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Reaction To Buckwheat And Other Grains?

SGRhapsodos

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SGRhapsodos Rookie
SGRhapsodos
Posted

Does anyone else react to buckwheat and feels ill after having corn, rice, etc? I just ate some buckwheat (they say it's safe) and feel awful, brain fog, stomachache, bloating... If I eat rice for many days in a row I won't get constipated and too much corn does the same. It seems the one way I feel great is when I eat potatoes or roots and stuff. Anyone have this?

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captaincrab55 Collaborator
captaincrab55
Posted

Tell us more about the buckwheat you ate?? The brand? Was it Gluten Free???

srall Contributor
srall
Posted

Rice is the only grain that doesn't make me sick. Corn for me is very similar to wheat. Terrible bloating, nausea, brain fog and exhaustion.

I do agree though to check the brand. You need to make sure it's labeled gluten free.

psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted

Buckwheat, despite the name, is not a grain at all. It would be gluten-free unless somehow contaminated.

YoloGx Rookie
YoloGx
Posted

Many here find relief going on a grain free paleo diet or specific carbohydrate diet. Perhaps you will too? There are threads here for both diets I believe. Check it out on the search section.

GAPS might help you too actually. Threads here for that too.

Fermented lacto sauerkraut cabbage is really helping out me and my boyfriend and a good friend of ours, though we do eat brown rice. We start by either using live whey from yogurt or a probiotic and ferment the cabbage with salt at least a week, though usually longer. It helps re-enliven the gut often damaged not only from celiac but also too many antibiotics and so called "dead" foods.

I am also salicylate sensitive, which is a whole other matter--though it makes me very sensitive to corn products. Suffice to say I discovered I have many sensitivities to all kinds of things.

Due to that, I got my own grain grinder to avoid CC from tree nuts and other grains besides just gluten. I have yet to try it, but will soon do so. The idea is to wash and dry the whole grains first, picking out any stray other items that might be in it.

Meanwhile in the morning I do use the blender to coarsely grind my own brown rice to make a porridge. Many here swear that it is easy to get CC'd from gluten by the various "gluten free" grain mills.

I also find its best to always wash my hands before I touch them to my mouth--and don't let anyone "graciously" open my water bottle for me etc. etc.--again due to CC concerns. I also don't ever eat anything that has been baked in an oven that has been used to also bake gluten. Many here are not that sensitive, however I am--as well as my friend and my boyfriend.

And yes, my boyfriend, friend and I have all reacted badly to buckwheat. I hear it often is difficult to get it completely gluten free--similar to difficulties with millet.

Good luck!

Bea

SGRhapsodos Rookie
SGRhapsodos
Posted
  • Author

The brand I bought was "kasha" and it is labeled gluten free. I wanted to give it a try since I love my carbs but can't seem to tolerate any of them (my post above was a typo, too many days of rice will constipate me and bloat me to the point where I can't wear my clothes). I also react to gluten-free oats. They give me a rash. I was just very surprised by the reaction I had to buckwheat. The pain in my gut was almos as bad as wheat! I cook my own meals, so I know I didn't put any sauces with gluten there.

Thanks for that sauerkraut idea! My hubs is German so he'll love to have me make some.

YoloGx Rookie
YoloGx
Posted

The brand I bought was "kasha" and it is labeled gluten free. I wanted to give it a try since I love my carbs but can't seem to tolerate any of them (my post above was a typo, too many days of rice will constipate me and bloat me to the point where I can't wear my clothes). I also react to gluten-free oats. They give me a rash. I was just very surprised by the reaction I had to buckwheat. The pain in my gut was almos as bad as wheat! I cook my own meals, so I know I didn't put any sauces with gluten there.

Thanks for that sauerkraut idea! My hubs is German so he'll love to have me make some.

The kasha we had was said to be gluten free too. But apparently it wasn't entirely. Either that or we all were so alike that we reacted to it?? I doubt it.

Am glad to hear you want to try out making the sauerkraut. There are lots of examples of how to on U-tube. I chose the whey inoculated type since it ferments more quickly, is less likely to go "off" and has the kind of organisms I want to combat gut dysbiosis from too many antibiotics.

