The G-Free Diet: A Gluten-Free Survival Guide

Comment: Prior to my 4-year-old's arrival, I had zero stomach issues. I am not proud of my old eating habits. Really, I should have known better than to eat six brownie bites at a time. Or almost half an Entemann's chocolate cake in one night. Yes, I actually did eat half a cake. I am disgusted when I look back on the gross things I used to eat in mass quantities. But back then my eating habits were never a problem because I had a stomach of steel and a fabulous metabolism.

Oh, the good old days, how I miss them.

My stomach started bothering me 2 months after my daughter was born and it hasn't stopped since. I'll spare you the details but over the last (almost) five years I have gone from eating everything to just a few things that I am sure don't bother my stomach. I have visited dozens of doctors and I've spent a small fortune on co-pays and blood tests, and even an endoscopy. But when test after test came back inconclusive, I finally took measures into my own hands by doing the Fat Flush Plan.

After two weeks of eating nothing but protein, flax, fruit, and vegetables, I felt like a million bucks. Then came the hard part...re-introducing foods to identify my allergies. The day I ate my first piece of bread I not only had a stomach ache but I also felt itchy and achy and had trouble focusing. So I stopped eating bread and after a few days felt great again. Then I ate another piece of bread, felt sick again, stopped eating bread again, and felt great. It was confirmed - I could not tolerate gluten.

I was elated to find the culprit but nervous too. How was I going to live without bread? Was I going to be able to eat out anymore? Was every single meal going to be an exercise in anxiety and planning? Yes, yes, and unfortunately, yes.

I haven't ingested gluten since November of 2009 and while 90% of my symptoms have cleared up, I still experience stomach aches from time-to-time. The more I read about gluten the more I realize it is hidden in so many unexpected places! So while I've been avoiding the obvious things, I realized I needed a comprehensive list of what to avoid and that is exactly what The G Free Diet is.

I've seen this book in the bookstore but frankly I never considered purchasing it because, well, Elizabeth Hasselbeck irritates me. Sorry, but it's the truth. I don't watch The View, but the things I hear and read about her? They don't exactly portray her in the best light. She just seems immature and too opinionated and if I'm being honest (and petty) her voice annoys me too. I don't know why. But I put my feelings aside to read this book and I have to admit that I loved it and finished it in two days.

The G Free Diet is a fast, easy read. It starts off with the author explaining how she diagnosed herself with the help of her stint on Survivor. She goes on to give a thorough description of celiac disease, advises how to avoid gluten at home and in restaurants, and even discusses going gluten-free for weight management and to help the symptoms of autism.

Did you know that some salad dressings and soy sauces have gluten in them? Blue cheese and brown rice syrup? Rice Crispies and french fries? Toothpaste and sunscreen? Makeup and lotion? Me neither. This book is an enlightening source of detailed information on hidden sources of gluten. I especially loved the section on eating out as that is always such a challenge for me. The appendix with a list of gluten-free brands is also very helpful.

Now the negatives of this book: I'm not crazy about the fact that Elizabeth claims you can "sweat out" accidentally ingested gluten. Sorry but to quote Principal Belding, "That is wrong and ridiculous." I was also kind of surprised to see her marketing a gluten-free lifestyle as a weight management technique. But those are small details in an otherwise excellent book and overall I would recommend this book to anyone struggling with celiac or those who think they might have a gluten-intolerance.


Ameena Din
Freelance Reviewer
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Comment: I gave this book to my daughter for Christmas. She just became gluten free, and needed a book to instruct her on all the specifics. She loved this book! She liked the lists and information she got. I would definately recommend this book.

Comment: I never recieved the product! Was looking forward to getting my book. It did not come so I contacted the seller 2 or 3 times and still month later....nothing!

Comment: The book was in amazing shape and it got to me in really good time.

Comment: I see a lot of people have reviewed this book so I'll keep this brief. While some reviewers are probably resentful of her celebrity status, I think it's very helpful in getting the public's attention to the problems of celiacs and people with food intolerances. The more people who understand that these are serious conditions, the easier life becomes for those who suffer from eating even a tiny amount of the wrong food.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck has written an easily-understood guide to getting along without gluten. She discovered that she is celiac after years of suffering with intestinal pain and diarrhea. Learning to completely avoid gluten was a challenge that she had to master. In this book she passes on what she learned.

I appreciate her emphasis on how small amounts of gluten can make a celiac quite ill. This also applies to wheat allergy, which is different from celiac but carries the same burden as far as planning meals and eating out. Wheat is so common in food that you easily get a few crumbs without even knowing it, so guidance on this is helpful. Some of the hints apply to other food intolerances, such as the warning about food residue on utensils and pans contaminating your carefully planned meal.

Like some other reviewers, I don't agree with her contention that eating gluten-free is a great way to lose weight. Eliminating gluten is a huge challenge and after going through all the necessary aggravations, you can still gain weight on rice and potatoes.

I've read a number of books on living gluten-free and I still learned several things from this book. The best part: it's not boring. Yes, some of her assertions may be unproven, and if you are celiac you should seek professional guidance, not just rely on a book. But you should also read at least a couple of books on the condition because there is a lot to learn, and this is one that can provide practical help while letting you know you are not alone in your struggle.