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

Xanthan Gum Reaction?

stephkb

Recommended Posts

stephkb Rookie
stephkb
Posted

I made chocolate chip cookies a couple of nights ago, and the next day started feeling bloated and gassy and my lymph nodes feel swollen. This is how I usually feel when I get gluten, however usually it's worse. I used Bob's Red Mill all-purpose flour in the cookies and xanthan gum. I haven't introduced anything new to my diet, and when I think bad to making these cookies before it was right after I was diagnosed and I had a reaction but thought it was to something else. And now I'm thinking back to other reactions I thought were gluten since I was diagnosed and think some of them were probably xanthan gum too. Does anyone else have this problem? I looked online and saw that it sometimes an stomach irritant. I just don't know what to do, it is in so many allergy free gluten free products and recipes, and our family has such a restricted diet as it is (my son has multiple food allergies). I really don't want to add xanthan gum to the list even though that is what I am suspecting! Does anyone have this problem, do you have a good substitute for xanthan gum?

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


irish daveyboy Community Regular
irish daveyboy
Posted

........I looked online and saw that it sometimes an stomach irritant. I just don't know what to do, it is in so many allergy free gluten free products and recipes, and our family has such a restricted diet as it is (my son has multiple food allergies). I really don't want to add xanthan gum to the list even though that is what I am suspecting! Does anyone have this problem, do you have a good substitute for xanthan gum?

Hi Steph,

Follow this link and read the article, Xanthan Sensitivity - Could it be Complicating Your Celiac Disease Recovery?

Open Original Shared Link

If Corn is one of your son's sensitivities, then have a look at Caryn Talty's site (healthy-family.org)

Open Original Shared Link

Gur Gum is just as effective a binder as Xanthan.

Best Regrds,

David

stephkb Rookie
stephkb
Posted
  • Author

Hi David,

Thank you so much for that article, that sounds exactly like what I am experiencing. Even though I really don't want to have another food added to the list of foods we can't eat I guess it is better to know what is going on! My son is allergic to milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, peanuts, and tree nuts. Not corn that we know of, but the website you sent still looks like it has some helpful information on it.

Thanks again,

Stephanie

Hi Steph,

Follow this link and read the article, Xanthan Sensitivity - Could it be Complicating Your Celiac Disease Recovery?

Open Original Shared Link

If Corn is one of your son's sensitivities, then have a look at Caryn Talty's site (healthy-family.org)

Open Original Shared Link

Gur Gum is just as effective a binder as Xanthan.

Best Regrds,

David

larry mac Enthusiast
larry mac
Posted

May I suggest something?

Try making Betty Crocker gluten-free Cookie Mix. It has no Zanthan Gum, is super easy, and really good.

When I do bake from scratch, I use half Zanthan and half Guar. Works good, and is cheaper than all Zanthan. I personally don't have a problem with Zanthan or Guar gums. Did your other family members have a problem with the cookies?

best regards, lm

stephkb Rookie
stephkb
Posted
  • Author

Hi Larry,

Thanks for the tip on the Betty Crocker cookies, I have not tried those yet, but it sounds great. I will definitely be trying Guar gum as well.

My husband has been having stomach problems for some time that we haven't been able to figure out, so it is hard to say whether the cookies caused any new issues for him, and they didn't contain any milk or eggs that could have gone bad, just applesauce.

Thanks again,

Stephanie

May I suggest something?

Try making Betty Crocker gluten-free Cookie Mix. It has no Zanthan Gum, is super easy, and really good.

When I do bake from scratch, I use half Zanthan and half Guar. Works good, and is cheaper than all Zanthan. I personally don't have a problem with Zanthan or Guar gums. Did your other family members have a problem with the cookies?

best regards, lm

ksymonds84 Enthusiast
ksymonds84
Posted

I agree with Larry Mac on trying the Betty Crocker one's. There's very little ingredients to them and they are very tasty! I have a problem with BRM not because of xantham (wondered about xantham too but wasn't the culprit) but because my digestive system can't handle the garbanzo and fava beans that they tend to use in many of their mixes. Makes me feel glutened everytime, even though not really glutened. Hope you figure it out.

sandsurfgirl Collaborator
sandsurfgirl
Posted

Xanthan gum messes me up and it makes my lips tingle, which scares me because I worry that it could be a serious allergy.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


stephkb Rookie
stephkb
Posted
  • Author

I will definitely check those out, I also think I'm going to try the cookies without the xanthan gum (they may not hold up at all, but I'll just eat anyway). I want to test and see if it's actually the xanthan causing my problems afterall. I saw my doctor yesterday and she suggested the garbanzo bean flour could be causing the issue, and thought an experiment eating the cookies with and without the xanthan gum would be a good way to test.

