Recently diagnosed, and wondering what you can or can’t drink?
You know you can’t eat gluten … but what is in your mug? There are many drinks that you can enjoy, whether hot, cold, alcoholic or not.
- water – whether tap, mineral or flavoured should be fine. There’s no gluten in pure water, and we should all be drinking more of this
- pure fruit juice – no gluten in this – just flavour and vitamins (and, sadly, calories from the sugars). Be careful about smoothies – these are usually just fruit juice and yoghurt, but do sometimes have other ingredients, so just check
- milk is gluten free. If you’re lactose intolerant, or avoiding dairy for other reasons, try soya milk or rice milk. You may be able to handle goat’s milk
- probiotic drinks are a new trend. Check them, but they should be fine if you can handle dairy products
- plain tea is gluten free, as should be any milk or sugar that you add, but be wary of drinks from vending machines, as there may be cross-contact (see Make Mine Gluten Free for a discussion of the difference between cross-contact and cross-contamination)
- herbal or fruit teas and infusions should all be gluten free
- plain coffee is gluten free (and so are milk and and sugar) but be careful of flavourings and other additions (e.g. some chocolate toppings to go on cappuccinos, lattes, etc). Again, be careful about using vending machines
- coffee substitutes, such as chicory blends or decaffeinated drinks may contain gluten. I had an email from the SoyCoffee; people to promote their gluten free coffee substitute – but I haven’t tried it.
- pure instant chicory is gluten free
- chocolate drinks: pure cocoa powder is gluten free, but check drinking chocolate because this can contain wheat
- savoury drinks, such as Bovril should be checked carefully
- most fizzy drinks are gluten free, but be alert to ‘cloud’ – this can be wheat-based
- most fruit squashes are gluten free, but don’t drink the ‘fruit and barley’ squashes. It’s obvious, but you’d be surprised how easy it is to miss this!
- avoid malted drinks (because of the malt). The only example I can think of is Ovaltine, but no doubt there are others out there. Malt extract and malt flavouring are made from barley, and widely used in breakfast cereals, pre-prepared meals, sweets and snacks. Small amounts of malt extract can be tolerated by many coeliacs, but not everyone, so check, and be careful. Even if you can handle a bowl of Rice Krispies, you may tip yourself over the ‘safe’ limit if you eat malt repeatedly throughout the day
- cider, sherry, port and liqueurs are gluten free – and so, presumably is perry. Some fortified wines and sherry may contain caramel colour, which may be derived from wheat starch, but doesn’t contain detectable gluten, and is considered to be gluten free
-
wine should be gluten free, whether still, fizzy, sweet or dry, but we have had reports that some Australian wines are treated with hydrolysed wheat gluten as part of the fining process. Again, the level of gluten is not detectable in the final product, and it is considered to be gluten free
- spirits are gluten free as long as no gluten product is added after distillation. Yes, including malt whiskies, because of the distillation process. But be careful of cocktails, which may have a gluten-containing product in them …
- most beer, lager, stout and ale contain gluten, so avoid these. There are a growing range of gluten free beers of all varieties available.
I hope that helps. I’m just going to put the kettle on …
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Great post! Very good information. I was bummed when I was diagnosed because even wine coolers have gluten in them (as “malt flavoring”) so no more hard lemonade or cooler drinks. Now I stick with wine :)
Hi GFTiff … there’s always something, isn’t there, to catch you out? Do they all have malt flavouring in?
Hey Lucy –
What is the European/British take on Bailey’s or O’Mara’s Irish Whiskey?
I was told a year ago that Bailey’s WAS gluten-free but is NOT any longer. I have never heard anything back from O’Mara’s.
I have found St. Bernandin’s Irish Whiskey – and they also declare their’s to be Gluten-free. However, O’Mara’s and Bailey’s are part of my family! LOL
Any idea?
-Kate
I can’t drink milk due to atypical celiac disease, but last night I made hot chocolate with Ghirardelli unsweetened chocolate, sugar,and hazelnut milk, and it was really good. I don’t like hot chocolate made with water, and this was richer-tasting than that even though it wasn’t as thick as hot chocolate made with regular milk.
