I was staring at my computer screen, resisting the urge to fire off an angry reply to a smear video a Facebook friend had shared about people who are gluten-free.
I guess you could say I get a little emotional about the whole gluten-free/celiac issue.
The ironic part is I don’t even have celiac disease myself. Thank goodness—otherwise I’d miss my yearly Papa John’s pizza indulgence.
But I’m married to a man with celiac disease.
Too many people don’t simply live and let live when it comes to gluten intolerance.
It’s not everyone, of course, but a minority of loud, dismissive opinions can make it seem like everyone shares them—like those few racists who give the impression that sexism or racism is everywhere.
That one kernel of wheat that contaminates an entire stack of gluten-free tortillas is a small image that explains a lot about how quickly things can go wrong.
I’m stuck in the middle. I eat wheat sometimes, but I also cook gluten-free at home.
So I get the remarks: “You people just need to eat what’s put in front of you.” “You shouldn’t make the church use gluten-free communion bread” (we don’t—many churches offer it as a courtesy, and we’re grateful). “God made wheat too, you know.”
Then I get the opposite reaction: some people assume because my husband avoids wheat and I sometimes eat it, I must agree with their disparaging views about gluten-free folks. They have a lot to say about that, too.
And today, I’m fed up.
I won’t reply angrily to that Facebook video, but there are ten things I’d like you to understand about people who are gluten-free.
10 Things You Need To Know About Gluten-Free People
Wheat can seriously harm them. In people with celiac disease, wheat damages the villi of the small intestine. That damage makes them feel awful and allows substances into the bloodstream that shouldn’t be there. Over time, this autoimmune response can trigger additional sensitivities, worsening health and, if left unmanaged, causing long-term complications.
Eating wheat causes real suffering. For their safety and well-being, avoiding wheat is not a trivial preference. I’ve seen what happens when my husband is exposed to wheat: he becomes disoriented, unable to concentrate, and physically unwell. It’s not the dramatic, immediate reaction of anaphylaxis, but it profoundly impairs his ability to function and feel like himself.
Giving up wheat is difficult. People don’t eliminate wheat for fun. They miss foods they used to enjoy, they read ingredient labels obsessively, and they relearn how to shop and cook. If avoiding wheat didn’t matter, they would go back in a heartbeat—so when someone remains gluten-free, it’s because they truly need to be.
They know some people find them unusual—and for the most part they don’t care. Your opinion isn’t worth compromising their health over, so loud criticism rarely changes anyone’s choices.
They want their limits respected. Stop trying to sneak wheat into their food or downplay their needs. Contamination is not harmless; it causes real pain and setbacks.
Stop reminding them it’s a “frivolous” choice. Repeated comments about their decision won’t change anything. For many people, gluten-free living is a medical necessity, not a trend.
They understand gluten-free doesn’t automatically mean healthier. Going gluten-free can reduce some nutrients unless those are consciously replaced. Packaged gluten-free foods can be high in refined carbs and sugar, so many gluten-free people focus on whole foods and home cooking rather than relying on prepackaged substitutes.
It’s not a weight-loss shortcut for them. While some people adopt gluten-free diets for weight loss, for those with celiac or serious intolerance any weight change is a side effect of removing a harmful substance—not the goal. Gluten-free packaged alternatives can be just as calorie-dense as regular treats, so weight loss is neither automatic nor intentional in most cases.
Be sure to remember this…
Going gluten-free might be a trend for some, but for many it is a serious, necessary lifestyle to protect their health. Families work hard to prevent cross-contamination at home and sometimes they still fail—when that happens, the consequences can be painful.
One final thing to keep in mind:
It’s okay to eat wheat in front of them—they usually don’t mind. Most gluten-free people go through an adjustment period when they miss foods they once loved. Over time, as their health improves and they learn to make or find satisfying substitutes, seeing others eat wheat becomes less painful. They may feel inconvenienced by restrictions, but jealousy is rare once they feel better and find alternatives that work.
That’s why I, the occasional wheat eater, was the one ready to respond to that ugly video, not the gluten-free or celiac person themselves. They’ve already chosen health over convenience—and that deserves respect.