I stumbled across this article “Envisioning an End to the Gluten-Free Diet?” thanks to Jule’s Gluten Free and truly needed to share as an elaboration to the many articles I’ve reviewed in my weekly Gluten Free New’s Round Ups. The article discusses the current research seeking to ‘cure’, or find ways around, a medically required gluten free diet for Celiac Disease. The article goes more into detail about these current research areas:

1. The Pill
2. Enzyme Therapy
3. Taking the toxins out of gluten products

I have to agree with Jule’s that the most striking thing about this article is the emphasis on the often overlooked ‘identity’ and sense of connectedness that comes from a restricted diet and life style. The article states:

“Then there is the sense of identity and community that gluten-free living confers on so many of us. There are thousands of gluten-free bloggers, chefs, and home-cooking enthusiasts who derive a real sense of identity from our common struggles to create tasty, nutritious foods on the gluten-free diet. The diet tends to become a focal point in one’s life, driving decisions about where to dine out or to travel. Just as a vegetarian, vegan, raw food, or kosher diet becomes a prominent feature of one’s social identity, so too does the gluten-free diet for people with Celiac disease. 

As the saying goes: “You are what you eat.” Who will we be when—and (of course) if—we are no longer gluten-free? 

So I pose the question to you all, my fellow gluten-free comrades: If you had the opportunity to eat gluten again, would you welcome it?”

My response to Jule’s post was a two parter. First responding to the sense of identity:

” I’ve mulled over this question as the research has progressed towards a ‘cure’. Food is a big source of our learning and our identity. We play eat, cook, and serve as children to practice that as adults and almost every social setting is linked to food. (Think about culture). That’s why  diet becomes a big part of an identity, and I think it is so for everyone (although obviously more  identifiable for those with restrictions). I for one put my identity into my diet in all that I do, just because that is the type of person I am. I finally feel healthy and food has helped me get there physically, mentally, and emotionally. I love educating those who don’t realize allergen free food  can be delicious, and healthy. I think I would still shy away from gluten if there was a cure, but it would be nice to know the accidents would potentially be less detrimental and the issue of cross contamination might be avoided.” 

We are what we eat, and food works it’s way into every aspect of our lives. This is why restrictive diets influence our outlook so acutely even in those with the best perspectives, why they help create a sense of community, and why they become part of our identity. Developmental Play Therapy in Clinical Social Work (Timberlake, & Cutler, 2001), which I read for my Micro (client) practice class for my Master in Social Work put it perfectly.

“Food per se is endowed with complex beliefs, values, symbolic meanings, and emotional connotations of home, and hearth, caring and warmth. Additionally, food and feeding are intermixed with nurturing throughout individual and family life experiences in both the real and intrapersonal worlds of children and adults. Thus, in both life and therapy, it is often difficult to differentiate the physiological, psychological, an social aspects of food, nurturing, and feeding.” (p. 53-54). 

With such an ingrained influence on our development, there is no doubt that food and diet is part of our identity. I just wish this wasn’t overlooked as often as it is by nutritionists, doctors, family, friends, and even those with food allergies or Celiac Disease themselves. Being different is hard to accept, but it’s these differences which make us all individuals. I would imagine that if a cure became available to the public, some would struggle just as much at knowing their identity when stopping their gluten free diet as did when they started. It truly is a thought provoking question.

The second part of my response was in relation to my concerns as a researcher:

“As a researcher I fear that there may be a push for income purposes by pharmacy or gluten producing companies to release these ‘cures’ prior to them having effective research completed regarding their side effects. Antacids are popped by many to prevent digestive issues and they were rushed through research, they are now showing signs of increasing cancer rates and other side effects. It’s a balancing act though, and we will only learn by trying to cure diseases.”

I know people are eager to be able to eat gluten again, but there has to be effective screening research. I sure hope that this can be maintained so that side effects can be effectively reviewed prior to any of the cures mentioned going main stream. I am not stating here that I believe there should be no cures for CD, but rather it a cure be found through careful ethical research and not for profit.