are gluten allergies and intolerances a relatively new thing?

someone told me that in the last 20 years or so, the gluten protein has been reengineered so that the wheat is more durable for processing and shipping. As a result the gluten is harder for our bodies to digest, resulting in increases in allergies and intolerance. This makes sense conceptually, but I wanted to see if this is and urban legend or if this is real.

Thu. Oct 11, 8:27am

Hmmm, it sure sounds plausible. I really have no idea about whether it's tru or not because I haven't seen any data from a scientific study. But in my own humble opinion, anything that is genetically modified is going to effect some changes in the world around it, including the soil, the air, insects and animals that eat it or come in contact with is, as well as the humans it's been genetically modified for.

For my own peace of mind, I try to eat natural and organic whenever possible. I thinks it's best to stay away from the genetically modified, pesticide sprayed, chemically "enhanced", etc. If it's not natural, chances are very good that it will cause some kind of problem when you eat it.

Thursday, October 11, 2007, 12:44 PM

There are those that are genuinely gluten intolerant - coeliac - who are extremely ill if they eat gluten, and there have always been coeliac people. And there are those who say that they are gluten intolerant when they aren't but it means that they can fuss about eating bread / anything with flour in it, etc. A friend of mine from college is coeliac and I've seen the effects - it's not pretty. I've also had acquaintances who say they are gluten intolerant, but it was really part of their eating disorder (along with veganism and the like) - that was about control, instead.

Thursday, October 11, 2007, 1:00 PM

Veganism is not an eating disorder - in most cases it is ethical choice.

Thursday, October 11, 2007, 1:54 PM

And I'm not gluten intolerant, but I certainly am wheat intolerant. I can eat gluten no problem, and I don't have any celiac symptoms. However, I consume wheat, and I get sick. It's certainly not an eating disorder.

Thursday, October 11, 2007, 2:10 PM

I was diagnosed this summer with a gluten allergy, and I'm 39 years old. I find now that if I eat anything with gluten in it, I get this horrible back pain. I used to have back problems every so often and never could understand why.
I'm also pretty much vegan (the only milk product I generally consume is greek yogurt), and it's strictly ethical reasons.

Thursday, October 11, 2007, 2:49 PM

FOOD ALLERGIES

WHEAT, GLUTEN SOMETIMES CORN INTOLERANCES AND ALLERGIES INCLUDING STRAIGHT OUT CELIAC DISEASE ARE NOT NEW, DR.S ARE JUST STARTING TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE BODY AND WHAT SIGNS TO LOOK FOR. MANY DR.S AND FOR THAT MATTER NUTRITIONIST ARE UNCLEAR ABOUT A MORE NATURAL PATH AND DON'T STUDY UP ON THEM AS MUCH. YOU CAN HAVE MILD CELIAC AND NOT BE AS ILL AS OTHERS, OR YOU CAN HAVE SYMPTOMS DIFFERENT THAN OTHERS AND NOT REALIZE IT IS FROM THAT. DR.S MANY TIMES MISDIAGNOSE THINGS THAT APPEAR TO BE LIKE OTHER PROBLEMS.

Friday, October 12, 2007, 12:26 AM

Thu 1pm here. The only vegans I've ever met, bar one, have been anorexic and have used veganism as an excuse to cover their anorexia - I accept that veganism can be a genuine lifestyle choice, but in these cases (and, as far as I am concerned, in most cases), it was about control - a part of an eating disorder.

Which is the point I made in my last post, in fact.

And the one who was a vegan for about 20 years and didn't have an eating disorder now eats cheese, and in huge quantities. And feels, apparently, far better for it.

Friday, October 12, 2007, 6:58 AM

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