Glutenfree Sleuth
With truly tasty GF treats flooding the market place, life as a gluten intolerant becomes easier every day. Or does it? I am amazed, after fourteen years on a supposedly GF diet how often I get whammied by some hidden gluten resulting in violent cramping in the middle of the night, mad sprints to the bathroom with unpredictable diarrhea, and a matching-limbed rash up and down the insides of my legs.
As a health food, organic fruits- of-the-land foodie kind of gal with a nutrition background, how do these surprises continue to happen?
Two words–hidden glutens.
I am talking about things we normally think of as safe: red wine, hairspray, foods labeled GF, and on and on.
With a full blown case of Celiac disease, not a mere sensitivity, I seem to be vulnerable to even one molecule of gluten. After fourteen years of religiously adhering to the diet, my body has become more pure and more sensitive to even one hidden gluten molecule. I am on a mission to ferret out those hidden glutens that take me down, accidentally, even when I am doing my own cooking and trying desperately hard NOT to ingest one molecule of gluten or let one molecule of gluten be absorbed through my skin.
Ironic, how someone that loves the sensuality of food, someone who blasts Il Divo while chopping onions, someone who savors every smell, texture, and taste of each bite can have a disease where that very food can be her demise.
So…yes, I am on a hunt to find the hidden glutens wherever they reside, so that I can enthusiastically continue to enjoy one of the true delights of living in a human body…food!
GF Wine Country Living 
HI–I AM A FRIEND OF THE HOCKABOUTS–BARB FORWARDED YOUR EMAIL AS I AM TRYING NO WHEAT TO SEE IF IT AFFECTS MY COUGHING. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE LABELING TYPE INTO YOUR COMPUTER THIS “IS GLUTEN FREE AND WHEAT FREE THE SAME THING?” THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WEBSITES THAT WILL CLARIFY THE DIFFERENCE AND WHICH ONE IS BAD FOR CELIACS.
Thanks for posting this. Any info we can get out there to ease life for those of us on these crazy diets is appreciated. I have been on those websites and have had reactions to some of the foods listed as safe for Celiacs. I use these sites as a starting point for possible safe food investigation. Thank goodness they are out there as time savers, though.
Sometimes I ask rhetorical questions on entries as a stylistic writing “thing.” Sorry if I gave the impression that I did not know the difference. I do, but I hope those who don’t will go to one of the websites you mentioned to get clarity. I am assuming that those reading my blog already know the basics of their dietary restrictions and conditions and will benefit from hearing of some areas not usually mentioned in the initial info on Celiac Disease and Wheat Intolerance.
Good luck on your dietary exploration. I hope cutting out wheat takes care of your cough.