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Black Pepper The Silent Ingredient

Cinnamon7778

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Cinnamon7778 Rookie
Cinnamon7778
Posted

Good morning everyone,

So its been about a week since being on the wheat, gluten and soy free diet. Yesterday, I went to a healthfood market and I purchased a rosted veggie pie that was wheat, soy and gluten free. I asked the gentlemen if there were any other ingredients that I should know about and of course he said NO. Well, alittle while after eating the pie my stomach felt like hot burning acid and painful. I called the store and spoke the chef and of course he assured me that it wasn't the pie. He gave me a run down of the ingredients and at the end of the list he stated "black pepper as an ingredient". I was shocked. How could a healthfood store not know that black pepper is not good for the digestive system; red pepper is best!! this ingredient is a definite NO No especially for ME. My stomach is still chruning and burning and its sour but not as bad as yeasterday. Also, I am very tired and itching all over inclluding anal. Despite the above I am ok because it could be worse. Does anyone else experience the above symptoms or is it just me!! Please respond!

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psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted
How could a healthfood store not know that black pepper is not good for the digestive system

Well, this is a new one on me, for sure. I have only ever heard the opposite; that black pepper actually improves digestion. Where did you get this idea from?

If you are in the early recovery stages of celiac disease, it is common to react to just about anything while the system heals.

leadmeastray88 Contributor
leadmeastray88
Posted
Good morning everyone,

So its been about a week since being on the wheat, gluten and soy free diet. Yesterday, I went to a healthfood market and I purchased a rosted veggie pie that was wheat, soy and gluten free. I asked the gentlemen if there were any other ingredients that I should know about and of course he said NO. Well, alittle while after eating the pie my stomach felt like hot burning acid and painful. I called the store and spoke the chef and of course he assured me that it wasn't the pie. He gave me a run down of the ingredients and at the end of the list he stated "black pepper as an ingredient". I was shocked. How could a healthfood store not know that black pepper is not good for the digestive system; red pepper is best!! this ingredient is a definite NO No especially for ME. My stomach is still chruning and burning and its sour but not as bad as yeasterday. Also, I am very tired and itching all over inclluding anal. Despite the above I am ok because it could be worse. Does anyone else experience the above symptoms or is it just me!! Please respond!

Pre-ground black pepper could have gluten in it, believe it or not, as a filler! I've found this with certain pre-ground peppers. I buy the pepper corns and put them in a grinder.

YoloGx Rookie
YoloGx
Posted

Dear Cinnamon,

I just wanted to let you know that apart from the pepper cross contamination with gluten is/was very possible and very likely. Unless this was in a bakery/store specifically aware and dedicated, I doubt they made the pie in a completely separate area with bowls and pans and chopping block etc. never used for gluten and baked it in a gluten free dedicated oven. I suggest you look up cross contamination and how to avoid it on the search engine here.

Bea

Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted
Pre-ground black pepper could have gluten in it, believe it or not, as a filler! I've found this with certain pre-ground peppers. I buy the pepper corns and put them in a grinder.

What was the gluten source of your pepper? I have never seen gluten in ground pepper. And certainly if it were wheat it would be required by law to be listed.

Crayons574 Contributor
Crayons574
Posted

I have not been gluten free that long...but I've noticed that as my GI tract is healing, I am super sensitive to almost everything as well....and that includes spices. So, I have to eat very bland food or else my stomach will get upset. So, you could've either been cross-contaminated, or perhaps your stomach still very sensitive right now.

ang1e0251 Contributor
ang1e0251
Posted

I have never had an issue with pepper, black or red. I would be surprised to learn preground pepper had gluten. I buy the cheapest kind and I eat some every day. Can you supply a source for the wheat in pepper?

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lovegrov Collaborator
lovegrov
Posted

"Pre-ground black pepper could have gluten in it, believe it or not, as a filler! I've found this with certain pre-ground peppers. I buy the pepper corns and put them in a grinder."

