Who Uses Oats?

[catfish]

I know that many people avoid oats because they were long thought to be a source of irritation for Celiacs, and I have seen the research that indicates otherwise, and I also have heard that they may be contaminated at all stages. But what I want to know is how other Celiacs feel about them.

I'm also not sure why they would be more likely to be contaminated than, say, millet or buckwheat for instance. They seem like such a valuable food source that I have a hard time writing them off entirely without understanding why, or trying to find some uncontaminated sources or something.

[celiac3270]

Just scared...and cautious...so I'm not going to do any experimenting with them.......no oats for me!

[Guest ecko_gurl18]

I eat oats but in moderation. I've been celiac for 17 years and my doctor told me that oats won't hurt me as long as i eat them only twice a week. I was nervous at first, but really, the only oats i eat are in this health food bar. andi can only eat one a day, two per week. Oats are nothing to be afraid of, u just have to discuss with you doctor before you eat them.

[angel-jd1]

I tried oats a couple of months after being diagnosed. I got a rumbley tummy and felt cruddy (this was with McCaan's oats). I avoid them.

-Jessica

[dkmb]

No, the contamination issue is a biggie. Things I have read include being grown in rotation with wheat in the same fields, trucked in the same containers, processed on the same machines. There are enough alternatives out there so that not consuming oats isn't an overwhelming problem.

DK

[plantime]

Hmm. So far, I am the only one that uses oats. I use Quaker brand with no problems. I am glad oats are not an issue for me, since I already can't have so much other stuff!

[Boojca]

A woman in my local support group has used Quaker Oats as well. She says she's super sensitive, and has so far had no reactions. She bought those test strips to try on the oats, and she said they seemed to work. Of course, they indicated no trace of Gluten and she hadn't been sick. So, could be a coincidence or could be the strip worked, who knows.

[Guest gillian502]

I just met with Dr. Alessio Fasano, a celiac disease specialist, at the U. of MD. Center for Celiac Research, and his expert dietician said oats are not safe at this point in time due to the extremely high risk that they are cross-contaminated. Having no noticable symptoms after using oats or any food doesn't mean they are not doing harm, it may take months for intestines to get damaged enough to show symptoms. But...to each his own!