Gluten Allergy Symptoms, Gluten Intolerance and Gluten Sensitivity Symptoms and Solutions

Gluten-Free Bread Brands

Jan15
2012 Written by admin

Is delicious gluten free bread an oxymoron? It doesn’t have to be. Celiacs and consumers with gluten allergy symptoms enjoy a huge selection of gluten free bread brands today. Some are available only on-line, but many can be found in major grocery stores and health food retailers. There are a number of well known brands out there. Each specializes a bit with their product offerings. But that’s a good thing. Know what you do and do it well.

Although by no means a comprehensive list, a number of gluten free bread brands rise to the occasion for those who need or want to eliminate or limit gluten in their diets.

Gluten free bread brands

Against the Grain - the is a brand based in Vermont. They offer an array of breads including baguettes, bagels, and rolls. Their products DO contain dairy but are free of not only gluten but also soy, corn, yeast, rice and sugar. Against the Grain gluten free breads are sold frozen is major retailers including Whole Foods, Wegman’s, Bloom’s, Mrs. Green’s, and Earth Fare.

Ener-G Foods - This brand offers a large product line of loaves including white, tapioca, and rice. They are based in Seattle, WA and their products are available on line or in retailers such as Whole Foods, Publix, Stop & Shop, and some Kroger stores.

Food For Life – Based in California, this family-owned company bakes breads in white rice, almond, raisin pecan, red rice, brown rice, milet, and whole grain varieties. Look for them at your local health food store.

Glutino is a brand from Canada that is sold in Wegman’s, Food Lion, Giant, Whole Foods, and Target stores.

Kinnikinnick Foods offers a creative variety of gluten free breads such as white or brown rice sandwich bread, honey brown rice bread, cheese tapioca rice bread, raisin tapioca bread, and sunflower flax bread. If you have a taste for one of these, just visit Kroger, Giant, Whole Foods, or look for them on-line.

Rudi’s Gluten-Free is a brand many gluten allergy sufferers speak highly of. They offer not only a white sandwich bread, but also a multi-grain and a cinnamon raisin.

Finally, Udi’s Gluten Free may be the hands down champion if you tally up the comments on a number of other brands’ sites.

With all this said, it seems that the folks in the know prefer the smaller, perhaps harder to find at retail brands. Their comments indicate that these smaller companies produce some of the best tasting, widely varied product lines in the industry. Among those frequently praised for their delicious baked goods are:

Canyon Bakehouse
O’Doughs
Katz Gluten Free
Dr. Schar
Outside the Breadbox

But what about cost? Well, sadly, gluten free products are a specialty. They require special attention and care to create and produce. So the cost is generally higher. In fact, across the entire gluten free product offering, about 242% more than their gluten bearing counterparts. But there are ways to offset that cost. If you have a need or taste for gluten free bread brands, look for coupons on-line. And don’t forget that many web-only sellers offer great deals, specials, and sometimes free shipping. All of these can help you reduce the cost of your specialized diet and keep your gluten allergies at bay.

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Is Oatmeal Gluten-Free?

Jan08
2012 Written by admin

For many of us, we grew up eating a warm bowl of oatmeal on cool fall and winter mornings. The idea of not being able to eat oatmeal anymore due to gluten allergy symptoms can bring a tear to one’s eye. Upon discovering their sensitivity to gluten, most individuals go on a strict no-grain diet and stick to products that are clearly labeled as “gluten free.” Rightfully so, as so many of us wish to avoid those uncomfortable and distressing reactions to gluten.

But is avoiding oatmeal entirely necessary? Is oatmeal gluten-free? As is often the case, the answer is not a simple “yes” or “no.”  It depends…

Is oatmeal gluten-free?

History of Oatmeal and Gluten Sensitivity

The initial studies of oats and gluten-sensitive individuals produced mixed results with some indicating that oats did affect those with gluten sensitivity symptoms and others producing no effect. The reason for the variation in the studies is that oats are often contaminated by other grains such as wheat, barley and rye. These grains are known to definitely have an effect on individuals with gluten allergies and therefore produce the same effects when contaminated oats are consumed in great quantities.

For years, all oats were classified as unsafe for individuals with celiac disease or gluten intolerance issues. Recent studies have found that different varieties of oats have varying levels of toxicity. A 2008 study revealed that 85 of 109 sources of oats were contaminated by wheat, barley and rye at a level that would be deemed unsafe for gluten-sensitive individuals (greater than 20mg per kg).