Hi Kate. According to the Bailey’s website:
Gluten:
Please be advised that the whiskey used in Baileys® is manufactured by fermenting grain which contains Gluten. Due to the presence of gluten in the whiskey components before distillation we cannot absolutely guarantee that there are no effects to coeliacs. As we are not qualified to give medical advice persons requiring a gluten free diet should consult their medical adviser before consuming Baileys®.
I think this means that it is probably OK (because whisky is OK) but that they are covering themselves against litigation.
As for O’Mara’s, the only thing I’ve managed to find out is that it isn’t available in Ireland, but is entirely made for export to the USA. (I’d never heard of it before). Very interesting – especially since all the references to it say its nice …
Sorry, that doesn’t really help.
Hi Sally JPA – thanks for visiting. I’m not a big hot chocolate fan myself, but that does sound nice. Good quality chocolate makes everything right!
Hi. congratulation for all the information that you provide; I’d like to know how can I get an exact list of the alcoholic drink that contain gluten; my husband jaime had have four times really bad experiences reacting to foods and drink,that contain gluten, the last time after drinking bourbon and tequila, we finished at the hospital with my husband innable to breath, he was on oxigen all night, the doctor said that my husband had anaphylaxis and was given an EpiPen; If you have any information…please help me. thank you
Elsa Rojas.
Oh Elsa, how very scary for you both.
I suggest asking the manufacturers of Jaime’s favourite brands whether they contain gluten, either by email or by phone.
If you’re in the UK, you could try the Coeliac society for advice – if you’re in the US, perhaps the CSA could help?
You could look at this article: http://www.celiac.com/articles/222/1/Gluten-Free-Alcoholic-Beverages/Page1.html
I think part of the problem may be that even if the base alcohol mix is gluten-free, ingredients may be added after distilling for flavour – and these may not be gluten free. The trick is to find brands that you know are safe. Good luck! And if you find the answers, do let us know.
Watch out for herbal teas. At least in the US, many contain barley or malt. I make it a point to read the ingredients carefully.
Aaron, thanks for the tip – it would never have occurred to me that herbal teas in the US would contain either barley or malt!
hi,thank you for your information .it was really nice to see the list below ,what i would like to know is that are uzo and saki gluten free? and also i would like to know the same about Jack Daniels .
thanks a lot
bye
Hi Alina – thanks for visiting!
I’ve found out the following:
ouzo is gluten free unless additional flavourings have been added as it is a distilled spirit.
Sake is based on fermented rice, and so will be gluten free (again, watch for additions)
And according to the Jack Daniels website:
Jack Daniel’s Black Label Tennessee Whiskey has no carbohydrates (sugar or starch), gluten, fats, or cholesterol, as these are removed in the distilling process.
Just wondering about coke and Pepsi?
I am wondering about Coke and Pepsi?
According to their websites Coca Cola and Pepsi are both gluten free.
Is it the caramel colouring you’re worried about? You can always call the customer service line for any manufacturer to ask …
the drinks i was wondering about are safe….i love wine but i will be more careful of the australian wines…also, enjoy a rum and coke occasionally….thanks again….i love this site
i would like to know if hennessy cognac is gluten free
i would like to know if hennessy is gluten free
According to celiac.com, cognac is gluten free:
http://www.celiac.com/articles/222/1/Gluten-Free-Alcoholic-Beverages/Page1.html.
And from Coeliac UK (the UK charity):
“All spirit drinks, including those which have a gluten-containing cereal used as an ingredient, go through a process called distillation. Distillation removes any trace of gluten, so the end product is gluten-free.
“Therefore all spirit drinks (including malt whisky which is made from barley) are gluten-free and suitable for people with coeliac disease.”
If you’re still concerned, you could contact Hennessy direct.
please tell me if goats milk is safe for a celiac to take.
Hi Mary.
Milk is gluten free, whether from a cow, sheep or goat, so if you’re just avoiding gluten, you should be fine.
Some coeliacs, at least in the early stages of recovery, struggle with lactose because of the damage done to their intestines. If you’re lactose intolerant, or avoiding dairy for other reasons, you could try soya milk or rice milk (almond milk is used in some recipes). Some people report that they can manage a small amount of goat’s milk in this circumstance, but I think it does contain lactose.
