Thanks so much to the 4,067 of you who have answered this poll as of this writing. I ran one last year as well, and it’s always surprising to see all the reasons people go gluten free and the myriad of symptoms and illnesses that seem to be exacerbated by, or caused by gluten!

Celiac is obviously the most publicized reason for a gluten free lifestyle, but that is by no means the majority of people who are gluten free – of those who visit this site, at least.

If you’d still like to register your vote, go on down to the bottom of the post to find it.

Here are the results as of 2 PM PST 6/23/2011 for 4,067 responses (multiple votes were allowed, but each person could only vote once.) Percentages are rounded. If lots more people take the poll, I’ll update this post at a later date. To see up to the minute results, click “view results” all the way at the bottom of the poll anytime after you have voted to see the numbers.

Here are the “other” write-in responses as of 6/23/2011, but I’ll leave the poll open for more to vote.

• Depression
• Endometriosis
• Eosinophilic Esophagitis
• Dermatitis Herpetiformis
• crohns
• wheat sensitivity
• no more rosacea after going g/f!
• autoimmune enteropathy
• My son has autism and is on the GFCF diet.
• PSYCHOTIC EPISODES
• got in the habit after 5 years with my GF exGF, lol!
• giving it a try to see if it helps me digest food better
• Gluten Rash / Allergy
• Hashimottos
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Dysautonomia
• MS and eczema
• iron deficiency
• joint pain, racing heartbeat, weight gain; celiac not confirmed, but suspected
• sore joints and muscles
• DH
• Doctor’s orders for cellular health.
• on behalf of my daughter, who has Rett Syndrome. Our family is now nearly GF.
• Gluten casues my sinus infections
• severe wheat allergy causes anaphlaxis reactions in me
• Daughter has Psoriasis
• causes Osteoporosis
• my 5 year old daughter has celiac
• because of joint pain that is now gone!!
• The blood type diet
• seizures
• I’m not but my daughter (migraines) and husband (UC) are
• daughter is celiac, son has autism
• have a small child who is a Celiac
• joint inflammation
• It made sleep apnea and a pinched nerve go away
• anemia
• Wheat intolerance
• endometriosis
• Epilepsy
• Not diagnosed yet
• daughter has celiac so family went gf
• eczema
• unexplained weight loss
• My nutritionist recommends this way of eating
• supporting my 11yr old gluten intolerant daughter
• Crohn’s Disease
• weight gain, fatigue
• Eczema
• Low Iron
• Anemia
• Friends feel much better and have inspired me.
• Not sure yet, still trying to figure it out
• my daughter has Celiac Disease
• Inflamation
• chronic body pain
• Brain Fog
• Son’s got celiac. He’s GF.
• neurological issues
• Wheat sensitivity
• hoshimotos
• Had depression too. Mother had RA and migranes, but doesn’t anymore!
• just in beginning phase of losing gluten
• I have MS.
• vision problems
• I’m hoping it will cure my achy joints, and muscle pains. I have 2 kids w/celiac
• gastroparesis
• Restless legs
• Seizures
• Bleeding Ulcer
• also helps my G.E.R.D.
• I was born this way
• The 2 genes I have cause Parkinson’s and MS.
• makes me feel like I have a hang over when I eat it
• neuropothy nerve pain
• headaches (non migraines)
• bloating-from gluten Dr, says
• Breastfeeding a baby with a gluten allergy.
• Digestive problems
• Depression
• had arthritis
• highly allergic to wheat
• Gluten Ataxia
• Hives
• PCOS
• Allergic to wheat
• crohns disease
• Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder,joint pains,hair loss,fractured teeth,
• silent celiac disease
• reduction in back and hip pain
• Daughter is also Gluten Sensative
• Lupus
• was having stomach troubles, possible gall bladder
• Infertility
• Severe knee Pain goes away when I’m GF. Severe Bloating. Never been diagnos
• Exercise Induced Anaphlaxis
• Fatigue, skin rash, joint pain
• I gave up all grains, but then found that I could no longer digest gluten.
• tired of living in the bathroom and carting around a change of clothes
• I am breastfeeding and my son had a reaction to the gluten in my diet
• scleraderma, chronic fatigue syndrome
• eating gluten free because my Bernese Mountain Dog is gluten intolerant
• ulcerative colitis
• dermatitis herpetiformis
• i dont like it when my thyroid pops out its ugly
• Osteoporosis
• Acne
• My kids are ADD and autistic. GF also helps their symptoms.

To register your vote on the poll, take a moment to check the box or boxes next to why you are gluten free. You can only vote once, but check as many boxes as apply, and if none apply, please write in the “other” answer. You can come back and click “view results” any time after you vote for up to the minute numbers.

Please take a moment to answer the following poll about your experience with autism and a gluten free/casein free diet. You can click “View Results” at any time to see how the voting is going. Keep reading to see why it works for many.