Which ones please. I've never ever heard of this. Every pepper I've ever seen is just that -- pepper.

richard

RiceGuy Collaborator
RiceGuy
Posted
Well, this is a new one on me, for sure. I have only ever heard the opposite; that black pepper actually improves digestion. Where did you get this idea from?

Indeed. I've read it is good for the digestive system too. But allergies and sensitivities are another matter, and a leaky gut can make a person react to practically anything.

  • 2 years later...
missmellie Newbie
missmellie
Posted

Good morning everyone,

So its been about a week since being on the wheat, gluten and soy free diet. Yesterday, I went to a healthfood market and I purchased a rosted veggie pie that was wheat, soy and gluten free. I asked the gentlemen if there were any other ingredients that I should know about and of course he said NO. Well, alittle while after eating the pie my stomach felt like hot burning acid and painful. I called the store and spoke the chef and of course he assured me that it wasn't the pie. He gave me a run down of the ingredients and at the end of the list he stated "black pepper as an ingredient". I was shocked. How could a healthfood store not know that black pepper is not good for the digestive system; red pepper is best!! this ingredient is a definite NO No especially for ME. My stomach is still chruning and burning and its sour but not as bad as yeasterday. Also, I am very tired and itching all over inclluding anal. Despite the above I am ok because it could be worse. Does anyone else experience the above symptoms or is it just me!! Please respond!

Hi, Cinnamon. I know the original post was a long time ago, but I just read it this evening after doing a search because I'm looking for a substitute for black pepper. Yes, I cannot handle it, either!! I hope you are able to eat it safely again, but if not, at least you know there is someone else who can't have it, either. :)

Takala Enthusiast
Takala
Posted

Miss Mellie, that's quite a list :unsure: of "avoids." Things that are "hot" that are not on your list, include ginger root, horseradish, and wasabi powder, if you could find it gluten free. Radish is also spicy. Have you ever had radish sprouts, they have a sort of kick to them like pepper.

Monael Apprentice
Monael
Posted

Maybe you are just sensitive to black pepper? I use it all the time and I sprinkle LOTS of it on my food. I love pepper! But I eat a lot of spicy food so pepper to me is fairly mild.

Sake Rooskie Newbie
Sake Rooskie
Posted

I'm thinking that pre-ground black pepper, the kind most people put in their pepper shakers and use for meat rubs, etc., could very well be cross contaminated by the mills they use to grind it. I buy spices from Penzey's (penzeys.com) and I'll call them and ask if they have commercial spice grinders which are dedicated to non-gluten products. I can't think of an instance where they have wheat in their spice blends, but I'm going to make certain.

Interesting topic!

Sake Marlene

Rick-O-Shay Apprentice
Rick-O-Shay
Posted

Good morning everyone,

So its been about a week since being on the wheat, gluten and soy free diet. Yesterday, I went to a healthfood market and I purchased a rosted veggie pie that was wheat, soy and gluten free. I asked the gentlemen if there were any other ingredients that I should know about and of course he said NO. Well, alittle while after eating the pie my stomach felt like hot burning acid and painful. I called the store and spoke the chef and of course he assured me that it wasn't the pie. He gave me a run down of the ingredients and at the end of the list he stated "black pepper as an ingredient". I was shocked. How could a healthfood store not know that black pepper is not good for the digestive system; red pepper is best!! this ingredient is a definite NO No especially for ME. My stomach is still chruning and burning and its sour but not as bad as yeasterday. Also, I am very tired and itching all over inclluding anal. Despite the above I am ok because it could be worse. Does anyone else experience the above symptoms or is it just me!! Please respond!

Well, in all fairness, black pepper does not bother most people. Personally, I would not have stated it as being an irritant unless you asked me if there was any pepper in it.

bartfull Rising Star
bartfull
Posted

Black pepper is full of salicylates, which some people are sensitive to. But then again, so are most veggies and fruits, so if you can eat them without being bothered, that is probably not it.

