat is being grilled. Even then I have to be careful of the bread, CC, and all that bunk! My friends dont sit around and grill Tofu! I have never even met a vegetarian!

Im sick of not being able to enjoy a doughnut when someone brings them to work.

Im sick to death of explaining why I cant eat anything, anywhere, to everybody!

My post was not meant to offend, it was meant to be supportive.

I dont understand how anyone could not eat meat? Thats just weird to me. Sorry!

Im just a good ol boy, trying to live in a world where fast food is the norm, and I cant have it.

Im just about ready to go buy a real pizza, a 30 pack of Bud Light, and say the hell with it.

I just paid $81 for two cases of gluten-free beer! I could have bought 120 Bud Lights for that much money!

This diet has taken away everything I love! Food and beer! And to top it off, my IBS is not better. My anxiety is gone, but thats it.

Yes I have noticed other small benefits. But I was not a miserable sick person when I found out I had this Celiac. I got along fine without being on a gluten-free diet for 42 years! 7 months of this is about to send me off a cliff.

Sorry to the OP if I offended you. It was not my intention. As for Bully4you, learn to mind your own G****N business!

[kbtoyssni]

I actually was trying to be nice.

Meat is a renewable resource. We are not running out of animals. So dont give me that stupid PETA line of bunk!

Meat is much less renewable than veggies and grain. In our current factory farm system we must first grow grain and then feed the animals. About 10% of the energy the animals take in from grain is converted into edible meat. The other 90% is lost to bone, organ and hair growth. (Citation: The Omnivore's Dilemma) If humans ate veggies and grain directly, it would require a lot less resources. There was even an article in the NY Times today on this topic: Open Original Shared Link

[1965kid]

Meat is much less renewable than veggies and grain. In our current factory farm system we must first grow grain and then feed the animals. About 10% of the energy the animals take in from grain is converted into edible meat. The other 90% is lost to bone, organ and hair growth. (Citation: The Omnivore's Dilemma) If humans ate veggies and grain directly, it would require a lot less resources. There was even an article in the NY Times today on this topic: Open Original Shared Link

The meat I eat doesn't use any grain. I kill my own meat.

Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Rabbit, and the Occasional Beaver & Muskrat.

I also catch my own fish.

So I am not a part of that problem.

And I dont read the NY times, because it's a Liberal publication.

Humans are predators, we are supposed to eat meat.

[MySuicidalTurtle]

I am a gluten-free vegan and you will be fine. Just take some time eating fruits and veggies while adjusting to the do's and do not's of this new diet. There is no need to eat meat and I find that being a gluten-free vegan is easy and have never felt like being gluten-free has ruined my social, academic, or home life. Maybe that's just me. Relax, learn, and in a few weeks you'll feel better about what you can eat. Good luck.

Open Original Shared Link is a veggie/vegan Gluten-free board, good stuff.

[Lauren M]

Why dont you eat meat? Meat is good for you, and its a renewable resource. Having to be gluten-free is torture enough. Be good to yourself and cook yourself a big thick, juicy steak, and enjoy it.

Oh puhh-lease. Meat is only a renewable resource as long as factory farming exists. What kind of life is that - being bred and born just to be killed? Not to even BEGIN to mention the caged up "life" they lead when the animals actually are alive.

And no, I'm not feeding you PETA crap - I'm not a fan of PETA at all. I'm just a 26-year-old who has been a vegetarian since she was four (by my own choice - neither of my parents are vegetarian, I did it because I love animals). I was diagnosed with Celiac when I was 21 and never even considered eating meat. Being a vegetarian (trying to go vegan now..) is just a part of who I am. I don't preach to meat-eaters that they need to go veg - I respect their choices. So how about the same respect in turn for those of us vegetarians and vegans out there?

And to the original poster, you definitely CAN eat healthy, gluten-free, vegetarian meals! Ensure or Boost are definitely good options if you need some more calories and protein. I eat a good amount of tofu, but also combining incomplete proteins like beans and rice.

Another suggestion - check out these books on Lame Advertisement, I have one cookbook that's vegetarian gluten-free, and one that is vegan gluten-free: The Gluten-Free Vegetarian Kitchen by Donna Klein and The Gluten Free Vegan by Susan O'Brien. I have them both and they're great!

<a href="Open Original Shared Link Advertisement/Gluten-Free-Vegan-Delicious-Animal-Free-Recipes/dp/1600940323/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213318352&sr=8-1" target="external ugc nofollow">Open Original Shared Link Advertisement/Gluten-Free-Vegan-De...8352&sr=8-1</a>

<a href="Open Original Shared Link Advertisement/Gluten-Free-Vegetarian-Kitchen-Nutritious-Wheat-Free/dp/1557885109/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213318393&sr=8-2" target="external ugc nofollow">Open Original Shared Link Advertisement/Gluten-Free-Vegetari...8393&sr=8-2</a>

If you have any other questions or want any other support from a somewhat veteran - let me know!

