Grain Fed Meats

[kathrynk]

I know meats are gluten free right? What if the animal was grain fed? Do grain fed animals contain gluten? The beef I buy is grass fed up until the last few weeks of its life, and then they grain feed. The chicken is not fed by products or hormones, but is "grain fed". Has anyone had reactions to grain fed meats?

[Skylark]

Grain fed meat is safe, and milk where the cows are fed wheat is also safe. You don't bleed orange juice when you drink it - it is broken down in your stomach and the components make your muscle, blood, and bone. Same with animals.

[Booghead]

I believe that there is no gluten in grain fed animals, think about it a little bit: grain goes into the mouth then to the stomach and a tiny bit to the blood stream, then it is pooped out. I would say if there was any gluten in the meat it would be way under 20 ppms(i think thats what they measure it in) if its less then 20 then its normally safe to eat for people with Celiacs. Unless you are hyper-super-sensitive ofcourse. Then you may just have to eat brocoli.

[kathrynk]

Grain fed meat is safe, and milk where the cows are fed wheat is also safe. You don't bleed orange juice when you drink it - it is broken down in your stomach and the components make your muscle, blood, and bone. Same with animals.

that makes sense, thanks!

[kathrynk]

I believe that there is no gluten in grain fed animals, think about it a little bit: grain goes into the mouth then to the stomach and a tiny bit to the blood stream, then it is pooped out. I would say if there was any gluten in the meat it would be way under 20 ppms(i think thats what they measure it in) if its less then 20 then its normally safe to eat for people with Celiacs. Unless you are hyper-super-sensitive ofcourse. Then you may just have to eat brocoli.

no, I'm not that hypersensitive, although I do love brocoli. I was actually in the process of cutting out meats and eating more grains and vegetables until all these health issues came about. Now I am reading a ton about the importance of meats-especially with my thyroid.

[IrishHeart]

Skylark answered the question for you , but in case you ask about eggs next (because many do ) here is a link to FAQ about gluten and if it is "passed through animals into their meat" or absorbed through the skin, etc.

If a packaged meat is marinated or has a spice rub or coating, however, then that's a whole different issue.

Open Original Shared Link

[Skylark]

Thanks IrishHeart. I remembered to mention milk but totally forgot eggs!

Kathryn, I have Hashimoto's too. What are you trying as far as diet for thyroid? I haven't had any luck so far feeling better since the last big thyroid slide.

[kathrynk]

Thanks IrishHeart. I remembered to mention milk but totally forgot eggs!

Kathryn, I have Hashimoto's too. What are you trying as far as diet for thyroid? I haven't had any luck so far feeling better since the last big thyroid slide.

I was just diagnosed with hashi about 2 weeks ago...I was told that based on my labs my thyroid is functioning within a normal range, so I am not on any meds. I am waiting to get my lab results so I can post them on here and gain some advice on how to progress. I do not have many symptoms-just cold intolerance, reynauds, and sometimes anxiety/heart palpitations (I think because I swing between hypo-hyper).

Any recommendations for thyroid diet? All I have read so far is lots of protein is good. I have been eating hard boiled eggs for breakfast-salmon or chicken for dinner. We use to eat a ton of tofu but I think I am reacting to soy-I get very gassy.

[Skylark]

Swinging between hypo-hyper is typical for early Hashi's. It's no fun at all!

This site has TONS of info about thyroid. Here is the diet page. Skip the tofu (it's bad for you anyway) and go light on raw cruciferous veggies.

Open Original Shared Link

I've been trying a diet that's supposed to heal leaky gut and help autoimmunity but I don't feel much better so I'm afraid I don't have any other diet advice.

[kathrynk]

Swinging between hypo-hyper is typical for early Hashi's. It's no fun at all!

This site has TONS of info about thyroid. Here is the diet page. Skip the tofu (it's bad for you anyway) and go light on raw cruciferous veggies.

Open Original Shared Link

I've been trying a diet that's supposed to heal leaky gut and help autoimmunity but I don't feel much better so I'm afraid I don't have any other diet advice.

thanks! and bummer that you are not feeling better

My Dr. has nicknamed me "autoimmune girl" however, she says it is all genetics...I don't buy that. I think food plays a big role. I am hoping to heal my gut as well!

