3 ms·

Fun fact: if you look in an old copy of the Joy of Cooking, there are several references to wheat allergies (only found one in the index at a glance), including

Fun fact: if you look in an old copy of the Joy of Cooking, there are several references to wheat allergies (only found one in the index at a glance), including an old USDA publication on the subject (couldn't find that easily). This book has been around since 1931.

maxerickson 12y ago
Can you explain more about why you think that is interesting in this context?
- valarauca1 12y ago
  Wheat allergy is more often then not a Gluten Allergy. The comment was to make a connection that this isn't just a new thing. People have been allergic to grains for a long time.
- scottlocklin 12y ago
  Because several people below are asserting that sensitivity to gluten (or whatever it is in wheat that gives people the wheat heebie-jeebies) is some kind of modern thing. It's not; people just forgot about it, then remembered again. About half of what I consider noteworthy enough to say on HN or my blog is pointing out that humanity regularly forgets, then remembers important things. FWIIW, my own mild sensitivity is almost certainly not to gluten, as certain Italian 00 flours, rye and oatmeal don't bother me at all.
  - maxerickson 12y ago
    The popularity of self diagnosis with gluten sensitivities does seem to be a modern thing. I'm not saying self diagnosed allergies are nonsense (I know someone who is clearly allergic to Yellow #5), I guess I would just consider someone claiming it was all fake (rather than much of it being faddish) an ill-informed crank (and not really feel the need to push back on what they are saying).
    - scottlocklin 12y ago
      I was a little ahead of the curve on this: I figured it out going on a strict keto diet in furtherance of my hobby of picking up heavy things (then putting them down again). I couldn't believe how good I felt, even on a diet of nothing but tuna and water. When I added things back to my diet; milk, rice, beans; all no problemo. First time I ate spaghetti, I went back to feeling like dirt. The internets informed me that other people were sensitive to wheat as well (this was around ~ 2004), and I haven't looked back since then.

maxerickson 12y ago

Can you explain more about why you think that is interesting in this context?

valarauca1 12y ago
Wheat allergy is more often then not a Gluten Allergy. The comment was to make a connection that this isn't just a new thing. People have been allergic to grains for a long time.
scottlocklin 12y ago
Because several people below are asserting that sensitivity to gluten (or whatever it is in wheat that gives people the wheat heebie-jeebies) is some kind of modern thing. It's not; people just forgot about it, then remembered again. About half of what I consider noteworthy enough to say on HN or my blog is pointing out that humanity regularly forgets, then remembers important things. FWIIW, my own mild sensitivity is almost certainly not to gluten, as certain Italian 00 flours, rye and oatmeal don't bother me at all.
- maxerickson 12y ago
  The popularity of self diagnosis with gluten sensitivities does seem to be a modern thing. I'm not saying self diagnosed allergies are nonsense (I know someone who is clearly allergic to Yellow #5), I guess I would just consider someone claiming it was all fake (rather than much of it being faddish) an ill-informed crank (and not really feel the need to push back on what they are saying).
  - scottlocklin 12y ago
    I was a little ahead of the curve on this: I figured it out going on a strict keto diet in furtherance of my hobby of picking up heavy things (then putting them down again). I couldn't believe how good I felt, even on a diet of nothing but tuna and water. When I added things back to my diet; milk, rice, beans; all no problemo. First time I ate spaghetti, I went back to feeling like dirt. The internets informed me that other people were sensitive to wheat as well (this was around ~ 2004), and I haven't looked back since then.