Thanks all so much for the information, its a great help
I always get sick after a bloody mary on the airplane. I believe they use Mr & Mrs T bloody mary mix or spicy bloody mary mix. Does this have gluten?
Hi Margaret
I’ve never come across this mix, and I don’t know the manufacturer to ask them, but searching other sites indicates that it does contain gluten (here on http://www.glutenfreeflorida.com and here on http://www.celiac.com).
And finally, a list of ingredients via Wegmans reveals that it does indeed contain gluten, probably in both the soy and the wheat ingredients:
Ingredients:
Water, Tomato Concentrate, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Vinegar, Horseradish, Salt, Molasses, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Onion Powder, Xanthan Gum, Natural Flavors (Contains Soy, Wheat), Garlic Powder, Spices, Anchovies, Celery Seed, Ascorbic Acid, Hydrolysed Corn and Soy Protein.
I’d suggest avoiding this mix and choosing something else to drink on a plane.
I was looking for info about Baileys, and found this page. I have a bottle sitting in front of me, and all it declares is that it contains milk products. Here in Oz, if it contains gluten-containing cereal products, it must be declared (including glucose syrup – go figure!), so Baileys is GF. Also very yummy – tho the alcohol content is a bit high for more than a sip when its 30+ deg Celsius and 80% humidity… Also, the Coeliac Society here in Oz have whisky listed as being gluten-free, though derived from gluten-containing cereals.
If I could point out another thing, not all people who have dairy problems react to the lactose. Cow’s and sheep’s milk contains alpha-1-beta-casein and alpha-2-beta-casein. The alpha-1 protein is not stable and can cause serious reactions because it breaks down differently each time you consume it, some of those byproducts can be toxic. Alpha-2 protein always breaks down safely. Goat’s milk has only the alpha-2 protein so should be gentler for people to try when going back on milk. Here in Oz, Freedom Foods also sell A2 cows milk which is cheaper than goats milk (I don’t work for Freedom Foods but I’m a big customer!).
Hi Jason – thanks for all that information. Good to know!
I’ve read that vodkas are gluten-free, but when I drink some of them, I have a definite gluten reaction. I’ve lived for forty years without being diagnosed w/Celiac Disease (my intestines were so messed up I began developing allergies/reactions to two hundred different foods – what a mess), but it’s hard to ignore the migraines and throbbing cysts I get when I take in any form of gluten. Because many vodkas are distilled from grain, this makes sense to me, so why would all vodkas be labeled as gluten-free? I’ve since discovered one vodka, Chopin (potato vodka), which I seem to be able to handle.
Hi Stacey – 200 different foods?! Wow.
I’m glad to hear that you’ve found something you can tolerate, and hope that your health issues are resolving. Chopin vodka isn’t one I’ve ever heard of – does it taste good?
Hi Stacey,
I’ve actually had an interesting conversation with some people from the Bundaberg rum distillery recently (my wife and I visited there just before Christmas).
They’ve said that the distillation process renders the rum gluten-free, but some people with Coeliac disease still get a reaction. This is not because there are traces of gluten at all, but because some of the other water-soluble proteins do get carried across – and some people who have very extreme reactions to large numbers of things react to these proteins as well. So, it’s not really a Coeliac reaction but another disease – but since they are both protein reactions the symptoms are likely to be very similar.
I have had some of their rum recently and didn’t have any reaction to it at all, so I suspect that you fall into the group of people who react to some of the soluble proteins.
Hi Jason – that’s interesting indeed! I’ve made a note to duplicate this comment as a blog post, because I think a lot of people would find that good to know…
Thank you so much for this!! I have always wondered about so many of these. This information is invaluable.
I was reading your list of gluten free drinks, and I’m not sure if you realize somethings about teas. (I did some research and emailed a number of tea companies when I was first diagnosed with celiac disease.) Some teabags can be sealed with a gluten based glue, and not all fruit teas are gluten free. I recently looked at the ingredient section of Bigelow teas holiday teas and found that the Nutcracker tea ( a black tea with vanilla and cinnamon) was gluten free, but the Sugar plum tea was not. I believe they also have a blueberry tea that is not gluten free…but I haven’t looked at the list they sent me in a while.
