How Much Is Too Much?

[jimbo]

Hi

I'm a newbie, so please excuse this post if this topic has been covered before. I looked at a few pages of the forum and didn't immediately come across it...

I've been diagnosed a month or so ago and I haven't been able to get an answer as to how do I know if I'm eating too much gluten? I was never violently ill after eating gluten, so I can't really tell if that french fry I just ate was cross-contaminated or not... SO, if I do happen to eat the stray cross-contaminated fry, is it going to "undo" a month of dieting or will it really damage the villi(sp?) that i've been working so hard to repair?

Also, just as a rant, I'm constantly amazed at how much they charge us for making gluten-free products. C'mon... $7.50 for a box of ice cream cones?!! That's criminal!!

Thanx for your help, this seems like a really good place to get info!

jim

[KaitiUSA]

Any amount is too much. There are no levels of celiac...all celiacs have to avoid all of gluten. There are different levels of symptoms but that has nothing to do with the damage that gluten causes. Some people just do not get symptoms

There are specialty items that are more expensive but alot of stuff we can still have from the regular grocery store too.

Some of the specialty items taste really bad but some taste really good and this site will help you find those.

I mean things even like lipsticks, soaps, shampoos, lotions, and all that kind of thing that has even a chance of getting into your mouth via any avenue should be checked to see if it is gluten free.

It may seem impossible but I tell you it gets easier and there is more "normal" food out there that we can have then you may think.

Hope this site helps

[ILOVEOMC]

Hi Jim,

From what I understand any Gluten is too much. We are suppose to be totally gluten free because ,yes, any amount of gluten,even a crumb, is going to keep damaging the intestine. I know it isn't what you wanted to hear but hopefully it will keep you healthy

[Carriefaith]

I was never violently ill after eating gluten, so I can't really tell if that french fry I just ate was cross-contaminated or not...

It should be easy to tell if the fry was contaminated. If you ate it from a restaurant, you could ask the staff if they have dedicated friers for the their fries and if you bought them at a store, you could call the company.

SO, if I do happen to eat the stray cross-contaminated fry, is it going to "undo" a month of dieting or will it really damage the villi(sp?) that i've been working so hard to repair?

From my experience, I think that one small contamination may cause intestinal damage. I don't have proof or anything, but I get mild-severe pain in the stomach/small intestine area after a contamination, which I think indicates that damage is occuring. I don't think it would cause too much villi damage, but enough to cause "distress" for a few days or even longer.

[watkinson]

Hi Jim,

This may not be the answer you are looking for but a speck of gluten is too much.

Celiacs is an autoimmune disease. Our immune systems get screwed up and think that the gluten protein is the same as our bodies own cells. So the immune system sends out anitbodies to "kill" the gluten and in turn "kill" our healthy cells, causing great damage. The problem is that Gluten doesn't immediatley leave the system after injesting it. No one know how long it lingers but it could be days, weeks even months, therefore the ramifications (the damage) can last that long.

Like the others have said, just ask your server if the fries are 100% potatoes, no spices, ect. and if the fryer is used for other things like flour coated chicken, ect.

Wendy

[jimbo]

Thanx for the info!!

jim

[Jnkmnky]

Get back at the cone makers and eat your gluten-free icecream in a re-useable dish. Email them and tell them you can live without cones for the price they're charging...or better yet, tell them Wal-mart has taken up the battle cry of the Celiac and we're sure THEY'LL come up with an affordable cone!!