- Lauren M

Edited to Add: for some reason those links aren't showing up, but do a search on Amazon and you'll find them!

[1965kid]

Oh puhh-lease. Meat is only a renewable resource as long as factory farming exists. What kind of life is that - being bred and born just to be killed? Not to even BEGIN to mention the caged up "life" they lead when the animals actually are alive.

That is a lie. Wild animals are a natural resource.

I live in a rural community and the cows here are free ranging. And darn tasty too!

Dont believe everything you see on Oprah!

I love animals too. They taste great!

PETA = People for the Eating of Tasty Animals!

Dont tell me Im stupid, and I wont tell you the same.

You are just like the first person who insulted me on this thread.

You dont like my way of life. And I dont like yours.

[lizard00]

I believe that the intention of this thread was to support someone who already IS a vegetarian and is Celiac, as well. This is not a debate as to why one should or shouldn't be a vegetarian, please focus on the topic of the thread. We are here to help each other and respect the choices that we all make.

[spunky]

This is definitely a sensitive topic.

I was a low-fat vegan for about 10 years...followed the McDougall diet, which is oil-free, low-fat vegan. Very soon after beginning that diet, I started having intestinal symptoms, but mostly ignored them, even contacted the Dr. who wrote the diet by email a few times when I finally started suspecting gluten was my problem... he said no, it's only 1% of people at the very most who can't take gluten, etc. To make a long story short, I finally had to come to grips with a worsening health scenario, feeling like I was dying of some chronic, horrible thing, finally figured out the right way to try a gluten free diet (from reading this site), and started getting well in the first few months. Now, at 2 1/2 years gluten-free, I am STILL improving all the time, and feel better than I can remember for a long time.

During all of this struggle, the other low-fat vegans were very inconsiderate with me, at my political incorrectness of publicly discussing the fact that even though I was folloiwoing this perfect diet, perfect in every way... healthwise, environmental, animal sensitivity, etc.... even though I was on this diet, things were wrong, and getting worse for me all the time. I discussed this publicly as I attempted to figure it out, and they began referring to me as a troll, even thoough I'd been active on that McDougall Board for almost a decade. I mentioned that I struggeld because soon after I got better off the gluten, soy began to bother me, then flax, then other beans we'd always eaten, and it just got to the point with me that there was nothing to eat. I started eating shrimp, then other seafood, poultry, and finally red meat... I felt better, then of course they were angry about that too.

I don't want to need meat, and maybe I won't forever, but I feel much better with it for now. It seems that I'm capable now of eating small amounts of soy again, as long as I don't overdo it. I would be okay with eggs, except they make me sick now... they never did before.

So what I'm saying is that it seems when you go gluten free, all kinds of crazy things happen. This is your health... and you really need to eat whatever it is that makes you healthy. I think gluten free living is a kind of torture, as someone put it... and being able to eat something "normal" makes it much easier. It really does. Gluten free vegan is really, really difficult, and I'm not sure, or at least still confused as to whether it's a good idea or not, healthwise.

I've had my account removed from the McDougall Board... they were very inconsiderate with me and couldn't understand why people who got sick on his diet didn't just silently drop off, outta sight and outta mind. I had to discuss the problem... hoping to solve my own issues and possibly help others I saw on there who seemed to have similar issues as my own.

I think one of the dangers of veganism is that you are left with only highly allergenic-capable foods to fill up on...can lead some people into trouble. I still wonder, or maybe believe, that I wouldn't have developed celiac disease if I hadn't eaten so much gluten, every day, every meal, every snack. Now I'm stuck with this, and my former vegan friends won't have anything to do with me because of it.

[1965kid]

I think one of the dangers of veganism is that you are left with only highly allergenic-capable foods to fill up on...can lead some people into trouble. I still wonder, or maybe believe, that I wouldn't have developed celiac disease if I hadn't eaten so much gluten, every day, every meal, every snack. Now I'm stuck with this, and my former vegan friends won't have anything to do with me because of it.

Great post!!!!!

Ive never heard of an intolerance, or allergy to meat. That's because there ain't no such a thing. (Unless it's rotten)

Meat is the most basic food. Humans are Hunters and Gatherers. Always were, always will be.

You are a very smart person, and wise!

[Juliebove]

Great post!!!!!

Ive never heard of an intolerance, or allergy to meat. That's because there ain't no such a thing. (Unless it's rotten)

Meat is the most basic food. Humans are Hunters and Gatherers. Always were, always will be.

You are a very smart person, and wise!

My mom is allergic to chicken. I've heard of people with beef allergies and of course there is the shellfish allergy. That's one of the top 8 allergens!