Hi Leslie
Thanks for the warning – very interesting. I went to check out the Bigelow website, and found a list of their teas that are or are not gluten free (for anyone who wants to know, it’s here: http://www.bigelowtea.com/faqs/tea-ingredients/is-there-any-gluten-in-your-teas.aspx).
I can’t see the Nutcracker tea or the Sugar Plum tea on this list – but you said these were holiday teas, so perhaps they’re specialist teas for Christmas only?
One good thing about the Bigelow site: each tea is marked up as gluten free or not in the shop section. Good on them for doing that!
I found your list of beverages very useful and informative. My uncle was recently diagnosed with celiac disease, and because he doesn’t have a computer, I have been doing research for him in order to help him get started on a gluten-free diet. Thank you so much for your help!
Glad it was helpful – I hope your uncle begins to feel better very soon.
Just an FYI……Not all teas, whether herbal or otherwise, are gluten free. Be sure to read the labels. Celestial Seasonings is just one manufacturer that has a number of teas that contain gluten. However, they are all clearly labeled so you’ll know.
Thanks for the input Jen. Hasn’t labelling improved a lot in recent years?
About wines…I was reading today that it is a good idea to contact the winery because there is a process with oaked wines where the barrels are sealed and repaired with a paste containing gluten. This paste is sometimes applied near the opening at the top and so cross contamination is a huge risk. This and if any other additives are dangerous makes possibly unsafe wine for celiacs. Some wineries use edible wax, but good idea to check anyways. I am trying to contact a few, haven’t heard back yet.
Hi Lara – that’s very interesting; was it this link you were reading?
http://www.celiac.com/gluten-free/topic/55600-wine-barrels-sealed-with-flour-paste/
or maybe this one?
http://www.stavin.com/barrelsystems/insert.htm
It does appear that this isn’t done at all vineyards or for all wines, and that it doesn’t affect everyone – but according to these links it does happen sometimes, and does affect some people. Hmm, more research needed here, I think, especially since Coeliac UK says that wine is gluten free. (I suppose the wine itself is – the problem may be contamination from old oak barrels). Very interesting indeed.
Do please let us know if you find out anything more about this.
I was wondering if I could get a little help on a project that im doing right now? Can you tell me if bologna green bean cassorole which includes mushroom soup, onions, and greanbeans, fruit cocktail, pudding, and V8 juice are gluten free and if not what would i be able to subitute them for?
Hi Maria
Thanks for your question. I think I’d need to know all the ingredients before being able to answer this one, though. Are you adding any stock or thickener to the casserole, other than the soup? Those would need to be checked, and I’d want to know if the meat you were adding had been processed with rusk or breadcrumb.
Onions and green beans, fruit cocktail and V8 juice should be fine – all pure fruit and vegetables are gluten free.
But I’d also want to check the soup for wheat flour – and, being a Brit, I’m not sure what you mean by pudding. To me, pudding means any sweet dessert eaten after a main meal, which would cover a lot of things, including lots that aren’t gluten free. But I think you might mean something else?
Sounds like an interesting project – I hope it goes well!
thanks for the interesting information,i was seeking information about drinking scotch whiskey.i amstill unsure wether to continue drinking it,tho it appears to be different with some brands.
Well I am going to embark on a gluten free diet. After complaining to my doctor for years,she always says you have IBS. Well I am tired of eating and running to the bathroom all the time. Of feeling tired all the time. I never eat when I am out shopping or drink anything except water for fear that I will have to go to running to the bathroom or have cramps so bad I double over:( It has gotten worse over the last 2 years. So I need to try something anything to see if I can live a life without being chained to the bathroom or having terrible stomach cramps and bloating.
Hi Holly – that doesn’t sound like fun at all!
I hope going gluten free helps; just bear in mind that if it does AND you want a proper doctor’s diagnosis, then you might have to start eating gluten again, so they can do the tests. Because the tests won’t show the proper result if you’ve managed to heal your intestines. Tricky situation, isn’t it?
