[Nicole H.]

I am new, and have only been almost 2 weeks on a gluten-free lifestyle. A couple questions....I never had any type of reaction to dairy...do I need to take it out of my diet anyway just to start? Can I have soy? How will I know if I cant? Soy lecithin? What is up with the caramel coloring? what is in it that we cant have? And gaur gum, I looked at a website that says celiacs should not have it, but its in a gluten free flour that I got! Guar gum is in ice cream, does this mean I cant have ice cream?! HELP!

[psawyer]

Don't believe everything you read. There is a lot of misinformation about the gluten-free diet. There is also information based on what was believed to be true twenty or more years ago, but which is now known to be false.

Guar gum is gluten-free. Period.

Caramel color, at least in North America, is always made from corn. I posted over two years ago:

psawyer, on Jul 1 2006, 10:05 PM, said:

According to both the Canadian Celiac Association, and Shelley Case's book, "Gluten Free Diet," caramel coloring is gluten free. I have never found any credible evidence to the contrary.

I stand by what I said then.

Here is another post from six months ago with lots of useful info:

happygirl, on Aug 4 2008, 12:17 PM, said:

Unsafe ingredients: http://www.celiac.com/articles/182/1/Unsaf...ents/Page1.html

Safe ingredients: http://www.celiac.com/articles/181/1/Safe-...ents/Page1.html

A list of companies that has a clear gluten policy. If you don't see "wheat, rye, barley, barley malt, oats" on the labels, its not there, or hidden in "flavors, starches, etc." http://www.glutenfre...lists/index.htm This makes shopping MUCH easier.

FDA foods are required to list wheat - it cannot be hidden.

Rule #1: Never eat anything without reading the label first.

Rule #2: Consistently check labels, even of your favorite products, as product formulations can change.

Rule #3: If you are unsure of an ingredient, or the company's policy on labeling, call the phone number on the back of the product or email the company.

Hope this helps.

[happygirl]

Above advice is great

http://glutenfreeins...ct_updates.html is another good resource.

Soy is gluten free. Same with soy lecithin.

Soy sauce often has wheat in it, though.

[RiceGuy]

As for the dairy, soy, etc, you'll need to determine that for yourself. Many do find that they need to avoid dairy, especially during the healing stage. Soy may also not be well-tolerated at first, so there again, you'll need to decide for yourself, based on how you feel if you eat it. It often helps to keep a food journal, so you can see patterns in how you feel relative to what you've been eating. It often takes a week or two before a pattern can be established. From what I can tell, most people with a "mild" allergy to soy seem to tolerate soy lecithin without problems, probably because the lecithin is so purified. There again, if it bothers you, don't eat it.

One reason why dairy, soy, and sometimes other things may not be well-tolerated at first, is because the intestinal damage often causes something commonly referred to as "leaky gut". This allows particles which ordinarily don't get into the bloodstream to do so, thus causing reactions. As the intestine heals, those large "holes" are patched, stopping the leaks.

[ang1e0251]

I'll agree with the good responses you already have. Most other problems must be determined by the individual. Guar gum can have a laxative affect. It is gluten free so go ahead and try it. If you have a reaction, you'll know it's a problem. If not, enjoy!!