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After following a gluten-free diet you might be wondering if you need to worry about gluten cross-reactive foods.
The basic argument is that gluten cross-reactive foods are foods that have proteins so similar to gluten that the body gets confused and treats them as gluten. Thus, potentially triggering a reaction in you despite that food item being gluten-free.
When you have celiac disease, your body identifies gluten not as food but as a bad guy in your body. Your immune system essentially adds gluten into it’s “database” as an enemy to watch out for. Then when you eat gluten, your body identifies it and launches an attack that causes damage to your small intestine.
The argument is that our immune system’s ability to remember and recognize gluten accurately is somewhat impaired. Essentially, our immune system can be confused by foods with similar proteins and thus, can launch a similar response against them.
Whether the science behind all of this is true is debatable, as so eloquently discussed in this article by the paleo foundation. Though there might be some weight behind it.
These foods are those that are argued to be potentially gluten cross-reactive foods.
First of all, how do you feel after going gluten-free? Are you still having symptoms or are your symptoms improving?
If your health is improving or improved, I wouldn’t even give these foods a second thought.
If you find yourself asking “why am I not getting better?” then perhaps consider talking with your health care professionals about eliminating and reintroducing these foods back into your diet.
However, I’d like to note, that there is a good chance gluten cross-reactive foods have nothing to do with persistent symptoms.
A question I get asked all the time is “how long until I start feeling better on a gluten-free diet” and the answer is that it all depends. Everyone’s journey is different and for some people it might take a couple weeks/months and others it might take a few years.
It’s important that you seek guidance from your health-care team when trying to better manage Celiac Disease symptoms. If you need help, sign up for my Celiac Coaching today!
While there is still a debate on whether or not these foods are truly cross-reactive, I do know one thing. If eliminating these foods makes you feel better, then do it.
Honestly, when you’re just trying to find symptom relief, the why behind improved symptom management after eliminating these foods, doesn’t matter too much. Whether they make you feel better after elimination because they are cross-reactive or just because they are frequently cross-contaminated foods doesn’t matter at the end of the day.
What matters is that you find a diet that makes you feel happy, energized, and good.