Do let us know how you get on. I hope you do feel better soon!
Day 3 with no gluten and I feel better than I have in a long time!!!! I haven’t had to run to the bathroom at all after eating or during a meal. Still get some stomach cramping but not as bad.I will continue eating GF and hopefully I will feel even better. I am not worried about going to the doctors to get a doctors diagnoses. Which would cost me a lot of money in medical bills.
Hi Holly,
That sounds great! For me, my health kept improving rapidly during the first 4 weeks after diagnosis (went GF immediately at that point since my anti-body reading from the blood test was almost off the scale!) so hopefully you keep improving too.
Here in Oz, an official doctor’s diagnosis (either by blood test or small bowel biopsy) is very important since that is required for entry to the Coeliac society – and if you are a society member here we can then get special discounts through one of the supermarkets here. You may find similar schemes where you are, so be sure to check that before too much longer. Also make contact with your local Coeliac society too (if there is one there, I’m not sure where you are in the world!), because if you do have a genuine gluten problem, they can probably provide you with lots of support – including coping with a vastly restricted diet, or recipe books or something like that (I’m basing this on what happens with the society here in Oz, hopefully it is similar around the world).
At least one of the major advantages of being in Oz is that the testing is generally paid for completely by our federal government’s medical system
Hi Jason,
Thank you for the advice:)
I am from the USA(Upstate New York) Well I am still paying thousands for a kidney stone diagnosis so I am going to hold off on anymore bills from the doctors.lol I am going to be having my 9yr old daughter tested though because for the last 6 months she has been suffering similar symptoms that I have suffered with for years and been told it was just IBS. I don’t want her to have go through that.Her insurance is fantastic compared to mine. It will pay for everything. I haven’t stopped her from eating gluten so if she is having a problem with it they can diagnose her. I am hoping to get her seen on Wednesday and get a blood test done.
Hi Jason
Thanks for sharing your story – and the fact that you can get discounts as a coeliac society member. That’s great!
Hi Holly
I’m glad to hear you’re beginning to feel better.
In general, I’d agree with Jason, because of the need (here in the UK) for a firm diagnosis to get prescription food. But I know it’s different in the US and elsewhere, so I’m pleased to hear your daughter’s insurance would cover her medical expenses. And that she’s still eating gluten, so her tests should be reliable.
I hope you can get to the bottom of her illhealth as soon as possible – and that your own continues to improve!
After suffering for a couple of years, I discovered that gluten was the culprit. I went gluten-free and my life changed dramatically for the better, making me feel 10 years younger. This has been confirmed many times, for example when I have eaten gluten by accident. However, I still get an upsed stomach when I eat chilli or paprika and would like to know if someone knows why … I am sure that I hadn’t had gluten when this happens. Does this make sense?
Regarding:
#
Humberto
Posted November 27, 2010 at 7:13 pm | Permalink
After suffering for a couple of years, I discovered that gluten was the culprit. I went gluten-free and my life changed dramatically for the better, making me feel 10 years younger. This has been confirmed many times, for example when I have eaten gluten by accident. However, I still get an upsed stomach when I eat chilli or paprika and would like to know if someone knows why … I am sure that I hadn’t had gluten when this happens. Does this make sense?
Dear Humberto,
I bet it is modified food starch, which is an ingredient in many garlic salt and lemon pepper spices, and maybe in a paprika mixture. Most people don’t even realize that the spices that look so innocent can be so disastrous. I’ve even been hit by a soup that claimed to be gluten-free, but had the garlic salt, which after tracking it down, had the “modified food starch.” Just so you know, modified food starch is mostly made in China, and you can’t be assured of what is in it, just like pet food and baby formula had things that were deadly, but not mentioned in the ingredients. I know it isn’t actually the spice, because I have had these same spices in gluten-free form, and have been fine.
Good Luck. With a little extra care, and your own food preparation, you can probably enjoy Chili again.
Hi Humberto,
There’s another alternative cause of your problem with spices. If you get the reaction with what you know are pure spices, then you should go and get yourself tested for salicylate intolerance. I have a number of friends with this (including a niece diagnosed within the last week!) and it can be medically diagnosed.