[domesticactivist]

I don't believe the gluten makes it through to the meat. That said, there are lots of good reasons to eat meat that is pastured rather than grain fed. This page gives a nice summary:

Open Original Shared Link

I have noticed that I react to soy fed eggs and not soy-free, corn-free eggs. This was interesting:

Open Original Shared Link

It does make me wonder if other proteins can make it through to meat as well, but I haven't seen evidence of that.

[domesticactivist]

I've been trying a diet that's supposed to heal leaky gut and help autoimmunity but I don't feel much better so I'm afraid I don't have any other diet advice.

I'm sorry you aren't feeling better I did notice from a couple other posts that you aren't really following the diet to the letter and didn't spend much time in intro... maybe that could be playing a part in it not working out for you yet? Most people I know who have experienced positive health changes on GAPS have found they needed to go back to intro and also that it took many, many months for them to feel healed. Of course, it's also a possibility that it's just not the answer for you.

[Skylark]

I don't know. The book says very clearly that if you're not experiencing many GI problems and doing the diet for neuro issues, intro is optional. I'm not having GI issues at this point. I work full time and doing intro for more than my first couple weeks was just not feasible. The diet seems to be for a stay-at-home mom feeding an autistic child, not a busy professional who works away from home. It's all I can do to keep enough bone broth and soup around. I cook all weekend. I am getting some benefits; it's just not as good as I had hoped. I wanted to be WELL.

About the only thing I'm not doing "to the letter" is eating a bunch of animal fat. Somehow I doubt that eating a bunch of tallow and chicken fat is some sort of magic bullet for health or autoimmunity. (I am using tallow or coconut oil for sauteing to avoid trans-fats.) I'm also staying away from dairy because I've reacted to it in the past, which means no yogurt or kefir. I have my lacto ferments going though and eat some with every meal.

I am still craving starchy foods, which seems odd six weeks off them. I caved and ate some brown rice this weekend and it gave me the first stomach ache I've had since starting GAPS so I won't be doing that again any time soon.

I do think GAPS is the right direction. It helps my asthma and I feel better than I did before, plus I'm eating much better in general. Problem is I still have the sense that something is wrong with my mind and body. I think it's thyroid related but my last round of bloods was perfectly fine. It feels like the thyroid is not making it to my poor addled brain. I might ask my Dr. for an endo referral.

[domesticactivist]

About the only thing I'm not doing "to the letter" is eating a bunch of animal fat. Somehow I doubt that eating a bunch of tallow and chicken fat is some sort of magic bullet for health or autoimmunity. (I am using tallow or coconut oil for sauteing to avoid trans-fats.) I'm also staying away from dairy because I've reacted to it in the past, which means no yogurt or kefir. I have my lacto ferments going though and eat some with every meal.

I am still craving starchy foods, which seems odd six weeks off them. I caved and ate some brown rice this weekend and it gave me the first stomach ache I've had since starting GAPS so I won't be doing that again any time soon.

Glad to hear digestion isn't part of your current issues! As for the rest, it seems to me the fat is important to healing neurological issues. Myelin is made primarily of fat, after all.

I also had a horrible time kicking sugar and starch - I'd say it took me nearly three months to not feel addicted any more. Staying completely away from it was key for me... as was eating enough fat. When I don't eat fat, I crave sugar.

I know you are concerned about fat and I'm glad to hear you're using the tallow and coconunt rather than transfats... but I think it might warrant more research.

[Skylark]

Glad to hear digestion isn't part of your current issues! As for the rest, it seems to me the fat is important to healing neurological issues. Myelin is made primarily of fat, after all.

I also had a horrible time kicking sugar and starch - I'd say it took me nearly three months to not feel addicted any more. Staying completely away from it was key for me... as was eating enough fat. When I don't eat fat, I crave sugar.

I know you are concerned about fat and I'm glad to hear you're using the tallow and coconunt rather than transfats... but I think it might warrant more research.

