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

Problem With Coconut?

~alex~

By ~alex~
in Food Intolerance & Leaky Gut

Recommended Posts

~alex~ Explorer
~alex~
Posted

I have been keeping a food diary to try and figure out why my stomach is still upset more frequently than I'd like despite being gluten free. I

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Kaycee Collaborator
Kaycee
Posted

I am worried that I may not have the right culprit because I

Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted

Alex,

I can't comment on the Coconut, but perhaps the salad and vegtables were just too much. Salads are hard for me to digest sometimes.

Hope you find your answer. You have come a great way. Keep up the good work.

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

Hi Alex :)

A couple of things--it's not unusual for us to find we are intolerant to other foods once we go gluten-free. Possible reasons are a leaky gut, or that the intolerance was there all along, but taking the biggest offender (gluten) away causes it to "suddenly" become a problem. Some of these intolerances may be temporary--like lactose. Once the villi heal, many are able to consume it again with no problems.

My personal opinion, and from some experience--when you determine that you are intolerant to a particular food, stay away from it completely for at leat 6 months--then if you want, try some again. It's just one of the many things that are different for each of us ;)

I happen to be intolerant to coconut. It didn't become apparant until I'd been gluten-free for several months. With coconut, I get cramping, stomach pain, and nausea. I find it's pretty easy to stay away from--but something to watch out for are water filters. Lots of them use charcoal made with coconut hulls. I found this out the hard way!

Good for you keeping a food diary! :D It helps out so much in the beginning with all this.

~alex~ Explorer
~alex~
Posted
  • Author

Thank you so much for the responses. I will definitely be staying away from all things coconut. I'm not too upset about parting with coconut but it is a little disheartening to add something else to the list -- a list I'm hoping doesn't get to long. I'm almost afraid to continue with the food diary for fear of finding out there are more things that bother me. I'm having a hard time telling lately because I feel nauseated and yucky from a new medication. I'm hoping once that settles down I'll be able to tell more definitively when I'm having symptoms from something I'm eating.

Patti, thank you so much for informing me about the filtered water. I never, ever would have figured that out. I guess I should never take anything for granted, even things that seem inherently innocuous. Do you know if this is just for water you filter yourself at home or do bottled water companies use this kind of filter?

Thank you

  • 1 year later...
GFmonkeii Newbie
GFmonkeii
Posted

This is something I have been sort of observing on myself as well.... there are various "coconut" gluten-free cookies that I buy in Australia and they recently stopped agreeing with me. I recall drinking and eating a "young coconut" would also cause some of the common symptoms, although that was before going gluten-free. I don't seem to have a problem with coconut milk though which I stir into all the yummy gluten-free curries that I make. Maybe it's something in coconuts that gets removed in the process of making a coconut milk? I wish I understood the whole processing of foods a bit better.

Cathy I am like you hoping I don't end up with a list miles long of intolerances. I have been gluten-free for 10 months now and in the porcess had a passing lactose intolerance but that seems to be fine now. I was eating everything for 30 years before being diagnosed with celiac disease... it is driving my husband crazy when I complain of this and then that. Adopting to gluten-free lifestyle was hard enough...

Have you got any more news since posting on this subject last year?

ShayFL Enthusiast
ShayFL
Posted

I can eat coconut: shredded, milk, fresh, cream. No problems whatsoever.

BUT I have tried "coconut flour" 3 times and every time I have the most horrible pain in my tummy that I have to lay in the fetal position for about an hour or so before it passes.

I wonder why? Do they grind the hard outer part of the nut with the meats to make the flour? The flour isnt white, so I suspect this may be so.

That outer shell doesnt agree with me.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Rachel--24 Collaborator
Rachel--24
Posted

Alot of coconut products are preserved with sulfites....even if not clearly labeled. Its not uncommon to be sensitive to sulfites.

If you have the same reactions to fresh coconut (right out of the shell) then its not a sulfite issue. If you tolerate the fresh stuff.....then sulfites are a possibility.

ShayFL Enthusiast
ShayFL
Posted

I never buy anything with sulfites....cuz they can trigger migraines. Even tho I do not have any evidence they triggered mine (they went away gluten-free), always seemed a good idea to avoid them.

They must put them in the flour or it is some of that outer shell that tears me up.

Rachel--24 Collaborator
Rachel--24
Posted
I never buy anything with sulfites....cuz they can trigger migraines. Even tho I do not have any evidence they triggered mine (they went away gluten-free), always seemed a good idea to avoid them.