I think it is more likely that you have an actual allergy to black pepper. Here is a small excerpt about it from Livestrong.com:

Other Symptoms

An allergic reaction to black pepper will cause sneezing along with skin reactions, respiratory complications and digestion symptoms. Skin reaction may include hives, eczema of general skin irritation. Skin rashes may appear on your face, but can also form anywhere on the body. Respiratory complications may include wheezing, trouble breathing, coughing and chest pain. Diarrhea, stomach pain, cramping, vomiting and nausea are common symptoms that can develop in your digestive system.

sandsurfgirl Collaborator
sandsurfgirl
Posted

This is a very old post but it's been hanging around so I thought I'd respond.

Cinnamon if you're still around it would be nice to see an update. Most likely your gut was sensitive because you were only gluten free for a week at the time and that was just too complicated of a food for your healing belly.

I can't imagine anyone anywhere being worried about revealing that a recipe had black pepper in it. That's not a common allergy at all and just about every recipe that is savory will have pepper in it. Salt and pepper, they go together and it's in just about everything. I've never heard of pepper being bad for digestion. I've heard the opposite. You asked about gluten and soy and you were given the answer.

I hope that now you have had more time being gluten free your digestive system is stronger.

DonnaMM Explorer
DonnaMM
Posted

I am confused why you got upset when you asked if their are any other ingredient you should be concerned about and they said no. How would they possibly know you were sensitive to black pepper if you didn't tell them. If I cooked for you and it had black pepper in it an you blamed the food for your reaction I would be upset as well. I guess I just don't understand why you got mad at them. I know lots of people with crohns, uc, diverticulosis and they have no problem with black pepper. I know one person allergic to black pepper an it makes her throat swell, causes no GI upset.

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

Folks who are sensitive to mold and mildew can have trouble with black pepper because it tends to have mold and fungus on it from the sun drying.

missmellie Newbie
missmellie
Posted

Folks who are sensitive to mold and mildew can have trouble with black pepper because it tends to have mold and fungus on it from the sun drying.

Thanks for that little tidbit of info, Skylark. In addition to the things mentioned on my signature, I'm terribly allergic to mold (skin tests several times over my life). I love black pepper and I surely do miss it, but at least this makes some sense.

tehjrow Rookie
tehjrow
Posted

It took me 2 months for things to begin to be ok. Everything made me sick for a while.

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      Welcome, @catnapt! The most recent guidelines are the daily consumption of a minimum of 10g of gluten (about the amount found in 4-6 slices of wheat bread) for a minimum of two weeks. But if possible stretching that out even more would enhance the chances of getting valid test results. These guidelines are for those who have been eating gluten free for a significant amount of time. It's called the "gluten challenge".  Yes, you can develop celiac disease at any stage of life. There is a genetic component but also a stress trigger that is needed to activate the celiac genes. About 30-40% of the general population possesses the genetic potential to develop celiac disease but only about 1% of the general population actually develop celiac disease. For most with the potential, the triggering stress event doesn't happen. It can be many things but often it is a viral infection. Having said that, it is also the case that many, many people who eventually are diagnosed with celiac disease probably experienced the actual onset years before. Many celiacs are of the "silent" type, meaning that symptoms are largely missing or very minor and get overlooked until damage to the small bowel lining becomes advanced or they develop iron deficiency anemia or some other medical problem associated with celiac disease. Many, many are never diagnosed or are diagnosed later in life because they did not experience classic symptoms. And many physicians are only looking for classic symptoms. We now know that there are over 200 symptoms/medical problems associated with celiac disease but many docs are only looking for things like boating, gas, diarrhea. I certainly understand your concerns about not wanting to damage your body by taking on a gluten challenge. Your other option is to totally commit to gluten free eating and see if your symptoms improve. It can take two years or more for complete healing of the small bowel lining once going gluten free but usually people experience significant improvement well before then. If their is significant improvement in your symptoms when going seriously gluten free, then you likely have your answer. You would either have celiac disease or NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity).
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