If, OTOH, you only get the reaction some of the time, then something like JustWondering posted is the likely culprit.
It needs to be said, for the record, that the prevalence of multiple intolerances (in the medical world this is called “co-morbidity”) is higher than many think (including medical practitioners). So after a Coeliac diagnosis, it can be helpful to get tested for other intolerances, too, to rule them out – or to diagnose them and give your body the best chance of recovering (for example, if you are soy intolerant but keep eating soy after you go off gluten, you are still not going to recover properly since the soy will be making you sick).
I’m just trying this out, because my Residental Living Advisor said going on a gluten-free diet might help with why I’m constantly sick. So any help would be appreciated. Thank you for this post, now I don’t have to wonder about what I can drink!!
I don’t know if this is the case in other places, but in Canada some soy and rice milk products contain barley malt. I keep finding gluten where I least expect it, but all this label reading has been very informative.
I have been recently diagnosed with coeliac disease and I’m at a severe stage! my small intestines are damaged real bad ,first time i will not be drinking for new years eve ,its sucks ,but if i only knew 15 years ago i would of changed my life style and diet too!but feeling heaps better in the last 3 months ,but sometimes you can get real grumpy !!!!!hapy new year eveyone for 2011 in the usa !!!!
Hi I was wondering if carolans, kahalua or copa de ora contain gluten?
Hi Kellyann,
In the general case, any spirit is gluten-free after distillation – but other ingredients may be added after distillation that may contain gluten; there are also other parts of the grain that are not eliminated by distillation that can give a gluten-like reaction. Beers, OTOH, unless made from gluten-free source such as buckwheat, do contain gluten and must be avoided.
I don’t know the ingredients of those drinks, but a quick Google search gives me these pages:
http://www.carolans.ie/carolans/faqs.asp which has the question “Is it suitable for Celiacs”, to which the answer is “yes”
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_ingredients_in_kahlua gives a list of Kahlua (is this what you meant? “kahalua” doesn’t show up on Google searches) ingredients, all of which are gluten-free.
I couldn’t find a site which lists the ingredients of copa de ora, though some other websites such as celiac.com suggest it is gluten free. Perhaps contact the manufacturer and see if they can tell you, or maybe someone else may know?
HTH,
-J
I am a newbie, just found out about my celiac disease after years of uncomfortable dining. I heard that I should avoid coke and pepsi due to carmel coloring and most of the people I have talked with regarding it say to avoid.
Just wanted to put my 2 cents in :) Good luck everyone…
Hi Jennie – hope you start feeling better very soon! How are you finding the gluten free diet?
As for Coca-Cola and Pepsi, I think this may depend on which country you are in… According to Coca-Cola’s UK site, at least, Coke is gluten free. In answer to the question about whether their products are OK for coeliacs, they say:
“Yes. None of the Coca-Cola or Schweppes brands contain gluten, milk, egg or soya. People with gluten intolerance or coeliac disease should talk to their healthcare provider about including soft drinks as part of their diet.”
Pepsi allergen information is available here.
But you should check for your own country, as ingredients do vary!
Thanks so much this site has helped me so much.
All wine is not necessarily gluten free. while the grape is, preservatives are not so beware.
just gone on line for the 1st time as an existing coeliac member.I wanted info.on whether I could drink bacardi,and whether I could put in cokeacola
Hi Philip
According to the Bacardi site, “All BACARDI Rums have been checked against existing allergen lists in the EU, USA and within the Codex Alimentarius, and have been found to be free of all such allergens”
And according to the Coca-Cola site, Classic, Diet and Zero (and others) are all gluten free (though you should check in your own country).
Hope that helps…
is dry giner ale gluten free
Hi Jane
I don’t know which brand you prefer, but here in the UK, Schweppes Canada Dry Ginger Ale is gluten free. It’s a Coca-Cola product: start here:
http://www.coca-cola.co.uk/brands/category/schweppes-mixers.html
and follow the link to here:
http://www.coca-cola.co.uk/health/coca-cola-and-special-dietary-requirements.html
I can’t find an equivalent link on, for instance, the Australia Coca-Cola site, and things do vary by country. Where are you, and which brand do you prefer?
