Informal Poll

[L.A.]

Hi Everyone: I really miss oatmeal...and was wondering who eats oats and who doesn't. Too many conflicting reports on whether oats are safe and I'm afraid to try them for fear of getting sick. Would love your input. Just leaving work now, but will check back in the morning. Thanks, L.A.

[Luisa2552]

I'm still healing and afraid to try them. I'm going to look into the guaranteed gluten-free ones.

[burdee]

There are several varieties of certified gluten free oats (grown in oats only fields, processed in oats only factories and verified gluten free). I tried and like "Gifts of Nature" and "Gluten Free Oats". I'm VERY sensitive to gluten (react with painful cramps and bloating). I did not react to either of those.

BURDEE

[sickchick]

I eat oats. Oat flour.

[MaryJones2]

I've tried several brands of gluten free oats and can say that oats cause the worst reaction of all the glutens for me.

[happygirl]

I have successfully eaten certified gluten free oats.

[NWLAX36Mom]

I've tried several brands of gluten free oats and can say that oats cause the worst reaction of all the glutens for me.

Does that mean that gluten free oats do cause the worst reaction or all or regular oats?

I miss oats more than anything but I'm still too afraid to try even the gluten free ones yet. If I test well once I have follow-up medical tests, I am planning to try them.

[rsm]

I have purchased some guaranteed gluten free oats but have been too afraid to try them. I love oatmeal, but raw oats have always been a problem for me. When I get the courage up I'll try them. They are very expensive! The brand I have is also Gifts of nature.

[mamaw]

I have been gluten-free for over 4 years now , I started eating oats when they first became available.If you are new to the diet & not recovered yet I would say don't eat them until you have been gluten-free totally for over two years. If you are one of the very sensitives ones , I would say DO NOT eat them.

Everyone is different so you might just have to take a chance but I would not eat the non gluten-free oats ever.

I eat only a 1/2 cup serving to this date. I think again this can be a product that many will eat & eat until it causes a reaction so go very slowly starting out maybe once a week.....I never thought I would say I miss Oats but I did...

I love the Lara's oats the best but I'm using the gluten-free oats from Powell, Wy as shipping was cheaper at the time. Now Lara's can be found in the US fairly easy.....

mamaw

[melrobsings]

I'm crazy allergic to them. If you touch them and then touch me I'm in hives! but I LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM!!! i think it got worse cause as a child I could somewhat tolerate them and would eat them all the time....I just kept getting worse and worse and worse...now I can't even touch them...

[Yellow Rose]

The problem with oats is not gluten as oats don't have gluten it is the contamination of oats. There are only a few factories that process oats in the US but these places also process other grains like wheat. So if you can find a place that grows oats without growing other gluten grains in the same field and then find a place that processes without processing other grains you will be ok to eat oats.

Yellow Rose

[Luisa2552]

I've tried several brands of gluten free oats and can say that oats cause the worst reaction of all the glutens for me.

I'm confused. Oats don't have gluten. Do you think the gluten-free oats are contaminated or do you have an allergy or intolerance to oats?

[confusedks]

I just wanted to make a suggestion, have you tried quinoa flakes? I know they're not the same thing, but they are a similar idea to oats. I have them in the morning with banana, brown sugar and cinnamon. I don't eat oats. I get too worried about CC in my own home, I couldn't imagine glutening myself! EEK.

Kassandra

[sickchick]

Something I have tried recently (that has a similar texture to cream of wheat) is Polenta. If you are just craving something warm and hearty and sweet, I made mine with milk, honey and sliced bananas!

They were yuuuuuuuum

[Ursa Major]

Somehow oats don't agree with me. The protein in oats is very similar to gluten, and some people aren't just having a reaction because of contamination, but rather because they are intolerant to the protein in oats as well.

[ENF]

I'm OK with Lara's Creamhill oats for the most part, but they do cause a major cleaning out of my digestive system. The reaction isn't exactly the same as when I had problematic celiac digestive symptoms before going gluten-free - but makes me wonder if it's only because of the fiber in oats, which is one reason some people eat them, or if something else is going on, since I do not have a problem with C whether I eat oats or not.

[darlindeb25]

The problem with oats is not gluten as oats don't have gluten it is the contamination of oats

The problem is, that all grains do have their own type of gluten, it's not necessarily called gluten as in wheat, rye, and barley--which, if I recall, isn't really technically called gluten anyways. Some of us just tend to react to all grains and when the monies are there and and full force research gets going on celiac disease, I think they will find there are different varients of gluten. Just like now, there are gluten sensitive, gluten intolerant, and celiacs--these levels will become much closer defined in time.

I think it will someday be proven that there are definitely celiacs who absolutely can not have oats either and I know I am one. I reacted to oats in foods long before we knew anything about gluten. Long before we knew anything about celiac disease, I reacted to meatloaf, which my mom added oatmeal, oatmeal cookies, apple crisp--anything with oatmeal bothered me. Now, I will not try oatmeal, I still react to oatmeal in lotions and such, so I am positive I can't eat it anyways, I can't eat any other grains anyhow. It's just not worth upsetting the balance.

[L.A.]

Thanks for the input--think I will stick with my Cream of Rice cereal. You guys are great! L.A.