And yes, I make my own yogurt too--fermented 24 hours to get rid of all lingering lactose--plus I also get more intense dose of probiotics that way too. I use Greek yogurt as a starter. And thus just use the whey from my home made yogurt as starter for my sauerkraut.

I also chose to add in chopped garlic and leeks to the sauerkraut to make it tastier and less likely to get bad strains of bacteria. So far it has worked beautifully!

I just ordered a book on making this and other fermented foods. I would really like to make my own miso too...

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dilettantesteph Collaborator
dilettantesteph
Posted

Sometimes gluten free grains can be contaminated. Open Original Shared Link

You might be able to tolerate a different brand.

You said you can't tolerate gluten free oats. Was the kasha Bob's Red Mill brand? They process their gluten free foods in the same facility where they process their gluten free oats. They clean carefully between runs, but if you are very sensitive to oats, you might have problems with that brand.

RiceGuy Collaborator
RiceGuy
Posted

Kasha is the name given to roasted buckwheat. It's not a brand name.

Anyway, I haven't found a single brand of buckwheat groats that isn't contaminated. Every brand I've investigated is at least grown and transported along with wheat. Regardless of the facility it is processed in, it will very likely be contaminated even before it gets there :( This goes for Bob's Red Mill too. They are no exception. It doesn't matter if it says gluten-free on the label. I've already tried brands which supposedly test for 20ppm gluten, and still got glutened :( Although Wolff's and Pocono Brands (The Birkett Mills) are not available to me, so I haven't had them but once or twice, thus don't know if they are reliably gluten-free. Usually what happens is that I'll be fine with some batches and not with others. It just depends on the level of contamination in a given batch.

Only one brand of buckwheat flour I've found is truly safe, as the company grows, transports, mills and packages it themselves, and they only grow buckwheat. Their product has been reliably safe, but the variety of buckwheat is French Acadian, which is not suited for groats, so they only sell it as buckwheat flour.

As was stated in another post, buckwheat is not actually a grain. It's a seed related to rhubarb. But it functions well as a grain in food. So it's often referred to as a pseudo-grain. Others include amaranth and quinoa.

SGRhapsodos Rookie
SGRhapsodos
Posted
  • Author

The box said clearly gluten free, but you know how it is, you can't trust anything. I still feel like there a brick in my stomach and it's been a day. I was reading about lectins and how they affect some people with autoimmune diseases.

sa1937 Community Regular
sa1937
Posted

Although Wolff's and Pocono Brands (The Birkett Mills) are not available to me, so I haven't had them but once or twice, thus don't know if they are reliably gluten-free. Usually what happens is that I'll be fine with some batches and not with others. It just depends on the level of contamination in a given batch.

I bought some Wolff's Kasha at my local Wal-Mart in the section with Jewish foods but I haven't tried them yet. They're marked gluten-free so I hope I don't react to them.

SGRhapsodos Rookie
SGRhapsodos
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the advice, guys! I guess it's better to stay off grains, period. If I eat veggies, potatoes, fruit and meat I feel good all day :-). Just miss the good ol' carbs. I used to LOVE my bread! The gluten-free brands don't do it for me. Good luck with trying out the buckwheat and I hope others can add it to their list of foods.

mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

I can eat buckwheat just fine; it's the corn, quinoa, millet and amaranth that get to me :( Have you tried sorghum? I understand with the whole grain that you can pop it like popcorn though I haven't tried it yet.

Roda Rising Star
Roda
Posted

I bought some Wolff's Kasha at my local Wal-Mart in the section with Jewish foods but I haven't tried them yet. They're marked gluten-free so I hope I don't react to them.

Hey Sylvia, so far I tolerate Pocono brand cream of buckwheat cereal. It's from Birkett Mills too. I can't get the kasha around here.

dilettantesteph Collaborator
dilettantesteph
Posted

I bought some Wolff's Kasha at my local Wal-Mart in the section with Jewish foods but I haven't tried them yet. They're marked gluten-free so I hope I don't react to them.

I can eat their whole buckwheat groats but I haven't tried their Kasha. I react to almost everything so that's a good sign. Good luck.

RiceGuy Collaborator
RiceGuy
Posted

I bought some Wolff's Kasha at my local Wal-Mart in the section with Jewish foods but I haven't tried them yet. They're marked gluten-free so I hope I don't react to them.

