Thanks for your insights.

The sting sounds odd... did you get checked for Lyme Disease after that?

Very interested; please report back!

Aye aye.

You mentioned that you use Splenda. I was using it regular about two years ago. At the time I was noticing a number of physical problems developing but didn't contribute them to the Splenda use. Then in June 2012 I was hospitalized with a suspected stroke. Long story short, two months passed with no Splenda use. All the issues that had been developing earlier in the year were gone. I've cut out artificial sweeteners except for the occasional product that already has the artificial sweetener included. None of the problems have reoccurred. Just felt I should warn you.

I agree with the low-carb benefits already discussed. I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and have been following the low glycemic load, not index, since and have reaped multiple benefits besides the lowering of my blood glucose. Keep in mind that gluten free does not mean low carb. Not at all.

Last year, after a lengthy divorce process, I decided to change the way I was eating and to stop my brain from deteriorating. I went as close to gluten free, sugar free, wheat free and generally a better diet.
Now, after a year of losing weight and regaining my memory. I feel much better than I have in years. Shedding my 400 pound wife helped as well.

Wheat Belly" is a great read by a cardiologist on the overall effect of gluten on our bodies.

When my daughter was about 2 she was diagnosed "failure to thrive" and we had to go up to Primary Childrens. We met with a Doctor, Dietician, and a Social Worker at the same time. They started off thinking you are neglecting your children and then go backwards from there.

Long story short she was diagnosed with Celiac disease and we took our whole family Gluten Free. I have benefitted greatly from this change so I'm sure I have it to. Most of my benefits come in the form of less stomach troubles.

We are different then lots of people I meet who are Gluten Free in that we aren't concerned with super healthy stuff, just Gluten Free of the same things. But overall we probably eat healthier then we otherwise would.

Let me know if you have any Gluten Free questions.

The cost. It tasted awesome warm and with real butter! She's made gluten free pumpkin pie that was awesome too.

The beer is going to be hard to give up *sigh*.

Thanks for the heads up. I'll look into it.

Excellent! Congratulations!

Went low carb 7 years ago. Not just gluten-free but grain free. Lost a lot of weight and cured my high blood pressure and pre-diabetes.

is the "yuck" for the cost or taste? near bread or near beer-neither approach the limits of there bread or there beer.

Meh, I'm going to stick with it for a while.

Out of curiosity, what's with the sarcasm?

How long did it take you to decide that you needed to get rid of that 400 pounder?

What a relief I bet that was.

Glad to hear you're benefitting. My wife is joining me in the switch. She even whipped up some fantastic (and fantastically expensive) gluten free pumpkin bread yesterday. $7 for a pound of gluten free flour (yuck).

I was looking into decent gluten free beers (it looks like there are some), but my short term solution is switching to wine (Chardonnays mostly). I was wondering about teas this morning. I'm drinking decaf Lipton with Splenda, and assuming it's gluten free (couldn't find any explicit statement on the Lipton website). I drink decaf Earl Grey tea at home.

That book is what brought my attention to this one. I chose this because it was published more recently and has specific references to brain health.

I had a mildly stuffy nose ~363 days per year. A day or two off of grains and I've not had a stuffy nose since.

Awesome! Good for you. I'm getting even more excited!

Glad to hear it!

I definitely see gluten, carbs, and sugar as three distinct items to avoid as much as possible. The book's title implies that it's mostly about gluten, but the author is a neurologist, so he's going through it all in terms of how the brain reacts to foods/ingredients. The science is just at the edge of my understanding, but not incomprehensible.

I wouldn't mind losing a few pounds myself... just not the one's inside my skull - they're scarce enough. ;)

Excellent! Great for you!

I'm curious about what you mean by "mild stuffiness". Is that something like "foggy brain"? I get a sensation of head congestion or stuffiness or fogginess fairly regularly, and it tends to result in anxiety. i.e. "Oh no! What's going on with my brain. Is it going to stop working? Am I about to drop over dead?"

We cut out all grass seed (wheat, corn, rye, oats, etc.) about 12 years ago. It was one of the best dietary decisions we made. Our energy level increased, mild stuffiness was eliminated and slightly puffy face was gone. I highly recommend www.Mercola.com for such health questions.

FYI: Our pets (cat/dog) also went on a grain-free diet. HUGE improvement and elimination of maladies!!

Funny how that works... generations upon generations figure out what to eat and not to eat, then we decide that sketchy scientific data should be the basis of a whole new diet.

Turns out that cholesterol is vital to brain function and the cell membranes of every cell in your body - we need it in abundance, and every cell in your body can actually manufacture its own supply. The true danger seems to come from the oxidation of LDL and HDL (cholesterol containers) which can be prevented by MORE fat consumption and antioxidants.

Low fat, high carb diets appear to be the real cause behind the surge in diabetes and chronic health issues. Don't tell the drug companies. (Ack, I said I wouldn't go there)