They must put them in the flour or it is some of that outer shell that tears me up.

They do use sulfites in some flours...as a "whitening" agent....also most starches contain sulfites (corn starch, potato starch, etc.).

They dont have to be listed as an ingredient on the product....but can be found in many different ingredients. Corn syrup, lemon juice, white grape juice, etc). Its my understanding that most processed foods contain sulfites. People who are sensitive have different tolerance levels.

Also, some foods contain natural sulfites....like grapes (wine)....and most wines have also been preserved with sulfites as well.

I get alot of symptoms from sulfites so I do my best to avoid them.

GFmonkeii Newbie
GFmonkeii
Posted

Rachel you could be onto something there with the sulphites because sometimes when I drink wine I get mouth ulcers which could be a prove of intolerance I guess. :huh:

I also read that coconut is used as a laxative in many Asian countries and maybe some of us are too sensitive and react. :P

Thanks for your posts ShayFL too, I am going to be more observant about coconut flour vs. sulphites. The cookies I am referring to say "coconut", not c. flour though. :rolleyes: the packet says that the product may contain suplhites.

Rachel--24 Collaborator
Rachel--24
Posted
Rachel you could be onto something there with the sulphites because sometimes when I drink wine I get mouth ulcers which could be a prove of intolerance I guess. :huh:

I have gotten mouth blisters from foods containing sulfites. I would say that the mouth ulcers you get from wine are caused by some type of sensitivity....sulfites would be a strong possibity.

Unless a product specifically states that the coconut is not preserved with sulfites...I just assume that it is. Unless its coming right out of the shell I think that most coconut is preserved with sulfites.

I've seen one brand of coconut that is organic and unsulfured.

mftnchn Explorer
mftnchn
Posted

I have trouble with coconut but haven't experimented enough to know which forms. For sure, canned coconut milk is an issue.

ive Rookie
ive
Posted
I've seen one brand of coconut that is organic and unsulfured.

I think "Let's Do Organic" Coconut doesn't have any sulfites in it: Open Original Shared Link

Ken70 Apprentice
Ken70
Posted

keep in mind coconut is a major anti-fungal agent. could be a herxing type reaction possibly.

ShayFL Enthusiast
ShayFL
Posted

Not for me. I am familiar with "Herx". It is ONLY the flour and a horrible pain in my stomach that lasts about an hour or so and then it goes away. Horrible pain. Like I cannot digest it kinda pain.

No problems with coconut milk, shredded coconut, macaroons and the oil. I eat those all of the time.

It is just the flour for me.

Rachel--24 Collaborator
Rachel--24
Posted

Same here...my reactions to coconut had nothing to do with its antifungal properties.

  • 6 months later...
Samir Newbie
Samir
Posted
I have been keeping a food diary to try and figure out why my stomach is still upset more frequently than I'd like despite being gluten free. I
  • 3 months later...
darlindeb25 Collaborator
darlindeb25
Posted

Just did some researching on coconut intolerance...thank you for this thread.

Lately found out coconut milk give me upset stomach in particular when I Go to bed ( tossing and rolling all night ) but to a lesser reaction than gluten and dairy products

I started sleeping through the night when I gave up dairy. That lasted 14 days, then the problem started again. I guess the honeymoon is over with coconut. I was hoping it would be the answer, yet my tummy hasn't felt good for well over a week now. I tried blaming it on cashews, but haven't had them for well over 1 week, before that I tried blaming it on raisins, but haven't had them either. The coconut milk is the only constant in my life that has been new.

So, coffee without milk, I can do it if I have to, or just give up coffee. :(

  • 4 months later...
Nadia2009 Enthusiast
Nadia2009
Posted
Just did some researching on coconut intolerance...thank you for this thread.

I started sleeping through the night when I gave up dairy. That lasted 14 days, then the problem started again. I guess the honeymoon is over with coconut. I was hoping it would be the answer, yet my tummy hasn't felt good for well over a week now. I tried blaming it on cashews, but haven't had them for well over 1 week, before that I tried blaming it on raisins, but haven't had them either. The coconut milk is the only constant in my life that has been new.

So, coffee without milk, I can do it if I have to, or just give up coffee. :(

I know this is an old thread but I just started taking coconut oil. It gives me nausea and I have problem with the strong smell. I was so eager to use coconut because of all the benefits. Coconut milk may have increase my acid reflux but almost anything I try with my caffeinated brings me or increase acid reflux. I am thinking of giving up tea and coffee too.

