Oats: Who Eats Them?

[Ksmith]

Okay,

There is seemingly some controversy over oats and whether they are gluten-free. I'd like to know where you guys stand.

[wolfie]

I don't eat them, but then again, I never really ate them before I went gluten-free either unless they were in a cookie!

[teankerbell]

Until there is a definitive answer on Oats, I am staying away.

[key]

I have tried McCann's and have a reaction. It isn't AS severe as when I am gluttened, but they definitely DO NOT agree with me and it is SO sad. My legs and joints ached while I tried reintroducing them. I was exhausted. Plus nauseated at some point everyday and loose stools. My son also with celiac reacts, but not as severely as when it is gluten from something else. It is strange. I don't know if it is just a bit different or if there is a small amount of gluten in them still from contamination. Being vegetarian, I would love to eat them, but I can't tolerate them.

Monica

[Rachel--24]

I ate McCanns and reacted with immediate "D". Diarreah is rare for me so I thought it was just a fluke. I ate the oats again and got more of a glutened type reaction. They were REALLY good and I miss oats but I wont be trying them again.

[VydorScope]

I cant asnwer the question, becuase the right answer is not listed:

"If I could find UNCONTIMATED oats I would try them."

The primary problem with Oats is they are covered in gluten from wheat.

[plantime]

I eat McCann's, and >only< McCann's oatmeal with no problems.

[Ashley]

'Sides from oats in oatmeal cookies, I never really liked oats before having Celiac, so, nope.

[chrissy]

i am going to get some of theose oats from (wisconsin?) that are grown by the people with the celiac son and are supposed to be gluten free. our ped gi said if the oats say gluten free on them, then they are ok. the ones i am looking into show a copy of their gluten testing. one of my girls starts to itch with gluten (i know now it cause she cheated the other day)

dessa, aren't you pretty sensitive? if you are eating mcanns and are not reacting----that gives me some hope!

christine

[VydorScope]

i am going to get some of theose oats from (wisconsin?) that are grown by the people with the celiac son and are supposed to be gluten free. our ped gi said if the oats say gluten free on them, then they are ok. the ones i am looking into show a copy of their gluten testing. one of my girls starts to itch with gluten (i know now it cause she cheated the other day)

dessa, aren't you pretty sensitive? if you are eating mcanns and are not reacting----that gives me some hope!

christine

Can you give any more info one these wisconsin oats? Like a web site maybe?

[Mango04]

glutenfreeoats.com

I ate a muffin made with oat flour. It made me feel like I had a rock in my stomach for the rest of the day. It wasn't like I was actually sick or in pain - it was just a very bizzare feeling.

[jaten]

No, my GI said No Oats when he finished testing and diagnosed me in Dec. He said, "Some will tell you they're ok, and they might be, but I'm telling you, no oats for you. You can't risk it."

Nuff said for me.

[CMCM]

Oat is a grain, and it does have its own unique protein. Therefore, like wheat/oats/barley, there is the possibility that a person who reacts to the wheat gluten protein could also react to the protein in oats. This is separate from the possibility of cross-contamination. Like with so many other things to do with celiac disease, this is yet another thing they haven't figured out. Lots of disagreement on it, too, among the doctors.

[VydorScope]

The facts as I know them...

Oats naturally do NOT contain gluten. How ever the protein that IS in oats is very clsoely realted to gluten and SOME celiacs will have a gluten like reaction to them.

The other problem is PURE oats are extremly hard to find at this time, and ALL celiacs will react to oats that are contimated with gluten, cause well thats what celiac is!

I personaly would be willing to try them IF I could find a pure source, but I would NOT give them to my son. When he is old enough to make taht call for himself, he can.

[jerseyangel]

The facts as I know them...

Oats naturally do NOT contain gluten. How ever the protein that IS in oats is very clsoely realted to gluten and SOME celiacs will have a gluten like reaction to them.

The other problem is PURE oats are extremly hard to find at this time, and ALL celiacs will react to oats that are contimated with gluten, cause well thats what celiac is!

This is what I understand, also. I would not try them, however, because I used to get mild D from eating oatmeal and would only eat it if I knew I didn't have to to out that day. I would not take the chance on them now.

[cgilsing]

I'm not sure what to think about oats. I don't currently eat them, but I have never had an obvious reaction from eating them before. I have decided that after I have the baby I'm going to try them (a little at a time) and see what happens. I know that cross-contamination is a big issue, but I'll try the Wisconsin oats. If it turns out that they don't bother me, it would really open up a lot of new options for me.

[Guest Robbin]

Oats were the original tip-off for me. I love them, but even the McCanns leave me sick with D. It's kinda strange, but oats and barley caused the severe reactions that really got me thinking about celiac. It wasn't until I cut out wheat and then tried it again that I noticed just how bad it was. I think it was because wheat was just so prevalent in my diet. I am interested in learning more about this Wisconsin oat farm, but I thought that oats were contaminated genetically as well, not just in processing (?) Or, maybe I am just asking a really strange question?

[plantime]

dessa, aren't you pretty sensitive? if you are eating mcanns and are not reacting----that gives me some hope!

christine

Yes, Christine, I am quite sensitive. Within minutes of getting glutened, my sinuses swell, in 20 minutes I am almost doubled over with pain. The protein in oats is very similar to the one in wheat, so some people do react to oats. It is something that you have to try for yourself. If it scares you, or you are just not comfprtable with trying it, then don't. There is no need to torture yourself over it!

Vincent, I agree with you saying that you might try them yourself, but wait until your son is old enough to make the choice for himself. I see a great measure of parental responsibility there!

[jenvan]

I second what Vincent said--NO oats b/c uncontaminated is near impossible to find at this point and there is no testing to know if you are one of those celiacs who reacts to them, gluten-free or not. IMO, more research needs to be done on oats before I would eat them or recommend them to anyone.