Gluten-Free Oatmeal Options

Although current guidelines still do not recommend oats for those with gluten allergy symptoms, it is still possible to find oats labeled as gluten-free on the market. Presumably, these manufacturers have tested their oats for gluten levels that are less than 20mg per kg and ensured that they are not contaminated.

Browsing through your local grocery store, you will likely find some gluten-free oatmeal choices. Bob’s Red Mill and Trader Joe’s both offer varieties for sale. If you can’t find it locally, you will certainly be able to order online.

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Gluten Sensitivity Symptoms

Dec26
2011 Written by admin

Gluten allergy symptoms seem to be showing up more and more in the western world. This is largely due to the fact that most westerners rely heavily on a diet of wheat-based products and processed foods containing hidden wheat-derived ingredients.

Wheat is not the problem per se, it is actually the protein “gluten” found within wheat that causes gluten sensitivity symptoms in so many people.  In the extreme, the most severe reactions to gluten can be found in individuals with celiac disease.  However, medical professionals consider celiac disease to be an autoimmune disorder, and while it shares some of the same symptoms, it’s more clearly defined and recognizable than gluten allergy symptoms.

gluten-sensitivity-wheat

Historically, doctors didn’t have a diagnosis for those individuals who tested negative for celiac disease or wheat allergy, but still experienced symptoms associated with gluten consumption.  In a recent study published in BMC Medicine, researchers gluten sensitivity as a condition separate from celiac disease.  With celiac disease, the intestine is actually damaged.  Patients only exhibiting gluten sensitivity, however, don’t have this damage.  The researchers revealed that 1% of of the population has celiac disease. In contrast, they believe that roughly 10% of all people experience some type of reaction to gluten!

Gluten Allergy Symptoms

So what are some examples of gluten sensitivity symptoms? The most prevalent symptom of gluten sensitivity is discomfort or hyperactivity in the digestive system.  In fact, many people who believe they suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) may actually be reacting to gluten in their diet.

Other common symptoms include acid reflux, fatigue, joint pain, infertility and ulcers.  Aside from the physical symptoms, many people experience emotional and psychological symptoms such as mental fog, depression and ADHD.

Treatment

So what do you do if you’re experiencing these symptoms?  Well, the first and most obvious step is to avoid foods containing gluten.  Besides bread and pasta, gluten is hiding in some, if not most, of the processed foods you will find in the grocery store.  While it’s not easy, the simplest solution is to try sticking to a paleo-type diet.  This type of diet avoids processed foods altogether in favor of meats, fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts and tubers.

If you feel that you must include processed, packaged foods in your diet, there are more and more products being made available that are labeled as “Gluten Free.”  Clearly, manufactures have realized the need that exists in the marketplace for those with gluten sensitivity symptoms.

With a little planning and a watchful eye, it’s possible to avoid consuming gluten and you’ll never have to experience gluten allergy symptoms again!

Image: Master isolated images / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Gluten Allergy Symptoms

Dec20
2011 Written by admin

What is a gluten allergy?

A gluten allergy is a type of wheat allergy.  Gluten describes types of seed storage proteins found in wheat.  If a person has a reaction to either of the gluten proteins “prolamins” or “glutelins” they are considered to have a gluten allergy symptoms.  That’s as much detail as we’ll get into here regarding the mechanism of a gluten allergy.  For more of the science on gluten allergies check out wikipedia.

gluten allergy wheat field

What are common symptoms of a gluten allergy?

Some common symptoms experienced by people who have gluten allergies, gluten intolerance, or gluten sensitivity are:

Eczema (atopic dermatitis)

From Wikipedia:
“The term eczema is broadly applied to a range of persistent skin conditions. These include dryness and recurring skin rashes that are characterized by one or more of these symptoms: redness, skin edema (swelling), itching and dryness, crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing, or bleeding.”

Hives

From Wikipedia:
“…a kind of skin rash notable for pale red, raised, itchy bumps.”

Asthma

From Wikipedia:
“…the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.”

“Hay fever” (allergic rhinitis)

From Wikipedia:
“…sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, swelling and inflammation of the nasal passages, and an increase in mucus production.”

Angioedema

From Wikipedia:
“Tissue swelling due to fluid leakage from blood vessels[...]The skin of the face, normally around the mouth, and the mucosa of the mouth and/or throat, as well as the tongue, swell up over the period of minutes to several hours.”

Abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting

Self-explanatory.

Treatment for Gluten Allergy Symptoms

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms and you believe you may have a gluten allergy you can obviously see your physician for testing.  However, the simplest, cheapest test would just be to eliminate gluten containing foods from your diet for a period of a few weeks to see if the symptoms improve.  What do you have to lose?

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