Cocoa ?

[georgie]

Would a sprinkle of cocoa on my coffee have Glutened me ? I can't think of anything else that could have done it. I feel really sick and have had cramping and D for 2 days.

[larry mac]

Would a sprinkle of cocoa on my coffee have Glutened me?....

g,

I haven't heard about cocoa containing gluten. Was it just regular cocoa powder or some kind of cocoa mix, like hot chocolate or something.

Also, I'm fairly new (7 weeks), and was curious about that "challenge diet". Is that something a gastroenterologist gives you? And if you fail it he diagnoses you with celiac despite a negative blood test and no biopsy? Just wondering. Oh sorry, it says gluten intolerant. That's a different thing I guess. Does that mean you can eat gluten if you want to sometimes?

best regards, lm

[Ursa Major]

Georgie, cocoa is usually gluten-free, but as Larry mentioned, hot chocolate mix may not be.

Larry, some celiac specialists are doubting that there is a difference in celiac disease and gluten intolerance, and want the distinction removed. Celiac disease (destroyed villi) is just one possible form of gluten intolerance, there are many other ways it can manifest. Such as DH, or mental illness for instance.

And no, if you're gluten intolerant as opposed to being officially diagnosed with celiac disease, you're still not allowed to eat any gluten at all. Because it makes you just as sick, even though it may not destroy your villi (it may just destroy your brain, or wreak havoc with your neural pathways, making you unable to walk or use your hands, for instance).

[georgie]

I asked my Dr what was the difference between GI and Celiac and she held her hand up and indicated a gap of 1mm! I think I have Celiac but as a Gastro hasn't dx me - I can't officially be called that ! Not here anyway. Our state has a Society you can join but you need a letter from a Gastro Dr before you can. They do not recognise the Gluten Challenge Diet. And I am NOT going back to Gluten just for a colonoscopy and Gastro Dr dx.

I have had a skin rash too - that resembled mild DH, and which disappeared after going gluten-free and which gets itchy when I am Glutened.

I have so much pain at the moment and can only think that the cocoa was a drinking choc blend. It was sweet - now I think of it. Ouch - won't do that again!

[Saz]

Where abouts did you get the coffee? Mcdonalds capuinchino have gluten in the chocolate powder, I'm not sure about the Mccafe one but would asume it is the same. Also the powder that Gloria Jeans use on their capuinchino has gluten in it, but you can ask for it without.

Feel better soon.

[JayT]

I think just plain cocoa does not contain any gluten. I must agree with the above comments that if it was a mixture of a chocolate powder with various ingredients then your illness may be a result of it.

[georgie]

Where abouts did you get the coffee?

It was a trendy cafe. I asked if their risotto was gluten-free and they told me rice had Gluten so I don't have much confidence now in the coffee ! I had my risotto at a proper Italian restuarant just down the road, and ALL their risottos are made fresh and are gluten-free. tip - eat Italian. You are not made to feel a nuisance. The waitress at the door knew all the risottos were gluten-free. And it was the same price as that cafe that didn't know rice was gluten-free!

[larry mac]

.....I had my risotto at a proper Italian restuarant just down the road, and ALL their risottos are made fresh and are gluten-free. tip - eat Italian.... The waitress at the door knew all the risottos were gluten-free....

g,

I've heard of risotto before but honestly didn't know what it was. I vaguely thought it was couscous (another dish I've never had) or something like that. We don't go out to eat much, even less now. I always got lasagna or chicken florentine.

I'll definately have to try that risotto, it sounds good.

best regards, lm

[georgie]

I love risottos as my throat is still constricted by my enlarged Thyroid. Hubbie does them. He uses his own chicken stock, and you simmer the rice in that slowly and keep adding more until its right - so you need to stand over it abit and keep stirring and adding stock.Then you just add meat , veges as you like. I had a lovely roasted pumpkin , green peas , spinach, onion and parmasan cheese one the other day. recipezaar has good authentic recipes. As Celiac is so well recognised in Italy - if you are looking for a place to eat anytime - head to an authentic Italian Ristorante!

[flowergirl]

Hi georgie, I'm sorry to hear to are feeling bad. I get glutened by any chocolate but two days ago I visited the Gluten free shop in Ormond that you suggested on the Aussie/NZ thread. I had two rows of a dark chocolate with chili they sell (threw wrapper away sadly ) and had no symptoms. It is the first time I've had chocolate in months and I'm quite glad there is at least something I can have. My diet is already very restrictive as it is.

[georgie]

Thats great news. Was it nice with the chilli ? I do mail orders with that shop. They have drinking chocolate powder so may carry my own to cafes in the future I am about to go dairy free for a trial and am dreading it - so glad that you thought the choc was OK ( as I see you are dairy free too)

[flowergirl]

Yes, I can't tolerate dairy at the moment but I'm planning on re-introducing it when I feel my gut has healed. Therefore I avoid milk chocolate and eat dark chocolate instead. I have a feeling that it is the soy (from the lechithin) in the dairy-free chocolates that I've been trying in the past that makes me sick. The chili chocolate has very basic ingredients like cocoa mass, cocoa butter, lechithin (from sunflower) and cane suger (if I remember correctly). It is devine though I only take 4 blocks a day.

Best wishes with going dairy free. I hope it makes a world of difference in your health.

Flowergirl

[georgie]

Thanks ! 2 days now and I start DF. I just have realised that means black coffee Is it common to have healing and go back to dairy?

[jnclelland]

Thanks ! 2 days now and I start DF. I just have realised that means black coffee Is it common to have healing and go back to dairy?

Giving up half and half in my coffee was the hardest thing about going dairy-free to me! I can't stand black coffee, but I've found some decent substitutes. If you can tolerate soy, Silk makes a soy-based creamer that is quite good. Unfortunately for me, not long after discovering it, I realized I had a problem with soy too. So now I make my own lattes with hazelnut milk, and they're yummy! I asked for a cappucino machine for Christmas so I could make my own at home (and hazelnut milk foams up quite nicely!), but when I'm at work I just go buy an espresso at the coffee shop across the way, microwave some hazlenut milk, and mix it all up. Kind of a pain, but better than going without my coffee!

Jeanne

[Felidae]

Thanks ! 2 days now and I start DF. I just have realised that means black coffee Is it common to have healing and go back to dairy?

After one year of being gluten free I could have dairy again. So, there may be hope for you too.