Dietary Choice vs. Neccessity

[goldenjester]

I just got diagnosed with an auto-immune disease called Celiac Sprue. If you're European, you likely know what this is. If you're American, you might know.
Celiac disease leaves the body unable to process gluten, a starchy protein found in wheat, barely, and rye.

Now, I just found this out after my first year away from home at MSU Bozeman (my college). My mom and 3 sisters have Celiac disease as well, so when I was in high school, I was guaranteed at least 2 meals a day gluten free, and I have very mild symptoms. However, one of these symptoms, as you can likely figure out, is that I'm skinny. I don't absorb the food at school well and because of this, I'm skinny. I have been my whole life, not knowing I was a Celiac.

I've heard that 1 in every 3 to 6 people (depending on the source) can have this disease, and it's genetically passed on, so that number will likely rise, but it leads me to my question:

Why can I CHOOSE to eat a vegetarian option at school, but not have a NECESSARY gluten-free meal?
I think it's pretty off that a dietary choice is more accessible than a dietary need becoming more and more common.
Is this the same way across the Atlantic in Europe? I think it was discovered by an Irish doctor in WW2, so do you have more options?

 

[Flying-Emu]

It's because (I'm assuming) it's a fairly uncommon disorder. They simply can't cater to every medical dietary need, because there are just too many. As for the vegetarian versus dietary need thing, it's because there are a LOT more vegetarians than Celaics.

 

[goldenjester]

My guess, though, is that Vegetarians will riot and burn things if you don't give them the option to not eat meat, whereas catering to people with diseases and disorders is not the responsibility of society.

I know, HUGE double standard, but humans are self-centered assholes anyway, so what else is to be said?

This is probably very true, but I guess what burns me up about it is that living on campus is MANDATORY at many campuses the first year, and it makes it really hard for celiacs.

 

[Sewblon]

Vegetarians constitute a voting bloc, celiacs don't. You may just have to file a complaint with your college's administration.

 

[megapenguinx]

I'm allergic to gluten as well (but not like OMG IMMA DIE! more like I go poot poot). But like most of my allergies (mangos, milk, sun) I overcame it with time (and eating a ton of mangos). Vegetarians will rally and boycott if they don't have their way and I think people like us (although you have it way worse) are expected to be smart enough (or at least smarter than the veggies) to pick and choose what we can and cannot eat. It might also be that they can charge more for vegetarian things than they could for gluten free items.

 

[bodyklok]

This thread has done three things to me, made me glad I'm not allergic to anything, made me sorry for the OP, and made me hungry. Damn I need some breakfast.

 

[Insomniac55]

It's an interesting question. My mum was diagnosed with celiacs' a few years back, and it can make it really difficult for her at times, such as when she goes out to dinner etc. Luckily for me I've been tested twice and been negative both times so I can still eat gluten.

For those that don't know, gluten is in a heck of a lot of foods. Wheat and barley are two major ones, which means that anything with wheat is a no-no. Gluten free breads are also usually very crumbly, taste different, and are super expensive. Take a look at the next item of food you eat... if it's got anything wheat-based in it, chances are it's got gluten in it too (glucose syrup from wheat is ok though). Meat, fruits and vegetables are fine, although care has to be taken with things like cooked chicken, as the filling is often wheat based.

Basically what happens to a celiac when they eat wheat is the little folds inside their guts swell so that there arn't any gaps between them any more, meaning the surface area of the intestine goes down a ton, meaning not enough nutrients are absorbed. It also increases your risk of bowel cancer if you continue to eat gluten. External symptoms (if you eat gluten by mistake or simply haven't been diagnosed) are stomach aches, bloating and other unpleasant things. Certainly immediatly dangerous, it's not like a peanut allergy.

Interestingly enough, a few years back when she was diagnosed no-one had even heard of it... it was like some weird, unknown disease. Now public awareness has skyrocketed... there are way more gluten free foods in the supermarkets, resteraunts and the like often have gluten free options and more people have heard of it. Which means more people get diagnosed, so I suppose the situation can only improve.

 

[Xvito]

I just got diagnosed with an auto-immune disease called Celiac Sprue. If you're European, you likely know what this is. If you're American, you might know.
Celiac disease leaves the body unable to process gluten, a starchy protein found in wheat, barely, and rye.

Now, I just found this out after my first year away from home at MSU Bozeman (my college). My mom and 3 sisters have Celiac disease as well, so when I was in high school, I was guaranteed at least 2 meals a day gluten free, and I have very mild symptoms. However, one of these symptoms, as you can likely figure out, is that I'm skinny. I don't absorb the food at school well and because of this, I'm skinny. I have been my whole life, not knowing I was a Celiac.

I've heard that 1 in every 3 to 6 people (depending on the source) can have this disease, and it's genetically passed on, so that number will likely rise, but it leads me to my question:

Why can I CHOOSE to eat a vegetarian option at school, but not have a NECESSARY gluten-free meal?
I think it's pretty off that a dietary choice is more accessible than a dietary need becoming more and more common.
Is this the same way across the Atlantic in Europe? I think it was discovered by an Irish doctor in WW2, so do you have more options?

I live in Europe (Sweden). We have a Gluten-free choice in our school...

Edit: Also, I feel sorry for you dude.

--Xvito, keeping it excellent.

 

[goldenjester]

I'm allergic to gluten as well (but not like OMG IMMA DIE! more like I go poot poot). But like most of my allergies (mangos, milk, sun) I overcame it with time (and eating a ton of mangos).

I'm incredibly jealous...unfortuneately, this isn't an allergy that gets better, since eating more gluten just intensifies the sypmtoms because our cilia in our intestines is shaped wrong, and eating more gluten doesn't fix that...since you got over those things, I think that they are intolerances, not allergies.

 

[goatzilla8463]

You could ask the dinner ladies what was in the food.

But then they would reply: "Dead dog."

 

[megapenguinx]

I'm allergic to gluten as well (but not like OMG IMMA DIE! more like I go poot poot). But like most of my allergies (mangos, milk, sun) I overcame it with time (and eating a ton of mangos).

I'm incredibly jealous...unfortuneately, this isn't an allergy that gets better, since eating more gluten just intensifies the sypmtoms because our cilia in our intestines is shaped wrong, and eating more gluten doesn't fix that...since you got over those things, I think that they are intolerances, not allergies.

Is highly possible since they do upset my stomach, except the reason I mentioned mangos in particular is that they used to make my throat swell shut.

As for your problem, if you can find a group of at least 4 other people with the disease, you can rally the administration to put gluten free choices on the menu.