Hi there I was diagnosed only last money with celiac. I am having a tough time mentally with it all at the moment. I have been really careful since I found out. However, Saturday and Sunday I ate some fresh strawberries. On Saturday I had the familiar stomach ache and also on Sunday. I just could not think what I had eaten then I saw your article, its the strawberries. So yet another item I cannot eat. Please tell me this gets better. Also, someone told me I that I should stay away from Dairy product or at least stick to 1% milk, is this true? Thanks.

It gets better, I promise. It honestly just takes time, knowledge of the disease, love, and support from friends and family. I found out 3 years ago and still have a hard time every once in awhile. It gets better, but you learn so much. Don't forget though sometimes you do mess up and eat something you shouldn't but that just teaches you the next time. The milk thing is also true. A lot of people with celiac are also lactose intolerant. I have found that to be true in my case but my roommate, who also has celiac, is not. It is just case by case. I would stay away from milk for awhile until you know you are eating whats right, then slowly add it back to your diet and see if you have a reaction. I've learned so much in 3 years and wish I had had someone to ask questions.

Strawberry replies quite interesting. Have been unable to pick or eat them for 20 years. Get welts on hands and terrible stomach pain. I now believe my body was trying to tell me something and I could not recognize what problem might be. Have been on celiac diet for only 5 days and am symptom free. Also was diagnosed as lactose intolerant 1 year ago. Good luck to all who are finding themselves on this new diet adventure! This website is extremely helpful and straightforward.

It's my understanding that the villi that are destroyed by gluten are what make the enzyme which allows us to digest milk. If you have celiac and are just starting the diet, you may be milk intolerant UNTIL your intestines heal. I've read that this can take 6 months or more, depending on the severity of your intestinal damage, and that once you are healed you may find you are once again able to tolerate milk without any problems. Hope this helps.

I guess being almost 8 years into this type of eating has allowed me to heal I have no trouble with strawberries. However I can truly sympathize with each and every one who is having trouble. You want to know what is worse than having celiac/gluten intolerance? It is when you think you are having a good meal and then have symptoms again. This time due to the caterer's somehow causing the chicken at the company picnic to be a poison. Only after talking with many others at work did I discover it wasn't my normal digestive problems, but it was the chicken that actually made me violently ill. I talked with one of the supervisory people and told them that not only had I become ill, but numerous others. Hope they do not use that caterer again. I don't mind making a mistake and then suffering half as much as I mind having food available that should be gluten free and later having worse reactions than normal. Sure did hurt.

Thanks for the tip on strawberries. I didn't know about it. I was disgnosed two years ago and I am still having a hard time with my stomach. I try real hard to follow the diet. I have found that there is plenty to eat and even many restaurants that will provide me with the proper food but that good old stomach still gives me a bad time now and them. Good luck.

Any scientific studies done on wheat contamination from mulch?A quick search and I see that it's a generally popular mulch, used for other crops, too (raspberries and soybeans were two mentioned). I do sometimes experience telltale symptoms after strawberries but had convinced myself that it must have been something else. Having just read year blog, I am wishing I saw this earlier because I taught a Gluten Free cooking class a couple of days ago and featured strawberry tarts.

Thanks for the info. I have been gluten-free for about 1 & half years, after suffering for 40+ years. Very dramatic recovery, but still tweaking the details. I have been experiencing lots of nerve pain lately, after relief and have not been able to identify the source. Since strawberries are in season, now and there are sales everywhere, I think this is a possible source.

I was diagnosed 13 years ago with diverticulitis. as it turns out 6 months ago I found out it was really celiac. The strawberries still give me issues, but is it worth the pain for the temporary pleasure of the fruit? There are other fruits you can enjoy as a substitute.

Hey I was wondering if my allergy to soy would be the same I am a huge case and I am very frustrated with the whole thing. My friends are very supportive but its very hard when its not just me but my daughter too. We have both had the celiac blood test and came back positive but I am still in the dark about things even after reading all the info...I am allergic to so much including bananas, soy, sourdough turns to whiskey in my stomach (diagnosed at 2) milk/lactose intolerant, I have what they have called staph/strep bumps that are under my arms and go down my sides and the underside of my arm, on my face (resembles acne) and big painful blisters on the inside of my thighs I can't seem to keep off weight at all no matter how active I am. Has anyone else dealt with this I would sure like to see I am not a crazy hypochondriac

I don't know, but would think that the gluten would not travel through the ground into the strawberry. I've been celiac for 5 yrs + and never had a reaction to strawberries. If I eat anything with gluten, I break out with Dermatitis Herpetiformis within 36 hours, and strawberries on gluten free white cake every chance I can. You just have to read every label, and realize that being human we all make mistakes.

The gluten is contained in the kernel of the grain, not in the straw. Just shows how far we've moved from rural roots.