Gluten-free not working for you?

Image:  © Mauro Marini | Dreamstime Stock Photos

Researchers have found that foods other than gluten containing foods may cause an immune reaction in some people with Coeliac Disease or gluten sensitivity. These findings may explain why around 30% of people with Coeliac Disease do not get complete relief of symptoms even when on a gluten free diet. The foods that caused a reaction in the lab are cow’s milk, milk chocolate, the milk proteins: milk butyrophilin, whey protein and casein, yeast, oats, corn, millet, instant coffee and rice.
Obviously not every food in existence was tested and you may experience reactions to other foods for other reasons, so if your symptoms and digestive discomfort continue even after eliminating these foods, then further investigation is required.

What to eat
So, interestingly grains like corn, rice and millet which are often used in gluten free products may not be helping. Lactose free products will not be a useful alternative in this case as lactose free milk still contains the potentially troublesome for some milk proteins.

Foods tested by these researchers that may be safe for you are: sesame, 100% buckwheat, sorghum, hemp, amaranth, quinoa, tapioca, teff (a type of grain common in Ethiopia and becoming more available), soy (but limit this and only use products made from non-GMO whole soya beans), egg, and potatoes.

The researchers write that fresh pure coffee espresso, and Turkish, Armenian, Greek, and Israeli prepared coffee powder, pure cocoa, or milk-free dark chocolate may be safe as long as you don’t have a classical allergy to coffee or cacao. Stay clear of instant coffee as these products may be contaminated with traces of gluten.

A. Vojdani and I. Tarash, "Cross-Reaction between Gliadin and Different Food and Tissue Antigens," Food and Nutrition Sciences, Vol. 4 No. 1, 2013, pp. 20-32. doi: 10.4236/fns.2013.41005.