Yeah, did check the local Walmart, but apparently they don't all carry the same stuff.

Thanks for the advice, guys! I guess it's better to stay off grains, period. If I eat veggies, potatoes, fruit and meat I feel good all day :-). Just miss the good ol' carbs. I used to LOVE my bread! The gluten-free brands don't do it for me. Good luck with trying out the buckwheat and I hope others can add it to their list of foods.

Well, grains aren't the only carb source. Not by a long shot. The potatoes you mention are quite carby. Sweet potatoes are as well, though they digest more slowly, so don't spike blood sugar like white potatoes tend to do. So this and other complex carbs may be what you'd feel more satisfied with, being slower to digest. Winter squashes including pumpkin, butternut, etc are also good complex carb sources. Many veggies offer a fair amount of complex carbs, and while the total starch content in most aren't generally as much as potatoes, they tend to take longer to digest. Therefore you may feel fuller longer.

I can eat buckwheat just fine; it's the corn, quinoa, millet and amaranth that get to me :( Have you tried sorghum? I understand with the whole grain that you can pop it like popcorn though I haven't tried it yet.

I wonder if you'd be able to eat kaniwa without trouble. Said to be somewhat related to quinoa, but without the saponin content. Ever try teff?

Although sorghum can be popped, it has to be the right kind, or you'll end up with mostly toasted grains, only a few of which popped. There are a few places online where it can be purchased, but as usual, the price is kinda high since consumer demand is relatively low.

One pseudo-grain I haven't had the chance to try is Job's Tears. It is sometimes called Chinese Pearl Barley, which obviously doesn't help properly identify it.

sa1937 Community Regular
sa1937
Posted

Hey Sylvia, so far I tolerate Pocono brand cream of buckwheat cereal. It's from Birkett Mills too. I can't get the kasha around here.

...and I haven't found the Pocono brand of cream of buckwheat. I was surprised to find the Wolff's Kasha at Wal-Mart of all places. Except for "normal" gluten-free foods like some Progresso soups, Chex cereals, etc., our Wal-Mart is just not very celiac friendly.

SGRhapsodos Rookie
SGRhapsodos
Posted
  • Author

@RIceguy:

You are very right! I'm beginning to find new fondness for carrots and squash, zucchini, and I'm beginning to see that if I increase my fruit intake, I don't crave carbs as much. Who would've known that I could be well fed on a diet full of fruits and veggies? In my country it's not very common that you don't eat your breads and rice, so my family is appalled. I just take it with a grain of salt.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

Hey Sylvia, so far I tolerate Pocono brand cream of buckwheat cereal. It's from Birkett Mills too. I can't get the kasha around here.

That is the brand I go with also. I have never had a CC issue with any of their products.

SGRhapsodos Rookie
SGRhapsodos
Posted
  • Author

That is the brand I go with also. I have never had a CC issue with any of their products.

Sounds interesting. Maybe I'll wait a bit and then give it a try. Let me wait until the gut heals a bit.

dilettantesteph Collaborator
dilettantesteph
Posted

You can get Birkett Mills products online. thebirkettmills.com

Roda Rising Star
Roda
Posted

You can get Birkett Mills products online. thebirkettmills.com

Yeah, have you seen their shipping? The last time I checked it was a lot. I may have to bite the bullet and order in the future though.

RiceGuy Collaborator
RiceGuy
Posted

Yeah, have you seen their shipping? The last time I checked it was a lot. I may have to bite the bullet and order in the future though.

You might find it for a decent price by the case on Amazon, especially if there's a free shipping option. But you obviously have to be sure you can use it.

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

I eat the POCONO brand without any problems. :)

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

The box said clearly gluten free, but you know how it is, you can't trust anything. I still feel like there a brick in my stomach and it's been a day.

Just curious...how long have you been gluten-free?

Could be you are just still healing your gut and unable to digest some complex starchy carbs. It is not always about gluten and possible CC.

I know it took me a while ( 9-10 MONTHS) before I could handle some of the more starchy carbs. My GI tract was a mess.

Lactose and complex carbs--the hardest to digest at first. Blunted villi, insufficient enzymes, etc.

