Jump to content

  • 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:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Is Fresh Fruit Ok?

jen3175

Recommended Posts

jen3175 Rookie
jen3175
Posted

Is it ok to eat fresh or canned fruit as soon as you start the diet? My digestive system has been basically shut down for the better part of 10 months. I've been gluten-free for almost 3 weeks or tried to be. In the past week, I've tried some raisins, strawberries, dried apricots and grapes. Then after 2 days of that I've been sick for 5 days and today finally ate a waffle. I don't know where I got glutened! There was no HFC, wheat or other preservative. I know that I tried other prepared sauces and some herby crackers which I'm sure didn't help. Also, is all feta cheese gluten-free or does it specifically say "goat cheese" on the label? I just realized too that "rice dream" isn't gluten-free! Now, I'm going thru my lotions, makeup and such. I got this really good mango and sugar scrub as a gift and having been using it for about a month. Checked the ingredients, first one is wheat milk! This is gonna be alot work. I don't care as long as I can feel alive again. ANY info or advice would be really appreciated! :D

Thanks,

Jenny

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Guest schmenge
Guest schmenge
Posted

Hi Jenny- Food kind of falls into three groups:

  1. Food you KNOW does not have gluten
  2. Food you know DOES have gluten
  3. Food for which you are not sure

I guess you could also argue that you could have option one with cross contamination as well. Any way, cross contamination aside you only eat out of group one. Fresh fruit and veggies are all naturally gluten-free, so as long as they don't get somehow contaminated you are safe with those. Canned may be a different story. There are lists on this site that you should print out. They show "hidden" gluten ingredients (i.e. malt) and those which doe not have gluten(i.e. maltodextrin). You gotta be diligent, but you can figure this out.

gf4life Enthusiast
gf4life
Posted

I've been glutened by contaminated fresh fruit twice. Once was strawberries and once was grapes.

With the strawberries it ended up that the tops were sliced off on a wooden cutting board on which sandwiches had been cut earlier and then merely wiped clean with a cloth. Not only did this gluten us, but it also was a little disgusting to think that they didn't wash the cutting board between uses, especially when you are talking about meats and cheeses that should be refridgerated and fresh fruit!

The other time was grapes. They were fresh picked from a farm and washed thoroughly, so I figured they were good (and they were really tasty!) But this was the only thing I can figure why we got sick from them...they were the only gluten free item at a meeting we were at and everyone else was eating cookies, donuts, etc. and then dipping their fingers into the bowl of grapes and grabbing some. So I figure the crumbs of gluten were scattered onto the grapes and that was enough. I had never thought about it before and we were very new to the diet. So now I hesitate to eat from a buffet fruit bowl unless there is a serving spoon or I am getting to it first! Of course I have already put in a request to the farm owner for some grapes as soon as they are ready for harvest. :D It pays to have good friends!

Other than that, it can be hard to digest a lot of fresh fruits and many other foods when you are in the first stages of healing. If you continue to have problems and are sure you are not getting gluten from hidden sources, then you might want to check into either eliminating the fruits temporarily and see if it makes a difference or get your self some digestive enzymes to help them digest.

Ursa Major Collaborator
Ursa Major
Posted
Is it ok to eat fresh or canned fruit as soon as you start the diet? My digestive system has been basically shut down for the better part of 10 months. I've been gluten-free for almost 3 weeks or tried to be. In the past week, I've tried some raisins, strawberries, dried apricots and grapes. Then after 2 days of that I've been sick for 5 days and today finally ate a waffle. I don't know where I got glutened! There was no HFC, wheat or other preservative. I know that I tried other prepared sauces and some herby crackers which I'm sure didn't help. Also, is all feta cheese gluten-free or does it specifically say "goat cheese" on the label? I just realized too that "rice dream" isn't gluten-free! Now, I'm going thru my lotions, makeup and such. I got this really good mango and sugar scrub as a gift and having been using it for about a month. Checked the ingredients, first one is wheat milk! This is gonna be alot work. I don't care as long as I can feel alive again. ANY info or advice would be really appreciated! :D

Thanks,

Jenny

Jen, many people with celiac disease find that when they start out with the gluten free diet, especially the people who have been very sick, can't tolerate anything raw for a while, that includes fruits and veggies. I could only eat well cooked fruits and vegetables for over a month, some of them about three months. I am just starting (after seven months on the diet) to truly be able to digest all raw foods again.

