A Little Gluten = A Little Trouble?

[linz7997]

Ok...I wasnt really sure where to post this question:

So not that i want to eat ANY gluten but my question is this, will I get the same horrible reaction whether I eat a huge plate of pasta vs. eating a chicken breast that was cooked after something w/ gluten??? ya know what I mean??? does a little gluten still equal a big reaction??

[swittenauer]

I was kind of wondering the same thing. My husband has been glutened before from cross contamination & had a bad reaction but this time he ate 3 slices of bacon that was loaded with gluten & has had the worst reaction ever.

[eKatherine]

Ok...I wasnt really sure where to post this question:

So not that i want to eat ANY gluten but my question is this, will I get the same horrible reaction whether I eat a huge plate of pasta vs. eating a chicken breast that was cooked after something w/ gluten??? ya know what I mean??? does a little gluten still equal a big reaction??

Well does it for you? You can answer your own question better than we can, though you know that it's very bad for you in the long run.

Both those things are easily prepared gluten-free.

[swittenauer]

I don't think he meant he was going to do it if he only got a little reaction because I have been curious of the same thing if the more gluten you eat the worse the reaction.

[linz7997]

Well does it for you? You can answer your own question better than we can, though you know that it's very bad for you in the long run.

Both those things are easily prepared gluten-free.

I know...i was just wondering because I also just have a nervous stomach to begin w/...so sometimes I cant tell if I have been glutened or its just stress because I am trying to be tedious about what I eat and i can tell what the problem is if i eat a lot of something and then find out later that it was not gluten free. i dont think i am asking/coming off the way i am wanting too.

[swittenauer]

I completely understand what you are saying. Hopefully, someone will have some insight.

[Nancym]

Gluten causes you to produce antibodies to gluten which stick around in your system (intestines) at detectable levels for 2 years after going gluten free. Dr. Fine discussed this during his lecture. There's a lot of research going on about gluten and intestinal permeability (gluten causes the tight junctures to open in the intestines letting stuff in/out that shouldn't be). There's all kinds of things happening at the cellular level that isn't necessarily reflected in how you feel from moment to moment but they do have an effect down the road on your health. He also had follow up info about antibody levels in a lovely chart from people who were strict about gluten exposure versus people who weren't so strict. And it showed exactly what you'd expect, higher antibody levels in the not-strict.

Oops, reread the original posting.

I don't know the answer. I would suspect you'll produce more antibodies the more gliadin that comes down the chute, so you'd have a bigger response. From my days when I was eating tons of gluten in the form of low-carb wheat products, that was when my IBS got much more severe. My guess is yes, how crappy you feel is related to how much you get.

[linz7997]

well my first big weekend of gluten-free we went camping so instead of drinking my typical bud light, i thought I would try out wine coolers. and I bought some gluten free oreo type cookies that we munched on in the boat. the next day I was miserable, I cant remember a time I felt so bad, and couldnt for the life of me figure out what the heck I ate....MALTED BEVERAGE on the wine coolers plain as day and WHEAT FREE not gluten free plain as day on the cookies....sheesh...i WONT be making that mistake again!!!!

[schuyler]

For me, the more gluten= a bigger reaction.

[Jestgar]

Me too. Ranges from a mild headache to my eyes trying to escape through the front of my head. Totally depends on the amount of gluten.

[aprilh]

I think it varies between people. I have gotten to where if I am not sure of a food, I can just eat slowly and I will feel the reaction come on. Therefore, I stop eating immediately, where as if I had downed a whole plate - I would really feel bad. All that gluten has to work its way through your system so the more you eat the more has to work its way out. Though some are very, very sensitive and a little could do a lot of damage.

[lorka150]

i get the same reaction no matter what, but i've never had a 'lot' of gluten because i get brain-fog immediately, and stop eating whatever i'm eating. but my symptoms vary, just not hugely.

[evie]

i get the same reaction no matter what, but i've never had a 'lot' of gluten because i get brain-fog immediately, and stop eating whatever i'm eating. but my symptoms vary, just not hugely.

I also think it makes a difference in where you are in your healing jouney. Such as how long since you went gluten free, I believe as you start to heal you can have even worse reactions to a bothersome food. Anyway seems to work that way with me. evie PS.. Have always been a slow reactor to foods or any kind of allergen so have no warning while eating.