Last Updated: 12/22/2020
Are you gluten free but still suffering with digestive problems?
If so, you are not alone.
When first diagnosed with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, it’s very common to place your entire focus on switching to a gluten-free diet. And yes, that's an extremely important step that you need to take.
However, a gluten-free diet is only part of the problem.
Cross contamination with gluten, gluten hidden in non-food products, and additional food or chemical sensitivities also play a major role in continuing digestive problems that can seriously interfere with healing and make you feel like your gluten-free diet isn’t working.
Super sensitivity is a real thing, so here's what you need to know about cross contact if you're gluten free but still having gluten symptoms.
Do You Need to Use Gluten-Free Products?
Switching to a gluten-free lifestyle can at first be difficult and overwhelming. There is a lot to investigate and a lot to learn.
For that reason, most people try to direct their attention toward obtaining safe gluten-free food and minimizing the potential for cross contamination with gluten.
But for many people with gluten issues, that isn’t enough.
If you continue to use non-food items that contain gluten, the gluten in those personal care and household products can find their way into your digestive system and keep you feeling ill.
For complete healing, many people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity have found that they need to do the same type of detective work with their personal care products that they did with food.
That means switching to completely gluten-free products.
But for many people with gluten issues, that isn’t enough.
If you continue to use non-food items that contain gluten, the gluten in those personal care and household products can find their way into your digestive system and keep you feeling ill.
For complete healing, many people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity have found that they need to do the same type of detective work with their personal care products that they did with food.
That means switching to completely gluten-free products.
Yes, I know that this recommendation goes against the prevailing opinion within the celiac community, but for those who are extra sensitive to gluten, it only takes a tiny amount to trigger an autoimmune reaction. Less than a single bread crumb.
For others, it can take a bit more.
Either way, you can strictly follow your gluten-free diet, yet not get any better.
There is no scientific evidence to back up the theory that the gluten molecule is too large to pass through the skin.
But Dr. Peter Green in his book, Celiac Disease: A Hidden Epidemic, claims that to be true. In addition, he also says that gluten can only be absorbed through the digestive track.
Since many hold Dr. Green up to be a trusted authority on the subject of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity, his opinion has led many people to believe that using gluten-free non-food products is a personal preference, rather than a health issue.
Those who follow Dr. Green also insist that gluten must be ingested in order to cause an autoimmune reaction of any type, and therefore continued digestive issues due to non-food products is impossible.
However, quite a few celiacs, gluten-sensitive individuals, and their physicians disagree.
Through experiences with gluten products themselves or patients, these people have discovered that ingesting gluten is easy to do, especially in the shower or around the house.
In addition, many of these same individuals and celiac specialists also believe that dermatitis herpetiformis is more common among celiacs than originally supposed. If that’s true, then gluten-free products are more important for healing than most people think.
Take a moment and consider the potential problems.
If there is gluten in the hand cream you use, you contaminate not only yourself but everything you touch.
For example, your:
If there is gluten in your shampoo or soaps, it will get all over your hands in the shower. Gluten in your hair conditioner would find its way onto your hands every time you touch your hair because it leaves waxy residues behind due to the stickiness of wheat gluten.
If you breathe in gluten particles when using hairspray or personal care products with fragrance, you could also swallow it and ingest it that way.
Plus, if gluten can find its way into the body through your eyes or nose, in addition to your mouth, then that could potentially set you up for many dangerous conditions.
Gluten ataxia and other neurological disorders, brain injuries, or problems with your lungs would only be a few of the potential dangers because if your body perceives gluten to be a threat, it will attack it wherever it’s found.
It won’t just confine its forces to inside your digestive tract.
With almost every product on the market containing some form of fragrance, perfume, or scent, it can be a major challenge to find true gluten-free products – especially since gluten hides behind chemical names and fragrances.
Either way, you can strictly follow your gluten-free diet, yet not get any better.
Can Gluten Be Absorbed Through the Skin?
There is no scientific evidence to back up the theory that the gluten molecule is too large to pass through the skin.
But Dr. Peter Green in his book, Celiac Disease: A Hidden Epidemic, claims that to be true. In addition, he also says that gluten can only be absorbed through the digestive track.
Since many hold Dr. Green up to be a trusted authority on the subject of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity, his opinion has led many people to believe that using gluten-free non-food products is a personal preference, rather than a health issue.
Those who follow Dr. Green also insist that gluten must be ingested in order to cause an autoimmune reaction of any type, and therefore continued digestive issues due to non-food products is impossible.
However, quite a few celiacs, gluten-sensitive individuals, and their physicians disagree.
Through experiences with gluten products themselves or patients, these people have discovered that ingesting gluten is easy to do, especially in the shower or around the house.
In addition, many of these same individuals and celiac specialists also believe that dermatitis herpetiformis is more common among celiacs than originally supposed. If that’s true, then gluten-free products are more important for healing than most people think.
Take a moment and consider the potential problems.
If there is gluten in the hand cream you use, you contaminate not only yourself but everything you touch.