Thanks! It's good to know the starch cravings will get better. I haven't managed to stay 100% clear of starch. I had problems on Thanksgiving because the hostess baked me gluten-free bread and pie (against my wishes). Turning them down would have hurt her more than I cared to. The sugar isn't a big deal - it only takes a few days off sugar for me to not crave it.

I've actually done rather a lot of research on fats in the past couple months. Have you?

I'm seeing an enormous body of research showing that that consumption of large amounts of saturated animal fat is NOT beneficial. Saturated fats are bad for both CNS and cardiovascular health and promote inflammation. Campbell-McBride only cherry-picked 18 references for the fat section of her book (blithely ignoring hundreds that are contrary to her beliefs), and most of them are over 10 years old. Her comparison to the lipid content of mother's milk is patently ridiculous. If you postulate that adult diet should reflect milk, you should also be getting most of your carbohydrate from lactose. See how silly her argument is? Remember that GAPS was primarily developed on autistic children, and kids can deal with a high saturated fat load somewhat more easily than adults. As I mentioned, Cordain's paleo book is the best-researched book I've come across as far as dietary fat.

[Di2011]

I'm in no way whatsoever a technical person but I do wonder about grain fed animal consumption. I am what I call a "basics realist" - keep real and keep it basic.

Why is there so many claims that pasture feed is better?

"You are what you eat"

If something ate me at the moment with my skin affected gluten induced problems would it be good for them? I wouldn't wish me on them. Something isn't right so I couldn't be good for another animal consumer.

I have yet to read a formal study on the animal consumption who has consumed grains, so if anyone can send me in the right direction I would appreciate it.

If I ditch dairy my bones will get brittle, if I take too much carcinogen I may develop cancers. Why is grains and glutens so less invasive?

[mushroom]

I'm in no way whatsoever a technical person but I do wonder about grain fed animal consumption. I am what I call a "basics realist" - keep real and keep it basic.

Why is there so many claims that pasture feed is better?

"You are what you eat"

If something ate me at the moment with my skin affected gluten induced problems would it be good for them? I wouldn't wish me on them. Something isn't right so I couldn't be good for another animal consumer.

I have yet to read a formal study on the animal consumption who has consumed grains, so if anyone can send me in the right direction I would appreciate it.

If I ditch dairy my bones will get brittle, if I take too much carcinogen I may develop cancers. Why is grains and glutens so less invasive?

Unfortunately, most of my bookmarks are on my computer in the U.S., and I have very little here - I will have to import them. I have read studies (mostly on lectins (since that is my area of interest) where corn lectins have been found in the flesh of cattle, lectins being particularly indigestible and not designed particularly for cows' stomachs, but I have no reference for that tonight, and it is too late to try to recreate it. Lectins are pretty ubiquitous - in grasses, legumes - including soy, corn, nightshades, citrus, dairy.... However, you might be interested in this study done on rats by Dr. Freed and his group - it is anecdotal but has some referrences to studies: Open Original Shared Link So yes, we definitely are what we eat and a gluten eating organism may well not be very healthy or health-giving. See if you stilll think grains are less invasive after reading the article. They have done a number on me.

I personally cannot eat feedlot beef, only organic grass-fed. Whether it be the lectins or the antibiotics or the hormones or all of the above, goodness only knows. But it does make one wonder, even though I don't have the same problem with pork. Maybe pigs have digestive systems more suited to grains/lectins than cows.

And incidentally, google calcium sources - there are plenty of other sources besides dairy.

[IrishHeart]

Skylark answered the question for you , but in case you ask about eggs next (because many do ) here is a link to FAQ about gluten and if it is "passed through animals into their meat" or absorbed through the skin, etc.

If a packaged meat is marinated or has a spice rub or coating, however, then that's a whole different issue.

Open Original Shared Link

My apologies; it appears the link I provided earlier in the thread was broken.

Source: g f -glutenfree.com

Frequently asked Questions

Q. If I am a celiac, can I eat meat from animals that are fed on a grain diet?

A. All (non- processed) meat is gluten free. If the animal is fed a grain that contains gluten i.e. wheat or barley, the gluten is broken down during the digestive process (within the animal) and is not passed into the body tissues or any products produced by the animal i.e. Milk.