Thanks again for the response, glad I'm not the only one having trouble figuring this stuff out.

I agree with Larry Mac on trying the Betty Crocker one's. There's very little ingredients to them and they are very tasty! I have a problem with BRM not because of xantham (wondered about xantham too but wasn't the culprit) but because my digestive system can't handle the garbanzo and fava beans that they tend to use in many of their mixes. Makes me feel glutened everytime, even though not really glutened. Hope you figure it out.

stephkb Rookie
stephkb
Posted
  • Author

Ya, that doesn't sound good. My lymph nodes swelled up so that made me think maybe it was an allergy, but I'll have to test and see if that is it. Have you tried guar gum? I was wondering if you have a reaction to xanthan if you could also have a reaction to guar or if they are totally different things.

Thanks for the reply.

Xanthan gum messes me up and it makes my lips tingle, which scares me because I worry that it could be a serious allergy.

sandsurfgirl Collaborator
sandsurfgirl
Posted

Ya, that doesn't sound good. My lymph nodes swelled up so that made me think maybe it was an allergy, but I'll have to test and see if that is it. Have you tried guar gum? I was wondering if you have a reaction to xanthan if you could also have a reaction to guar or if they are totally different things.

Thanks for the reply.

Did you see my new thread? I challenged xanthan gum and it was fine. So now I have to challenge tapioca and see if it was that. It also could just be my damaged gut having trouble digesting stuff.

Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. tiffanygosci
      - tiffanygosci posted a topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      0

      New Celiac Mama in My 30s

      Hello all! My life in the last five years has been crazy. I got married in 2020 at the age of 27, pregnant with our first child almost two months later, gave birth in 2021. We had another baby in April of 2023 and our last baby this March of 2025. I had some issues after my second but nothing ever made me think, "I should see a doctor about this." After...
    2. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to klmgarland's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      8

      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      On the AIP diet, all processed foods are eliminated. This includes gluten-free bread. You'll be eating meats and vegetables, mostly. Meats that are processed, like sausages, sandwich meats, bacons, chicken nuggets, etc., are eliminated as well. Veggies should be fresh, or frozen without other ingredients like sauces or seasonings. Nightshade vegetables...
    3. Yaya
      - Yaya replied to Jhona's topic in Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff
      29

      Does anyone here also have Afib

      Thank you for responding and for prayers. So sorry for your struggles, I will keep you in mine. You are so young to have so many struggles, mine are mild by comparison. I didn't have Celiac Disease (celiac disease) until I had my gallbladder removed 13 years ago; at least nothing I was aware of. Following surgery: multiple symptoms/oddities appeared including...
    4. larc
      - larc replied to Jhona's topic in Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff
      29

      Does anyone here also have Afib

      When I accidentally consume gluten it compromises the well-being of my heart and arteries. Last time I had a significant exposure, about six months ago, I had AFib for about ten days. It came on every day around dinner time. After the ten days or so it went away and hasn't come back. My cardiologist offered me a collection of pharmaceuticals at the time...
    5. klmgarland
      - klmgarland replied to klmgarland's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      8

      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      So I should not eat my gluten free bread? I will try the vitamins. Thank you all so very much for your ideas and understanding. I'm feeling better today and have gathered back my composure! Thank you kitty kitty I am going to look this diet up right away. And read the paleo diet and really see if I can make this a better situation then it currently...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,923
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Amber Gumm
    Newest Member
    Amber Gumm
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • tiffanygosci
      New Celiac Mama in My 30s