Does anyone know if the nausea could be a reaction of coconut meeting candida in my digestive system?

Roda Rising Star
Roda
Posted
I can eat coconut: shredded, milk, fresh, cream. No problems whatsoever.

BUT I have tried "coconut flour" 3 times and every time I have the most horrible pain in my tummy that I have to lay in the fetal position for about an hour or so before it passes.

I wonder why? Do they grind the hard outer part of the nut with the meats to make the flour? The flour isnt white, so I suspect this may be so.

That outer shell doesnt agree with me.

Coconut flour does not contain any of the shell. It is made of the coconut meat that has been pressed to make coconut milk (defatted), dried then ground into a flour. It is also very high in fiber. If you are not used to alot of fiber, coconut flour can cause bloating and gas (just like if you over did it on beans :lol: ). I find I eat less when I bake with it and I have over done it and got gassy and bloated. In moderation this is minimal.

Here is a link

Open Original Shared Link

Roda Rising Star
Roda
Posted
I know this is an old thread but I just started taking coconut oil. It gives me nausea and I have problem with the strong smell. I was so eager to use coconut because of all the benefits. Coconut milk may have increase my acid reflux but almost anything I try with my caffeinated brings me or increase acid reflux. I am thinking of giving up tea and coffee too.

Does anyone know if the nausea could be a reaction of coconut meeting candida in my digestive system?

If is had a really strong smell it may not have been a qood quality oil. It should have a slight coconut smell and taste. Here is a link on how to choose a good quality oil. I wish I had come across this sooner myself. It will help next time I order it.

Open Original Shared Link

Nadia2009 Enthusiast
Nadia2009
Posted
If is had a really strong smell it may not have been a qood quality oil. It should have a slight coconut smell and taste. Here is a link on how to choose a good quality oil. I wish I had come across this sooner myself. It will help next time I order it.

Open Original Shared Link

Thank you Roda. It does have a strong smell to me anyway. But I know that I don't tolerate certain smells. Sometimes, I have to spit food people give me or even restaurant food and it usually has to do with fats oils and butters. Right at this moment, after reading your reply I went to check the jar of coconut oil and smelled it. YUK I can't even tolerate that. But I think I made a discovery every time I have a craving, I'll go smell this oil and I'll have my fix of nausea and will fast for 2 hours.

I bought it in a health food store and it is from Philippines. And I was told that the deodorized ones are not good. Do you know any good brand name that is good?

Roda Rising Star
Roda
Posted
Thank you Roda. It does have a strong smell to me anyway. But I know that I don't tolerate certain smells. Sometimes, I have to spit food people give me or even restaurant food and it usually has to do with fats oils and butters. Right at this moment, after reading your reply I went to check the jar of coconut oil and smelled it. YUK I can't even tolerate that. But I think I made a discovery every time I have a craving, I'll go smell this oil and I'll have my fix of nausea and will fast for 2 hours.

I bought it in a health food store and it is from Philippines. And I was told that the deodorized ones are not good. Do you know any good brand name that is good?

I just ordered this brand. (Nutiva)

Open Original Shared Link

It does have a slight coconut smell and a hint of coconut taste. It tastes very smooth and is really white. It sure beats the spectrum (it was fully processed/refined) I had bought without knowing better. Big difference! I am going to try and melt some and put it on popcorn with some salt. I'll let you know what I think of it.

I may at one point look at tropical traditions green lable (need to be price conscious but want decent quality)

Open Original Shared Link

I'm pretty new to the whole coconut oil and flour thing. I have used the tropical traditions coconut flour and love it! Maybe someone else has some recommendations.

Here is a link to reviews on the Nutiva. I found a few reviews that like this brand better than the tropical traditions. I eventually will have to buy a small jar so I can compare the two.

Open Original Shared Link

annielala Newbie
annielala
Posted
Just did some researching on coconut intolerance...thank you for this thread.

I started sleeping through the night when I gave up dairy. That lasted 14 days, then the problem started again. I guess the honeymoon is over with coconut. I was hoping it would be the answer, yet my tummy hasn't felt good for well over a week now. I tried blaming it on cashews, but haven't had them for well over 1 week, before that I tried blaming it on raisins, but haven't had them either. The coconut milk is the only constant in my life that has been new.

So, coffee without milk, I can do it if I have to, or just give up coffee. :(

What about hemp or almond milk?

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,549
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Blough
    Newest Member
    Blough
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

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



  • 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.