Jane Longhurst,
You’ll need to check the ingredients list. I’ve come across some soft drinks here in Oz that have barley malt added as a flavour enhancer.
The usual case is that most soft drinks are carbonated water, sugar, colouring and flavouring, and it is only the last two that you need to check. IIRC, caramel colour is the only coolouring that I’ve found made from a gluten-containing source, but it is usually made as a post-production step of glucose syrup so is fine. Flavourings are a different matter.
HTH!
I was just about to buy a gluten free Christmas hamper for a friend and saw that it included whisky. Was a bit worried as I thought this might be a problem, so thank you for setting my mind at ease. Btw, the hamper I was going to buy is here if anyone is interested. They have a great choice of really yummy-looking gluten free hampers:
http://www.mannagifts.co.uk/gluten-free-hampers/christmas-gluten-free-present.html
Oo, nice find Janet! That does look good…
I was to be tested for celiac disease but being so uncomfortable from being bloated and sore etc I couldn’t wait to go gluten-free. The doctors have stuffed me around too long. And so it’s great to read a list of things I can and can’t have- makes life easier :)
This is a very helpful post for people who were advised to have a gluten-free diet. Also me, I learned a lot from this post.
I’m interested in the various comments about glues used containing gluten. I like to have a black filter coffee and use the cone shaped paper filters. Does anyone know if these use gluten free glue?
Thanks for all the other great advice and ideas on the website.
i have recentliy found out i am a celice and i am a big fan on fizzy drinks can you still drink them ?
Joanne, glad you’ve been diagnosed, since it will make for a better life… though it is definitely hard at first!
If you take a look at my comment in this blog from October 6 2011, you’ll find the answer to your question ;-) (coming back I’ve seen how many comments there are it’s almost impossible to find things!… maybe time for the information on here to go onto a page instead???).
The short answer is make sure you check ingredients – you’ll have to do that with almost everything.
HTH!
I have always had a strong gluten reaction to the caramel color in both Coca-Cola and Pepsi. If you are an extra-sensitive Celiac, be careful. And, remember, some Celiacs are far more “sensitive” than others. I knew a female Celiac who would begin vomiting blood as an immediate reaction to the gluten in caramel color.
Alec, thanks for the reminder that some people react badly to the caramel colour…
Jason: thank you for the suggestion. Putting this information into a dedicated page is a good idea, and it is on my ever-increasing list of things to do!
Wow! I didn’t know that caramel coloring affects some people. Your list can sure help a lot of people.
I am very intolerant to gluten since being diagnosed with Coeliac Disease at the age of 47 . If I mistakenly eat wheat in any form, I am violently sick. I feel dizzy and need to lay down. I can’t explain just how violent the vomiting is !!!! Needless to say I am very cautious.
When it comes to drinking I tend to stick with Cider, wines and spirits, however, I can tolerate the occasional Dark Stout only ie: Guiness or Murphy’s. Don’t ask me why Stout but it does not seem to affect me. If I drink beer or lager I am usually ill within a couple of hours.
This all seems rather strange to me, although it does make a nice change to be able to enjoy a pint of stout from time to time. Maybe something happens in the fermentation process that changes the gluten in barley malt?
I am not suggesting Coeliacs should intake gluten in any form as I know this is not good for them.
Hope this helps those who used to enjoy a good stout.
Mark
Hi Mark
We recognise your description of being glutened!
It’s interesting that you don’t have the same reaction when drinking stout, but please be careful, as it does contain gluten. I’m glad you don’t feel unwell, but it is possible that your intestines may be being damaged without you knowing. Do you have an annual blood test? That might give you an indication of any reaction… I hope you stay well!
Hi Lucy
Thank you for your comments. I will of course be very careful as ever when it comes down to my health. My brother has had Coeliac disease from birth but he is a lot more tolerant to Gluten than myself. I have been told that over time Gluten may be introduced into the diet but obviously it depends on the individual and how it affects them.