So, you may still get what you think is glutened, when in reality maybe your digestive system needs to heal a lot before being able to digest anything raw. Canned fruit is usually fine, or you can steam it yourself. Cook your vegetables well. People always say that they should still be sort of crunchy to be healthy, but in your case, that might be far from the truth. If you can't digest it, it won't do you any good.

Also, try to stick at the beginning to foods naturally gluten free, and fairly low in fiber. I found fiber would make me worse for the first while.

Also, you may be intolerant to dairy as well, most people with celiac disease are at least at first. The small intestine produces an enzyme called 'lactase' when it it healthy, which is essential to the digestion of dairy. If your intestine is damaged it can't produce lactase. It is possible you can tolerate milk again after a year, as some of us can. But for now, your best bet is to eliminate all dairy.

You will also need a new toaster, as you can't get a toaster cleaned out properly to be safe. The same goes for strainers, wooden cutting boards and wooden spoons, can openers and scratched non-stick pots and pans.

lorka150 Collaborator
lorka150
Posted

I have a lot of problems with many fruit, but during the whole ordeal, never with citrus. Perhaps I was getting contaminated, and because citrus need to be peeled, it's always been fine. Oranges, pink grapefruits, dragon citrus, and tangerines. :)

jen3175 Rookie
jen3175
Posted
  • Author

Thanks to everyone for the info- This message board has been such a godsend. I cut out dairy and soy when I found out and started gluten-free. Can you become allergic to "nightshades" due to celiac disease? I seem to have new questions everyday....

Thanks again for all of ya'lls help,

:D Jenny

Ursa Major Collaborator
Ursa Major
Posted
Thanks to everyone for the info- This message board has been such a godsend. I cut out dairy and soy when I found out and started gluten-free. Can you become allergic to "nightshades" due to celiac disease? I seem to have new questions everyday....

Thanks again for all of ya'lls help,

:D Jenny

Well, that's a hard question. Does celiac disease have anything to do with a nightshade intolerance? I don't know. What I do know is, that I am intolerant to nightshades, and so are two of my grandchildren. I don't think they have celiac disease, even though it might be too early to tell (they're three, and strangely, even though they are twins, they're a boy and a girl, and yet they're both intolerant to nightshades).

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
Thanks to everyone for the info- This message board has been such a godsend. I cut out dairy and soy when I found out and started gluten-free. Can you become allergic to "nightshades" due to celiac disease? I seem to have new questions everyday....

Thanks again for all of ya'lls help,

:D Jenny

ask any and all questions you need to, nothing is off limits. I don't think celiac causes nightshade intolerance but I know I also have a problem with them. I've been able to see a definate link between my joint pain and the nightshade family. Potatoes were a daily staple for us even before celiac was found and my allergist had said that we can develop sensitivities at any time. He thought I should make sure I don't eat something every day. I am not sure but I think the damage to the intestines from the celiac does make us more sensitive.

evie Rookie
evie
Posted
ask any and all questions you need to, nothing is off limits. I don't think celiac causes nightshade intolerance but I know I also have a problem with them. I've been able to see a definate link between my joint pain and the nightshade family. Potatoes were a daily staple for us even before celiac was found and my allergist had said that we can develop sensitivities at any time. He thought I should make sure I don't eat something every day. I am not sure but I think the damage to the intestines from the celiac does make us more sensitive.
evie Rookie
evie
Posted

:rolleyes: Yes, in my case potatoes became a problem food soon after I found i had a celiac problem.

not something i was pleased about of course but just one of those things!! It may be caused by the ability of

of tiny bits of food to go thru the intestines into the blood and cuse food sensitivities. i wish you lots o' luck

the celiac problem. it is so good to be able to gain info from the many postings here on the board.

Hang in there :) evie

Archived

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

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,548
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Lunaluv
    Newest Member
    Lunaluv
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Taken Seriously

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      Looking for a gluten-free roomie in Denver CO

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Allergy medication: cetirizine by the HealthA2Z is it gluten free?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      Protein or fat?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      Diagnosed celiac for 1-2 months ago and everything makes me bloated.

      By Beverage · Posted

      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.