What Is The "real Deal" With Oats?

[frustratedneicey]

Hello everyone. I have a question about oats. When I was first dx with Celiac, my GI sent me to a dietician. The dietician told me that oats contain gluten, but only oats harvested in the U.S. What are your thoughts on this subject? Can they be safe? Is there a particular brand? And if not, can anyone suggest a good alternative hot cereal. With winter on its way, I am getting a hankering for some good, hot cereal for breakfast. I have tried Cream of Rice, but, I find it rather bland. I have tried to add some things to make it more exciting, but I miss my Quaker oatmeal packets.

Thanks! Denise

[KaitiUSA]

Oats are not safe in the US because they are contaminated with wheat. Quaker might as well = wheat.

A small portion of celiacs even react to the protein in even pure oats called avenin.

If you do try oats make sure they are pure. Pure= grown by themselves, transported by themselves, in a facility by themselves....no chance for contamination. Keep in mind that even some celiacs do get the intestine damage even from pure oats.

I personally stay away from them.

[RiceGuy]

I always liked the plain oats. Those flavored things didn't interest me. I like adding a bit of all-natural unsweetened apple sauce, or maybe a few raisins. Cinnamon is nice too. Mostly I like what margarine does for it though. Sometimes a pinch of salt too. I'm not into the sweet stuff, so I go very lightly on that.

Oats seem subject to more cross-contamination than other things like rice or corn. Apparently there are oats that have tested fairly gluten-free, but it also depends on your sensitivity. The level of gluten can also change as the machinery involved is cleaned and such. I haven't tried any oats yet, but I've been considering some organic ones. I just don't want to take any risks right now.

As for other cereals, there are a bunch. Here's some:

brown rice farina

millet grits

corn grits

quinoa flakes

amaranth

kasha (Roasted Buckwheat)

[princessfuzzball]

As for other cereals, there are a bunch. Here's some:

brown rice farina

millet grits

corn grits

quinoa flakes

amaranth

kasha (Roasted Buckwheat)

I have gotten sick from Quinoa... I always thought that it had gluten in it, maybe mine was just contaminated?

[Guest Viola]

I've contacted a company that guarentees their oats as free from contamination. They are going to send me a sample to see if I can tollerate them. Apparently most Celiacs can eat uncontaminated oats, but a few have a problem digesting them.

We will see what happens when they arrive

[nettiebeads]

I've contacted a company that guarentees their oats as free from contamination. They are going to send me a sample to see if I can tollerate them. Apparently most Celiacs can eat uncontaminated oats, but a few have a problem digesting them.

We will see what happens when they arrive

Oooh, let me know! I miss my oats terribly. So filling and satisfying. Quinoa is a fair substitute, but not the same.

I have gotten sick from Quinoa... I always thought that it had gluten in it, maybe mine was just contaminated?

I haven't had any problems with quinoa. Maybe yours was contaminated. And completely off of the subject, is that an african grey?

[Guest Viola]

Nettiebeads .. it's a Canadian company that I contacted, but I see you are in the US, so I'll try and find you the company that does the same in the US. I just emailed them and asked a few questions and they said they would send a sample. Hopefully you can do the same. I'll go look for the web site for you and post it.

[Guest Viola]

Here you go ... the US ones are from Wyoming.

www.glutenfreeoats.com

[Rusla]

Whoops,

Shirley,

Let me know how it goes with those oats. My favorite cereal was always rolled oats and there are killer cookies I make with them. So, I will be really interested in them and where they can be bought.

[Guest Viola]

Rusla, the uncontaminated oats in Canada come from somewhere in Quebec, so it will be awhile before I get them. I sure hope that I don't have a problem with them as it will be nice to add something new to my diet, and you're right, they are so great in baking. But years ago I used to love them for breakfast in the winter time. But I'll come back and post after they arrive and I've tried them

[Rusla]

If they don't cause a problem I would so order them. Like you that was my favorite winter cereal.

[darlindeb25]

I dont know that I trust oats, no matter where they came from. Maybe some dont react to oats, but then maybe they are still doing the same damage anyways. I dont react to barley, but it still is doing damage. I personally feel that some of us react to all glutens, not just the wheat, rye, barley and oats. I cant have soy or corn either. I also grew up with a father that worked in elevators. I dont know about other countries, but here in America, grains are put in the same bins when brought into the elevators and they arent cleaned out before hand--maybe sweap, but that hardly constitutes "clean". Deb

[Guest Viola]

Kaiti .. where did you get the fact that even "pure" oats could cause intestinal damage? I was told that they could mimic the symptoms in some people without actually causing "Celiac intestinal damage"