My doc says some people take 2 years for gut healing. (that's probably going to be me...sigh) :rolleyes:

Just suggesting--before you start assuming some products are unsafe. :)

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I’m working a temporary job right now that involves: • Powder coating • Sandblasting • Wet spray painting • Anodizing There’s also a laboratory. I don’t need this job, and my OCD makes me believe that dust or air particles there might contain gluten somehow. Should I quit?   Doctors Haven’t Helped My family doctor told me: “Asymptomatic celiac isn’t serious, if you have no symptoms, your intestines won’t get damaged, so you don’t need a gluten-free diet.” I knew that was wrong, but he wasn’t open to listening. I just nodded and didn‘t argue. My gastroenterologist (who’s also a dietitian) said: „If your antibodies are negative, there’s no damage. It might even be okay to try small amounts of gluten later if antibodies stay negative.“ Also said, pepper that says “may contain gluten” is fine if it only contains pepper. She was more informed than my family doctor but didn’t seem to fully understand celiac either.   Questions I Need Help With 1. Is it realistically safe to eat food my mom cooks, if we get separate pans/ and boards even if gluten is still used in the same kitchen? There will always be low risk of cc chances like that she will still touch stuff that was touched by her and my siblings after they ate gluten. And as there are gluten eaters in the house and she also prepares and eats gluten. So would opening the fridge then getting the food and touching the food be okay? So basically what i am doing, washing my hands multiple times while preparing food, she would only wash it once before, then touch anything else (for example water tap or handles) that were touched with gluteny hands, then also touch the food. I dont know if I ever could feel safe, I could try telling her how important cc really is. And I trust her so she wouldnt lie to me then be careless about cc, but idk how safe it really can be if she and everyone else keeps eating gluten and touching stuff in the house after eating. 2. Do I need to worry about touching doorknobs, fridge handles, light switches, etc. that family members touched after eating gluten? What about public places like bus handles or school desks? Or like if i went to the gym, I would be touching stuff all the time, so there will be small amounts of gluten and those would get transferred on my phone if I touch my phone while in the gym. But I want to knos if it would be enough to do damage. 3. Is an endoscopy (without biopsy) enough to tell if my intestines are healed? I’d pay privately if it could help and if i dont get a refferal. Or do i need a biopsy? 4. Could my job (powder coating, sandblasting, etc.) expose me to gluten or damage my intestines through air/dust? 5. Do I need certified gluten-free toothpaste, hand soap, shampoo, or moisturizer? (For example: Vaseline and Colgate don’t contain gluten ingredients but say they can’t guarantee it’s gluten-free.) 6. Is spices like pepper with “may contain traces of gluten” safe if no gluten ingredients are listed? Or does everything need to be labeled gluten-free?  7. Is continuing to only eat my own food the better choice, or could I eventually go back to eating what my mom cooks if she’s careful? 8. is cutlery from dishwasher safe if there are stains? Stuff like knives is used for cutting gluten bread or fork for noodles etc. I often see stains which i dont know if its gluten or something else but our dish washer doesnt seem to make it completely clean. 9. I wash my hands multiple times while preparing food. Do i need to do the same when touching my phone. Like if i touch the fridge handle, I wash my hands then touch the phone. I dont eat while using my phone but i leave it on my bed and pillow and my face could come in contact with where it was.  10. Do i need to clean my phone or laptop if theyve been used by people who eat gluten? Even if no crumbs fall onto my keybaord, i mean because of invisible gluten on their fingers. 11. Does medication/supplements have to be strictly glutenfree? One company said they couldn‘t guarantee if their probiotics don’t contain traces of gluten.  12. I had bought supplements in the past, some of them say glutenfree and some of them dont(like the brand „NOW“ from iherb). I bought them and used them when i wasnt washing my hands so often, are they still safe? As I touched and opened them after touching door knobs, water taps etc. It was like a year ago when i bought those and even though i was eating gluten-free, I never worried about what i touch etc. I know this post is long. I’m just extremely overwhelmed. I’m trying to protect myself from long-term health damage, but the OCD is destroying my quality of life, and I honestly don’t know what’s a reasonable level of caution anymore. Thanks for reading.
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