As for any scientific data, well, I'm still looking.

[BabsV]

I just had someone here in Poland tell me that I shouldn't eat grain fed meat because it would cause a reaction. I'd never heard that before...and since grass fed meat is oh, gonna be just about impossible to find where I am I'm glad it isn't the case! It was hard enough finding 'organic' which in this case means a little old lady near my daughter's school who raises turkeys and ducks -- I tell her what I want and the day I want it. She then slaughters, plucks and butchers it the morning of the day I want to get it.

So thank you all for posting and answering this question!

[IrishHeart]

I just had someone here in Poland tell me that I shouldn't eat grain fed meat because it would cause a reaction. I'd never heard that before...and since grass fed meat is oh, gonna be just about impossible to find where I am I'm glad it isn't the case! It was hard enough finding 'organic' which in this case means a little old lady near my daughter's school who raises turkeys and ducks -- I tell her what I want and the day I want it. She then slaughters, plucks and butchers it the morning of the day I want to get it.

So thank you all for posting and answering this question!

That's about as fresh as it gets! Must be very tasty!

I am still looking for any scientific evidence that gluten can pass into an animal's meat and then affect those gluten intolerants who eat it.

Just so we can put this issue to rest!

If an animal is sick, well, yes, that's a different thing.

If you--or anyone finds anything--please DO TELL. I am interested.

But I am VERY skeptical.

How can so many celiacs recover from flattened villi and be healthy if this were the case? right??

[lovegrov]

The ultimate proof for me is that the vast majority -- a huge percentage -- of folks with celiac eat any meat they like and are perfectly fine. In fact, on my doctor's orders I ate meat at every meal as I was recovering from undiagnosed celiac that nearly killed me, and yet I made a full and complete recovery after 11 days in the hospital and missing 10 weeks of work. I never once checked the feed status of the meat I consumed.

Anybody who wants to continue to fret about grain-fed meat containing gluten is of course welcome to do so, but any new folks reading this thread should realize that there are other much more important things to worry about.

richard

[IrishHeart]

Anybody who wants to continue to fret about grain-fed meat containing gluten is of course welcome to do so, but any new folks reading this thread should realize that there are other much more important things to worry about.

richard

EXACTLY!!! and amen to that!

I eat lots of meat protein--- as my muscles were severely impacted and I was sick for many years---I am healing just fine.

[Korwyn]

As for the rest, it seems to me the fat is important to healing neurological issues. Myelin is made primarily of fat, after all.

Not to mention that fat is our only other source of energy besides glucose.

I also had a horrible time kicking sugar and starch - I'd say it took me nearly three months to not feel addicted any more. Staying completely away from it was key for me... as was eating enough fat. When I don't eat fat, I crave sugar.

I have exactly the same issue. My craving for carbs is tied to my fat intake. If I'm getting most of my calories from fat and the remainder from protein then I'm OK. If I drop my fat intake I start craving carbs.

[Korwyn]

Also, not to start a flamewar, but there are a couple interesting (to me) articles listed below that indirectly address this issue and re-opens the question for me if the food of the food we eat really does affect us or not. I do know people who cannot eat poultry fed soy soy fed poultry, or corn fed beef for example.

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

When I first started reading about this a couple of things occurred to me. One would obviously be the impact of gluten (and other proteins) in the expression/activation of the gene(s) for Celiac Disease.

The second thing had to do with environmental adaptation (e.g. micro-evolution as opposed to macro evolution). So if scientists have Open Original Shared Link of the polar bear to a single brown bear from northern Ireland, I found the implied possibility that adaptation is triggered by the food eaten in the region rather than other environmental factors to be fascinating.

*Edited because you don't feed your poultry to your soy. At least I don't!

[Korwyn]

EXACTLY!!! and amen to that!

I eat lots of meat protein--- as my muscles were severely impacted and I was sick for many years---I am healing just fine.

Ditto! There are a lot more important things to worry. I'm very sensitive and meat has been essential to my healing.

The links I posted above were more for those who are interested in reading up on the subject and my point was more intended to be that there should be more research on the subject and it might not be an entirely closed case for some people.