Comments on: LA Vegan Beer Fest Takes The Rose Bowl By Storm!

By: Sayward Rebhal

Sayward Rebhal — Fri, 22 May 2015 00:22:00 +0000

You should totally come next year! it is ridiculously fun (and delicious!)

By: Sayward Rebhal

Sayward Rebhal — Fri, 22 May 2015 00:21:00 +0000

I very much think mine is fodmaps(ish) because when I lower my intake of other fructans like onion, garlic, and artichoke (and wheat is a fructan), sooooo many of my digestive issues lighten up.

It’s way frustrating. I definitely feel your pain!

By: Sayward Rebhal

Sayward Rebhal — Fri, 22 May 2015 00:16:00 +0000

No no, not at all! I have a public blog where I write about food and health – you ABSOLUTELY had the right to ask! It’s my own issue feeling sensitive around it. I just said that to explain where I was coming from. =)

By: Rebecca Carnes

Rebecca Carnes — Thu, 21 May 2015 19:38:00 +0000

I wouldn’t even know where to start with all that amazing looking food…..I would be shoving it all in my pockets hahahahaha! Gotta keep a look out for next year!!:)

By: Monika {windycityvegan}

Monika {windycityvegan} — Thu, 21 May 2015 16:14:00 +0000

From one NCGS sufferer to another ((exuberant wave)): Just want to say I'm happy you're able to experiment (that big mac looks amazing)! I'm in diagnosis limbo land right now, and trying to explain the hows and whys of my own gluten exposure/experiments is very confusing to outsiders (including some doctors). If it ends up being a full on fodmaps issue, I may cry. That would probably be the tipping point for me in getting a biopsy.

By: Tamara

Tamara — Thu, 21 May 2015 15:46:00 +0000

This is interesting, and makes perfect sense. Hope I didn’t prod you about something you’ve been trying to handle on your own!

As a side note, thank you so much for always having such great, thoughtful posts and for engaging with your readers. You are one of the best. I don’t often comment, but I truly love reading your blog.

By: Sayward Rebhal

Sayward Rebhal — Wed, 20 May 2015 21:52:00 +0000

Oh my gawd Bianca, it is SO your kind of place! You would seriously die of happy. I can’t wait till you can make it – it’ll be so fun!!!

By: Sayward Rebhal

Sayward Rebhal — Wed, 20 May 2015 21:51:00 +0000

Hi Tamara, so I answered Marion’s comment below regarding my gluten-free/gluten-y current situation, so check that out for the answer to that question (and sorry for any confusion!) ;-)

As for gluten-free options at beer fest, there are always a few beers and ciders that are gluten free, but not a ton. But there’s a LOT of food options. Everything in this post is g-f except the Bic Mac, the dumplings, and the mac n cheese waffle. I’ve eaten gluten-free at Beer Fest every other year I’ve gone, and it’s always been amazing!

Hope that helps!

By: Sayward Rebhal

Sayward Rebhal — Wed, 20 May 2015 21:48:00 +0000

Hi Marion – thanks for the comment and I completely understand the confusion! Here’s where I’m at right now:

I have been completely gluten-free (food) for years, ever since I got sick (you were right – you read it in my Facing Failing Health article). I reintroduced beer at some point, and felt like I was fine with it. Then I decided to go OFF beer for a year and see how that felt. I did, and when I reintroduced it a year later, I felt no different, so I’ve been drinking beer (but still eating 100% gluten free food) ever since.

My gluten sensitivity (non-celiac) developed when I was pregnant, and my naturopath said that since it had developed under specific conditions, then there was a good chance that it would eventually go away. I had been nervous to test it because I used to feel SO rotten and I was loathe to risk going back to feeling that way. But honestly, I also haaaate being gluten free! And recently, I decided to just say “eff it” and start experimenting.

So that’s what I’ve been doing. I’m experimenting with gluten and seeing how it feels. It’s still in-progress which is why I haven’t written about it yet. Also, it’s honestly a really touchy subject for me. I feel like there’s a lot of negativity and a lot of callousness thrown at non-celiac gluten intolerant folks, even by otherwise very level headed individuals. So I’ve been hesitant to speak publicly about this process. I prefer to sort it out on my own, then make a big post about it once I’ve made sense of everything.

Anyway, hope that helps to explain where I’m at! Sorry for the confusion, and good luck with your own gluten journey!

By: MarionCooks

MarionCooks — Wed, 20 May 2015 20:10:00 +0000

I actually wanted to comment on the same thing! I thought I remembered Sayward saying in her “failing health as a vegan”
post that she was now gluten-free (and in posts since then?), but now I’m kind of confused. I’m certainly not trying to be the “gluten police” or imply that it’s bad to have gluten *sometimes* if you find that you feel best when primarily gluten-free (as long as you don’t have celiac disease, of course) – but I am genuinely curious about how one finds that balance. I am in the middle of trying to determine whether or not I am sensitive to gluten, and if some hormonal issues and joint pain I’ve been dealing with can be helped by avoiding it… But I have wondered if I can have non-GF pizza or beer, etc. occasionally, or if it really has to be never (if gluten is, in fact, an issue for me). I know celiac disease is more black & white, but what about for people who just have a sensitivity? Sorry to hijack this post, but I would really love to hear about how you have figured out what – if any – amount of gluten is tolerable to you, and at what point it starts effing with you. I’m sure it varies from person to person, but how do you find that balance? Maybe this topic would make a good post?! :)

At any rate, all that food and beer looks delicious. What a fun way to celebrate your anniversary. Cheers!