Glutened - so annoying. Glutegard any good?

[Tasker]

I've been gluten-free for about 8 months and feeling much better for it, but now for the third time in recent weeks I've been glutened when eating out, despite eating food that should have been fine. I've had a headache all day and my belly has blown up like a balloon, and I know I will feel grotty and brain-foggy and anxious and low in mood for the next three or four days. So annoying, especially as this time it must have been at a pub where I've eaten GF before with no problem. For the first few months I must have been v lucky as episodes of contamination were rare, but this is now the third in about five weeks. I love meeting up with friends over a meal out or coffee at a cafe, and some of my work meetings are working lunches, but now it feels like I just can't keep taking the risk. Aaagh!!

I'm not coeliac (well, never tested, but don't think my symptoms indicated that) but having stopped gluten after advice from this forum, I can now really tell the difference when I have the tiniest bit by mistake. I saw a product called Glutegard advertised for sale on line which says it helps your gut to process gluten and so guards against the effects of contamination. Wondering if it's worth getting some (v expensive especially as sent from Australia, and I'm in UK) to take when I eat out in future. Has anyone tried it? Does it work?

[Rmichelle]

Ooh im celiac and never heard of this?? Interesting though, its very difficult eating out as you have to put your trust in other people-even though it says gf it can still be contaminated by people using glutened utensils, ovens, work surfaces, hands etc. Oohi was glutenesed around 3 weeks ago at my mother-in-laws house i get really ill-vomiting and cramps. You should ask on the gluten free guerallars forum. Good luck.

[Tasker in reply to Rmichelle]

Thanks for your reply. It reminds me that I am fortunate that my reaction to gluten is not as bad as it is for some; I feel for you with your worse reaction. It's been interesting to discover that ny reaction is not just physical but that it also affects my mental/emotional state. That bears out what others on here say about the gut-brain connection.

Will take a look at the other forum you mention - thanks.

[Cooper27]

I've read about glute guard, but I haven't found any comments about it that sound like they're from a real person and not just a good marketing department. If you do try it, let us know how you get on!

[Tasker in reply to Cooper27]

I might give it a go, not least because I will be travelling in Africa with work for a couple of weeks later this year and especially in more remote areas it will be tricky to avoid contamination, so if I can find something that guards against the effects of that it'll give me peace of mind and help me make the most of the trip. Will report back!

[Cooper27 in reply to Tasker]

I guess the tough thing is, if glutegard does work, you'll not really know! In fact, that was the one review I did find, something like: 'my wife has been taking it, so far she hasn't been glutened, but we can't tell if that's thanks to glutegard, or if we've just been lucky in restaurants'

[Rmichelle in reply to Cooper27]

Yes i think that is a good point-i surpose the only drastic way to find out is to eat a gluten food-madness for us celiacs as i would not entertain throwing up with cramps for the next 24hours😠😠

[Tasker in reply to Cooper27]

Yes, you're right. Tricky to weigh up whether it's worth trying or not! Could be a very expensive placebo.

[Peanut31 in reply to Cooper27]

I found this article as I was also interested.

coeliac.org.nz/announcement...

[Tasker in reply to Peanut31]

Thanks for the link. I definitely intend to stay strictly GF but if Glutegard might help with inadvertent contamination when eating out or travelling, it might be very useful.

[Peanut31 in reply to Tasker]

Yes, absolutely especially when travelling.

Best Wishes

Peanut31

[Cooper27 in reply to Peanut31]

Thanks! I did read it back when. My OH is coeliac, so I definitely wouldn't recommend it as an alternative to a GF diet, it's just to protect against cross contamination. We always eat in restaurants recommended by other coeliacs, but sometimes he'll get sick, and that means time off work. If it just means less of that, that would be great!

[Hidden in reply to Cooper27]

What do you buy and how do you take it? Thanks, irina

[Tasker in reply to Hidden]

I haven't bought anything yet; just considering the options...

[Ashanat]

I’ve read that activated charcoal works for this! I take for detox and on a recent trip a friend was glutened, took some and improved :). It’s cheap as chips too

[Tasker in reply to Ashanat]

Cheap sounds good! Will give that a go. Thanks.

[Ashanat in reply to Tasker]

Worth a try, it’s what hospitals use for drug and alcohol poisoning!! It’s very effective for a hangover in my experience too 😁

[Josiesmum]

Here's one you can get in the UK that was recommended to me:

healthmonthly.co.uk/enzymed...

This is a less expensive one:

amazon.co.uk/BioCare-Gluten...

[Tasker in reply to Josiesmum]

Interesting, thanks. Will look into that.

[Marz]

Glutenza is another product I have read about ...

[Tasker in reply to Marz]

Thanks for the suggestion.

[Sheffield6]

I went gluten free for 7 months but found no improvement.

[Marz in reply to Sheffield6]

Gluten damage is invisible - so perhaps the improvement is also. Read Dr Datis Kharrazians book - Why Isn't My Brain Working - where he mentions how gluten molecules can penetrate the blood brain barrier and cause inflammation So much going on in side - we only know about it when it's too late - if we ignore it that is

[Tasker in reply to Sheffield6]

I think it's quite individual. But I have found very obvious improvements (fewer gut issues, migraines almost completely stopped, and more) and I'm guessing there are probably invisible improvements too, as Marz says.

[Cup-cake7]

Im sorry iv not heard if it have you got ingredients

Wondering also if worth looking into digestive ensyme

I know some take it at meal whenever unsure

Also important to remember the base to heal leaky gut and bacteria, helps me no end all round when gut string

Good luck

[Cup-cake7 in reply to Cup-cake7]

Sorry!!! Lol on phone and didnt see replies

Like the sound of glutese etc

[Tasker in reply to Cup-cake7]

Thanks. Am also making my own kefir to try to heal gut so hopefully that's helping too!

[Cup-cake7]

Good for,you tasker!! Il try follow in footsteps. I saw a bio chemist this week who stressed the importance this is why a lot of conditions materialise and the antibodies, the body sees the little bits that get through the lining as invaders!!! So clever lol

Bone broth another good one A bit of expense but Nutri do two products for lining and flora x