For example, your:
- kitchen towels
- cell phone
- dishes
- door knobs
- light switches
- remote control
If there is gluten in your shampoo or soaps, it will get all over your hands in the shower. Gluten in your hair conditioner would find its way onto your hands every time you touch your hair because it leaves waxy residues behind due to the stickiness of wheat gluten.
If you breathe in gluten particles when using hairspray or personal care products with fragrance, you could also swallow it and ingest it that way.
Plus, if gluten can find its way into the body through your eyes or nose, in addition to your mouth, then that could potentially set you up for many dangerous conditions.
Gluten ataxia and other neurological disorders, brain injuries, or problems with your lungs would only be a few of the potential dangers because if your body perceives gluten to be a threat, it will attack it wherever it’s found.
It won’t just confine its forces to inside your digestive tract.
Finding Gluten-Free Products is Difficult
With almost every product on the market containing some form of fragrance, perfume, or scent, it can be a major challenge to find true gluten-free products – especially since gluten hides behind chemical names and fragrances.
Some products to watch out for are:
Fragrances and scents are trade secrets.
And trade secrets are protected by law.
The company doesn’t have to tell you what the ingredients are, so company representatives have been trained to assure you that their company doesn’t add gluten to their products.
That statement – “we don’t add gluten” – should be a red flag.
Perfumes, fragrances, and scents are purchased from other companies. While the statement is essentially true, the company probably doesn't add gluten themselves, a product that is thought to be gluten free might not be.
There is no way to know if a product is gluten free unless a company is willing to 100 percent guarantee that the fragrance, perfume, or scent they use is gluten free.
- over the counter and prescription meds
- lipstick and chapsticks
- shampoo and conditioner
- body wash, facial wash, and soaps
- toothpaste and mouthwash
- facial moisturizers and hand creams
- perfumes and air fresheners
- all types of cosmetics
- cleaning supplies
- adhesives
- feminine products
- powdered disposable gloves
Fragrances and scents are trade secrets.
And trade secrets are protected by law.
The company doesn’t have to tell you what the ingredients are, so company representatives have been trained to assure you that their company doesn’t add gluten to their products.
That statement – “we don’t add gluten” – should be a red flag.
Perfumes, fragrances, and scents are purchased from other companies. While the statement is essentially true, the company probably doesn't add gluten themselves, a product that is thought to be gluten free might not be.
There is no way to know if a product is gluten free unless a company is willing to 100 percent guarantee that the fragrance, perfume, or scent they use is gluten free.
This is why many gluten-free dieters have switched to fragrance-free varieties of personal care products.
It is recommended by most celiac organizations that dairy products be eliminated from the diet for the first 6 months that you are gluten free.
Oats should be eliminated for the entire first year.
Dairy Products and Oats
It is recommended by most celiac organizations that dairy products be eliminated from the diet for the first 6 months that you are gluten free.
Oats should be eliminated for the entire first year.
Did you know that?
Most celiacs do not.
However, the length of time it takes for the intestines to heal will differ from individual to individual. The older you are or the longer you’ve had gluten issues without being diagnosed and treated, the longer it will take for you to heal.
For many individuals, 6 months or even a year isn't long enough to go without dairy and oats. I personally had to go off dairy for over two years. I also found myself reacting to GMO corn and certain chemicals during that time.
Dairy products and oats are both known to be inflammatory. As long as your intestines are still inflamed, you’ll continue to have digestive issues because you won’t be able to absorb dietary fats or nutrients very well.
Sometimes, that is a temporary situation and sometimes it’s permanent, especially if you're getting consistently exposed to a low-level of gluten.
Either way, if you continue eating inflammatory foods, your body can’t do that.
However, the length of time it takes for the intestines to heal will differ from individual to individual. The older you are or the longer you’ve had gluten issues without being diagnosed and treated, the longer it will take for you to heal.
For many individuals, 6 months or even a year isn't long enough to go without dairy and oats. I personally had to go off dairy for over two years. I also found myself reacting to GMO corn and certain chemicals during that time.
Dairy products and oats are both known to be inflammatory. As long as your intestines are still inflamed, you’ll continue to have digestive issues because you won’t be able to absorb dietary fats or nutrients very well.
Sometimes, that is a temporary situation and sometimes it’s permanent, especially if you're getting consistently exposed to a low-level of gluten.
Either way, if you continue eating inflammatory foods, your body can’t do that.
Temporary Digestive Problems Are Also Possible
The enzymes needed to digest dairy products are produced by the cells on the very tips of the villi within the small intestines, so even an accidental gluten exposure can bring on digestive problems again.
This is the real reason why many gluten-free dieters have lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance isn't always about dairy. Reacting to dairy can be a warning that you're getting gluten in your diet or from something in your environment.
For many, those accidental glutenings also include personal-care products worn by others, and household products with gluten. I know this holds true for me.
Although these types of situations are only temporary, don’t ignore the inflammation. If you continue eating dairy and oats while your body is trying to heal from an exposure to gluten, it might not heal at all.
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