Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Where Your Contribution Counts!
    eNewsletter
    Support Us!

Anyone Have Problems With Quinoa?


jasonD2

Recommended Posts

jasonD2 Experienced

ive been eating Quinoa like crazy since going gluten-free - its my salvation. however lately I find that Im having difficulty digesting it and is causing constipation. is it possible i developed a sensitivity to it? my diet is so restricted and the thought of having to cut out more stuff that i like is scary

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



psawyer Proficient

I eat quinoa as an alternative carbohydrate source a couple of times a month. I do not have any trouble eating it. It is possible that you are intolerant to it, but I have not known of anybody with a quinoa intolerance. An allergy is also possible.

I prepare it by rinsing the grain to ensure that all of the naturally occurring saporin is removed, and then add 1 part quinoa to 2 parts liquid. Bring to a boil and them simmer covered for 15 minutes. Cook it more if in doubt--don't under cook it. The grains should look like they are sprouting when done.

The liquid can be almost anything. You can use plain water, or some combination of water with wine, broth, gluten-free soy sauce or other seasonings. Add salt and/or spices as desired.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mango04 Enthusiast

It's possible that it's bothering you simply because you're eating too much of it. Try rotating it with other grains like rice, buckwheat, millet, amaranth etc.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
AliB Enthusiast

Jason, if you eat anything in great quantity you are likely to become intolerant of it, especially carbs.

You are constantly trying to 'replace' the carbs with other carbs and it is carbs that are the problem. It won't work. The bugs just adapt to your new and latest carb substitute and the cycle starts all over again.

I see this over and over again. People dump the gluten and eat corn, then become intolerant of the corn so they eat soy products and become intolerant of that and so it goes on - and on.

Your body won't heal while you keep the damage going. I can tell from your constant posts that you are fighting this all the way and you won't win until you get a 'handle' on it.

You don't need the carbs. The mono-saccharide carbs in vegetables and some fruit will be quite enough to keep your body's needs going. If necessary, as long as you eat enough protein it can convert some of that to glucogen.

Your body's energy needs can be met through fats which are far more efficient fuel sources and far more sustainable than carbs anyway.

You only have to look at the energy and vibrance of people like Jason Vale (the juicemaster) to see that you don't need the carbs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ranger Enthusiast

I eat quinoa with no problems, but I don't eat it that often. I think the advice to switch out and reduce your carbs is a good idea. I don't eat the same carbs even 2 days in a row, although I dug up a huge potatoe crop, so this presents a problem, as I love potatoes, and am notoriously cheap!

I see from other posts that you have a problem with your job (traveling). My husband was in sales and was home most nights. He had to travel a little for coventions and stuff, but not a whole lot. He went to Hawaii once. Maybe you could get a sales job like that. It's not as exciting, but you wouldn't be starving or sick so much! At least untill you get more of a handle on how to manuever through this desease and build your health back up.

Ask for and take the advice of other travelors on the board. Sure hope you find your way.

Susan

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ann72601 Apprentice
ive been eating Quinoa like crazy since going gluten-free - its my salvation. however lately I find that Im having difficulty digesting it and is causing constipation. is it possible i developed a sensitivity to it? my diet is so restricted and the thought of having to cut out more stuff that i like is scary

Absolutely!! I'm on the SCD diet and found that I was not the only one. Quinoa is 60% starch and some of us can not break it down. It's all explained on the SCD pages. You might want to browse the online pages at www.scdiet.com or www.pecanbread.com and see if it sounds like you. It's work but do you have a choice? It takes a good attitude and determination regardless of what you do in life, right?

I started out with the celiac diagnosis and then IBD and then leaky gut and so on.......Sometimes things are very complex. Go with your gut. haha?? I've found a lot of freedom with the SCD diet. I am able to see what I 'can' have instead of what I can't. I'm 7 weeks in and still on stage 3, but I'm feeling well enough to get out of the house now and then..........finally, after 10 months of being bedridden. So, don't give up. I hope you're doing better.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
AliB Enthusiast

Jason, if you look at this thread again, just to say that one thing you could try would be to drink more water.

As I have mentioned on another thread, I have come to realise that a lot of the reason why we are having so many issues is because of extreme dehydration. We don't realise we are dehydrated - we think we are drinking enough, but in reality we are drinking liquids that are also dehydrating - tea, coffee, squash, juice, coke, soda, alcohol, etc. What the body needs is water, and that is what it rarely gets.

If what we are drinking needs at least half its water content to digest itself then gradually we become more and more dehydrated and end up in a hydration deficit. Add to that the carbs which are also dehydrating and it is no wonder our bodies can't cope with it. You know those sweet sugary drinks that leave you feeling thirsty..........? They have taken more water from your body than they have given you.

The basis of virtually all the metabolic processes in the body is water, without enough those processes start to break down. The basis of stomach acid and digestive juices is water. The basis of bicarbonates is water. The basis of digestive tract motility - is water. If the body doesn't have enough water to do these processes we can't digest our food properly.

This is a gradual deficit, started in infancy with the introduction of sugary drinks, candies, biscuits, et al but that deficit will hit us with health issues at some point sooner or later. Robert Lustig, an eminent pediatrician said that he is seeing 6 month-old babies in his clinic with obesity! No wonder childhood diabetes is on the increase. High-fructose corn syrup is in virtually everything processed.

Double whammy. We are eating and drinking more food that is dehydrating, yet drinking less and less pure water.