Should you try a Gluten Free diet with your child on the autism spectrum? Read on.

Click here to read the amazing story of Noah, a small child who had lost all communication before going on a GFCF diet.

WHY does it work in some?

In this informative article, “Can a Gluten Free Diet Help Autism?,” by Dr. Karima Hirani, MD MPH, (Board Certified in Family Medicine, Integrative Medicine, and Nutritionist), explains why a gluten free/casein free diet is effective in relieving some symptoms faced by 3 out of 4 of her autistic patients. Hirani recommends that you try the diet for at least 3 months in order to give it a chance. (You should consider including your doctor in the decision before you make any major diet changes.) I’m not a scientist, but I’ve heard so many of say how the Gluten Free/Casein Free Diet has drastically helped their autistic child, so I’ll let the author do much of the talking on the reasons why this may diet should helps most of her autistic patients.

The first reason Hirani cites is the improved immune response to the diet.  “Jyonouchi H, published a study in 2001 in the journal of Neuroimmunology showing proinflammatory and regulatory cytokine production associated with innate and adaptive immune response in children with autism spectrum disorders and developemental regression.” Some report as many as 91% of the patients with ASD who were put on the strict GFCF diet improve.

A second reason the GFCF diet works is at the allergy level. According to the article, “Lucarelli S, in 1995 in Panminera Medical Journal showed that italian autistic kids were evaluated for milk related antibodies and response to milk elimination as compared to 20 control children. Higher antibody levels to milk proteins in the autistic population and a marked improvement in the behavioural symptoms of autistic patients after a 2 month milk elimination diet. In my practice almost every child does a food antibody test especially to wheat and dairy and over 60% of them are allergic to these proteins.”

A third reason why the diet maybe working for some kids, according to Hirani, is at the enzyme level. Several studies support the fact that the enzyme DPPIV which digests gluten and casein may not be working well in kids on the ASD. Hence, when children ingest these proteins, instead of being appropriately broken down or digested, these proteins are converted into opiod like proteins and have an opium like effect. This could explain why these children are in their own world. Reichelt Kl in 1981 in the journal of Advanced Biochemistry and Psychopharmacology showed biologically active peptide-containing fractions in shizophrenia and childhood autism. Negri L in 1998 in the British Journal of Pharmacology, showed glycodermophrins: opiod peptides with potent and prolonged analgesic activity and enhanced blood-brain barrier penetration.“ (Read the study abstract here if you are interest in more scientific reasoning on this.)

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The Autism Society of America takes the position that “Individuals with ASD may exhibit low tolerance or allergies to certain foods or chemicals. While not a specific cause of autism, these food intolerances or allergies may contribute to behavioral issues. “

“Research in the U.S. and England has found elevated levels of certain peptides in the urine of children with ASD, suggesting the incomplete breakdown of peptides from foods that contain gluten and casein. Gluten is found in wheat, oats and rye, and casein in dairy products. The incomplete breakdown and the excessive absorption of peptides may cause disruption in biochemical and neuroregulatory processes in the brain, affecting brain functions.”

The Autism Society recommends removing gluten and casein from the diets of children with Autism.

If you have experience with autism and a gluten free/casein free diet, please tell your story below.

Food recalls happen every day. In the United States alone, the USDA and FDA issue several recall alerts just about every single day of the year.  You never even hear about most foods that are recalled unless they somehow make the national news.

I do my best to keep Gluten Freeville readers apprised of recalls that affect the Gluten Free Community and I try to catch them as soon as they are issued, but you really rarely hear about most product recalls that are issued in other food categories.

When a company voluntarily recalls an product, do they get your appreciation for doing so, or do they lose your business? Just curious.

You can come back and click “view results” to see how the voting is going any time.

Subway has announced that they are testing Gluten Free Options in a couple of locations in Texas. They have said that their buns will be individually wrapped and the sandwiches will be made by the same person from start to finish with one-use knives to help prevent cross contamination.

Are you interested in buying Subway’s new sandwiches if/when they are available in your area? Once you answer the poll, you can return to see how other people answered at any time by clicking “view results.”

Researchers say that, because of the recent discovery of the 3 peptides that cause the most internal damage in celiacs, a celiac vaccination may be on the horizon within the next ten years.

After we posted the article, there was a lot of interesting discussion and debate on the issue. Read the July 2010 article from Vaccine News Daily. “Discovery could lead to celiac disease vaccine” by Ted Purlain

If a celiac vaccine/immunotherapy could stop the majority of celiac symptoms and damage from occurring if you were to ingest gluten – would you be interested in receiving it (or getting it for your celiac child)?

Click “view results” anytime after you have voted to see the answers.

Click on “view results” at any time after you vote to see how the answers are coming in.

Click on “view results” at the bottom any time after you have voted to see the current numbers.