Do You Think That All Gluten Is Created Equal?

[frenchiemama]

I was just thinking about this the other night. I know that wheat is the gluten source that we have to be the most watchful for, but are any of the other glutens more or less harmful than wheat? I ask because I was thinking about gardettos, and how I used to have the WORST gas (I could chase myself out of a room ) and stomach upset after eating them (or other chex mix type snacks) and I think it was because of the rye chips. In fact, I would usually pick out the rye chips and leave most of the other stuff. Aside from that, I never ate rye. I never ate rye bread or anything else that I could think of. Do you think that maybe there is a difference in how the gluten from different grains effects us?

(This is really neither here nor there, it's just something I was musing on.)

[Mongoose]

I was just thinking about this the other night. I know that wheat is the gluten source that we have to be the most watchful for, but are any of the other glutens more or less harmful than wheat? I ask because I was thinking about gardettos, and how I used to have the WORST gas (I could chase myself out of a room ) and stomach upset after eating them (or other chex mix type snacks) and I think it was because of the rye chips. In fact, I would usually pick out the rye chips and leave most of the other stuff. Aside from that, I never ate rye. I never ate rye bread or anything else that I could think of. Do you think that maybe there is a difference in how the gluten from different grains effects us?

(This is really neither here nor there, it's just something I was musing on.)

Ya know, it always seemed to me like there was indeed a difference. Now now too long ago in another part of the internet, a more scientifically educated person noted something about the particular chain of events set off in the body by gluten, for instance, the peptide formed from gluten is presented by the Celiac genes that we have to a T-cell, and the T-cell activates the immune system to fight against the gluten intruder. So it's our body's reaction that gets us, and it would seem like that would be the same each time. However -- I do feel like I get different reactions from time to time and I don't know why. It always seemed like soy sauce would send me to the bathroom quicker than anything else. Interestingly, my companion also gets different reactions, but we haven't talked about it enough to try to determine if we get a different reaction at the same time as the other person.

I know there are something like 27 different proteins in the gluten/gliadan complex, so maybe depending on the particular mix in the particular variety of wheat or rye or whatever that we get glutened by actually causes a different reaction in the body. Or possibly other foods that we eat prior to or subsequent to being glutened mediate the reaction. For instance, I read on a multiple sclerosis web site that the flavenoids in purple grapes and blueberries will strengthen the blood-brain barrier and help to prevent damage. Once when I found out shortly after the fact that I'd been glutened I tried drinking as much purple grape juice as I could stand and ate a bunch of frozen blueberries. Indeed, it changed my reaction. The rash that I get left almost as soon as it came, but the depression/rage came on quicker, lasted longer and was worse. I think if one gets the flavenoids in the body before hand it helps cut down on the reaction.

[frenchiemama]

Once when I found out shortly after the fact that I'd been glutened I tried drinking as much purple grape juice as I could stand and ate a bunch of frozen blueberries. Indeed, it changed my reaction. The rash that I get left almost as soon as it came, but the depression/rage came on quicker, lasted longer and was worse. I think if one gets the flavenoids in the body before hand it helps cut down on the reaction.

That is very interesting.

[cgilsing]

That is really interesting. I'm tempted to try that out next time I know I'm in trouble....although it scares me that the depression was worse in your case. I think I would rather endure the rash (although I only get a mild rash anyway) I have always thought that barley and rye had a stronger affect on me than wheat......I realized that I couldn't tolerate beer long before I knew anything about celiac disease. There was a very obvious connection.

[Mongoose]

That is very interesting.

Here are a couple of references:

Open Original Shared Link (search for "grape" as the material is about half-way down the page).

Open Original Shared Link

Before going gluten-free I had problems so bad I thought I had MS. I hurt so much I had fibromyalgia. Being gluten-free is just so awesome!