You need to drink about half your lbs weight in fluid ounces, i.e. 180lbs = 90 fl oz (about 2.5 liters). You will also need to take a little salt to replace the electrolytes. It must be real unrefined rock or sea salt, not the cheapo table salt (only sodium chloride) which does not contain the many balanced minerals and trace elements that real salt does. A quarter to half a teaspoon per day is usually enough.

You can carry water with you on your travels and request it in restaurants and bars. It might be an idea to put a container of rock salt in your car to use on your food when you are out in case the restaurant only has the cheap stuff!

This you can do easily. It may not be an instant fix, but hopefully within a week or two you would start to see a difference. I have seen lots of testimonials and experiences of people who have recovered from all sorts of things by doing this. It won't hurt to try and makes so much sense. I just wish I'd figured it out earlier.

I would say to anyone thinking of it - be careful with this protocol if you have any kidney problems.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



BRUMI1968 Collaborator

I don't feel bad if I eat quinoa, but I don't eat it because it is totally undigested in my stool. I figure that means I'm not absorbing it for some reason or another. Thusly, I avoid it.

Millet is good - though I think it might cause me to itch. Corn is of course an option if you're not allergic - you can try polenta (closest way I can think of it make it like quinoa). Amaranth is good, but good is a relative term. I used to eat it for breakfast. I now eat lower fat, so don't eat.

Are you getting enough fats? and enough liquids? And is your fiber mostly soluable? Those would be the things I would check about constipation. I'm a life long sufferer - and even now gluten-free for 2 years (3 years?) I still get bouts of it, from this or that I virtually never figure out. One thing I KNOW causes it is dairy.

Anyway, good luck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 1 month later...
woodnewt Rookie

I eat it for dinner 1-2x a week, and only about a 1/2 cup cooked. I also soak it for 1-2 hours, even though the box says pre-rinsed. Have no problems with it.

I did have major problems with quinoa I bought from the bulk-bin, however (likely cc issues).

I have read that some people develop a problem with Quinoa, and considering it's a new food to me genetically (since none of my past relatives would have eaten it), I am keeping to small amounts occasionally.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mrs. Smith Explorer

I have recently figured out that too much of any food besides meat and veggies is not a good thing. It overloads our already damaged, sensitive systems! I have reacted to quinoa in the past and now I eat it maybe 1x a week and handle it fine. I recently experienced this over the holidays when I baked everything with honey, agave and maple syrup(all fructose). Healthy...right? NO NO NO!!! I once again over did it and payed for about a week! MODERATION is key. I agree with the post about water, too. The more I drink, the better my bowels move. I was thinking it was quinoa too a few months ago. I may have even asked the same question somewhere on here. Its not the food itself, just TOO much of it. Your fine just cut down! Take it from me!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      120,506
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    NanaA
    Newest Member
    NanaA
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.2k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Do you have online access to your celiac panel test results such that you could post them? tTG-IGG is kind of a secondary test. A weak positive in that one could indicate celiac disease but since it isn't as specific a marker as the tTG-IGA it is not real convincing. You could also have NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity) for which there is no test. Celiac disease must first be ruled out. It is 10x more common than celiac disease and shares many of the same symptoms. Some experts believe it can be a precursor to celiac disease. The antidote for both is the same: total avoidance of gluten.
    • powerofpositivethinking
      I haven't been on this forum for a long time, but it was absolutely wonderful during the diagnostic process!  My path for celiac disease diagnosis was the following: -Had normal IgA level, and my only serology positive test was the DGP IgG -Deficiencies in both Vitamins D and K that did not increase at first despite massive supplementation -Diagnosis of fat malabsorption both total and neutral -Diagnosis of severe exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) -Testing was completed to rule out causes of EPI, and the only one not ruled out was celiac. -Both traditional endoscopy and pill capsule endoscopy yielded negative results for biopsy confirmation, but my GI doctor said that both procedures simply could have missed the damaged spots. -EPI and fat malabsorption resolved after taking Creon for 6 months since my EPI was caused by celiac -23 and Me said I don't have either of the two prominent genes for celiac disease   Remember that you might not have 'textbook' symptoms, but you still may have celiac disease.   Also, I am SO incredibly grateful for this site for all the learning it has allowed me to do. I have a senior dog, and these last few weeks with her were very scary! After two hospital stays, she finally received an IBD diagnosis after having gastroenteritis and pancreatitis. I know that celiac disease is not IBD, however, through reading this site, I learned more about it. I was relieved when I found out she had IBD and not cancer this past Wednesday. I know IBD can be managed thanks to what I've learned here!  So celiac.com, not only did you help me, but you helped my pup too! Thank you ❤️  
    • SuzanneL
      It was tTG IGG that was flagged high. I'm not sure about the other stuff. I'm still eating my normal stuff. 
    • cristiana
      Thank you for your post, @Nedast, and welcome to the forum. It is interesting to read of your experiences. Although I've not had TMJ, from time to time I have had a bit of mild pain in my jaw, sharp stabbing pains and tingling in my face which appears to have been caused by issues with my trigeminal nerve.  I read that sometimes a damaged trigeminal nerve in coeliacs can heal after adopting a gluten free diet.  I try to keep out of cold winds or wear a scarf over my face when it is cold and windy, those conditions tend to be my 'trigger' but I do think that staying clear of gluten has helped.  Also, sleeping with a rolled up towel under my neck is a tip I picked up online, again, that seems to bring benefits. Thank you again for your input - living with this sort of pain can be very hard, so it is good to be able to share advice.
    • Julie Riordan
      I am going to France in two weeks and then to Portugal in May   Thanks for your reply 
×
×
  • Create New...