      By tiffanygosci · Posted

      Hello all! My life in the last five years has been crazy. I got married in 2020 at the age of 27, pregnant with our first child almost two months later, gave birth in 2021. We had another baby in April of 2023 and our last baby this March of 2025. I had some issues after my second but nothing ever made me think, "I should see a doctor about this." After having my last baby this year, my body has finally started to find its new rhythm and balance...but things started to feel out of sorts. A lot of symptoms were convoluted with postpartum symptoms, and, to top it all off, my cycle came back about 4m postpartum. I was having reoccurring migraines, nausea, joint pain, numbness in my right arm, hand and fingers, tummy problems, hives. I finally went to my PCP in August just for a wellness check and I brought up my ailments. I'm so thankful for a doctor that listens and is thorough. He ended up running a food allergy panel, an environmental respiratory panel, and a celiac panel. I found out I was allergic to wheat, allergic to about every plant and dust mites, and I did have celiac. I had an endoscopy done on October 3 and my results confirmed celiac in the early stages! I am truly blessed to have an answer to my issues. When I eat gluten, my brain feels like it's on fire and like someone is squeezing it. I can't think straight and I zone out easily. My eyes can't focus. I get a super bad migraine and nausea. I get so tired and irritable and anxious. My body hurts sometimes and my gut gets bloated, gassy, constipated, and ends with bowel movements. All this time I thought I was just having mom brain or feeling the effects of postpartum, sleep deprivation, and the like (which I probably was having and the celiac disease just ramped it up!) I have yet to see a dietician but I've already been eating and shopping gluten-free. My husband and I have been working on turning our kitchen 100% gluten-free (we didn't think this would be so expensive but he assured me that my health is worth all the money in the world). There are still a few things to replace and clean. I'm already getting tired of reading labels. I even replaced some of my personal hygiene care for myself and the kids because they were either made with oats or not labeled gluten-free. I have already started feeling better but have made some mistakes along the way or have gotten contamination thrown into the mix. It's been hard! Today I joked that I got diagnosed at the worst time of the year with all the holidays coming up. I will just need to bring my own food to have and to share. It will be okay but different after years of eating "normally". Today I ordered in person at Chipotle and was trying not to feel self-conscious as the line got long because they were following food-allergy protocols. It's all worth it to be the healthiest version of myself for me and my family. I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little overwhelmed and a little overloaded!  I am thankful for this community and I look forward to learning more from you all. I need the help, that's for sure!
    • knitty kitty
      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      On the AIP diet, all processed foods are eliminated.  This includes gluten-free bread.  You'll be eating meats and vegetables, mostly.  Meats that are processed, like sausages, sandwich meats, bacons, chicken nuggets, etc., are eliminated as well.  Veggies should be fresh, or frozen without other ingredients like sauces or seasonings.  Nightshade vegetables (eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers) are excluded.  They contain alkaloids that promote a leaky gut and inflammation.  Dairy and eggs are also eliminated.   I know it sounds really stark, but eating this way really improved my health.  The AIP diet can be low in nutrients, and, with malabsorption, it's important to supplement vitamins and minerals.  
    • Yaya
      Does anyone here also have Afib

      By Yaya · Posted

      Thank you for responding and for prayers.  So sorry for your struggles, I will keep you in mine.  You are so young to have so many struggles, mine are mild by comparison.  I didn't have Celiac Disease (celiac disease) until I had my gallbladder removed 13 years ago; at least nothing I was aware of.  Following surgery: multiple symptoms/oddities appeared including ridges on fingernails, eczema, hair falling out in patches, dry eyes, upset stomach constantly and other weird symptoms that I don't really remember.  Gastro did tests and endoscopy and verified celiac disease. Re heart: I was born with Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP) and an irregular heartbeat, yet heart was extremely strong.  It was difficult to pick up the irregular heartbeat on the EKG per cardiologist.  I had Covid at 77, recovered in 10 days and 2 weeks later developed long Covid. What the doctors and nurses called the "kickoff to long Covid, was A-fib.  I didn't know what was going on with my heart and had ignored early symptoms as some kind of passing aftereffect stemming from Covid.  I was right about where it came from, but wrong on it being "passing".  I have A-fib as my permanent reminder of Covid and take Flecainide every morning and night and will for the rest of my life to stabilize my heartbeat.   
    • larc
      Does anyone here also have Afib

      By larc · Posted

      When I accidentally consume gluten it compromises the well-being of my heart and arteries. Last time I had a significant exposure, about six months ago, I had AFib for about ten days. It came on every day around dinner time. After the ten days or so it went away and hasn't come back.  My cardiologist offered me a collection of pharmaceuticals at the time.  But I passed on them. 
    • klmgarland
      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      By klmgarland · Posted

      So I should not eat my gluten free bread?  I will try the vitamins.  Thank you all so very much for your ideas and understanding.  I'm feeling better today and have gathered back my composure! Thank you kitty kitty   I am going to look this diet up right away.  And read the paleo diet and really see if I can make this a better situation then it currently is.  
×
×
  • 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.