I have only recently introduced gluten free oats into my diet with no ill effect so far. I am very strict with my diet but mistakes can and do happen with the intake of gluten. I do have regular blood test done and all is fine and well :-). I do know that Stout beer re Guiness use Barley and not wheat in their recipe and that the gluten is in a different form albeit gluten. I think every individual who suffer from Coeliac disease are very different with the severity of the affects of gluten.
I managed to enjoy my first gluten free pizza only last weekend on a trip to Edinburgh :-). Restaurants and food outlets are more aware of this incurable condition these days and can usually cater for our requirements but as ever, more awareness is still required.
Regards
Mark
Please can anyone tell me if efes the turkish lager is glutenfree?
Hi Janet
It looks as though the ingredients are: water, malt, rice and hops. I’d be concerned about the malt – it’s probably from barley – and the company is not promoting it as gluten free as far as I can see. However, there are coeliacs who choose to drink it… I don’t know the answer, I’m afraid, does anyone else?
Hi
My husband was diagnosed with coeliacs at the beginning of the year, he was going along nicely with his gluten free diet but has recently started with the same problems as before, we have been very careful checking all ingredients and even dropped some food that are gluten free, he cannot tolerate gluten free beer, so he has been drinking ginger beer, as a change he started drinking ginger wine with lemonade, he,s not much of a drinker, so was wondering whether this could be it, needless to say he has stopped drinking it, he is a very keen cyclist and has had some very testing rides recently (Fred Whitton Challenge for one) could this extra activity have anything to do with it
Hi Joyce
I’m sorry to hear that your husband is having gluten issues again…
I wouldn’t have thought that the extra activity would make a difference, but of course coeliacs can have other health issues as well as the coeliac disease, even just ‘simple’ tummy bugs.
As for ginger beer, ginger wine and lemonade: I think it would depend on the brand. Some ginger beers and lemonades can contain gluten (especially the cloudy ones, I think). And I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that some ginger wine can contain gluten. (I’ll see if I can track that down for you). So I’d suggest checking those drinks out carefully. Are you or he a member of Coeliac UK? The Products List they produce can be very helpful. I’d check mine, but my daughter has it!
Please do let us know if you find out what the culprit was! And I hope he feels better soon…
In reply to Jason and the Bundaberg Rum. The Coeliac Society declares spirits to be free of gluten. They fail to realise that many who have coeliac disease are also wheat intolerant. I can drink no spirits unless they are made from potato or grapes or anything non grain, and have no other added ingredients to bulk it out. I have no faith in the Coeliac Society whatsoever when it comes to alcohol. Even ciders now have grains added to them to bulk them out so alot of them I cannot have.
Also the glucose has to be mentioned on packaging because most of it comes from wheat. I only can eat the things that have corn glucose, if it doesn’t specify I don’t touch it.
Hi there,
I was wondering if you would know if Southern comfort is gluten free?
Thanks
Hi Caroline
I’ve heard mixed reports on this, and can’t find any information on the company’s website. In theory, it should be gluten free, because although it is made from a whisky mash, it is distilled, which should remove all traces of gluten. However, I do hear that a few people react to it, so take care (See Jason’s post above for a possible reason for this). Contact the company for reassurance if need be. I wish companies would just say clearly whether a product is gluten free on their websites for the removal of all doubt!
Hi I have recently been diagnosed as a celiac and am getting used to being gluten free but I am struggling to find enough to eat and drink. I am a vegetarian and lactose intolerant but I also have a wheat and caffeine intolerance and am deathly allergic to some colouring and I have a mild allergy to peppers and chilli which seems to be in most things. Is there a site I can go on to find foods which list all ingredients as many are conflicting and I’m tired of just vegetables and water. I used to collect whiskey before my diagnoses and I’m scared to drink any now, is whiskey ok for a celiac as some sites say yes and some say no? Would I have to contact companies individually to find out or should I just throw them out as I have over 200. My symptoms are very severe including seizures so I need to do something and so far your site is proving helpful so thank you.
Hi can I drink vodka and lemonade
Hi Teresa
I’m guessing you’re in the UK? According to Coeliac UK, all spirits are safe for people with coeliac disease, so vodka should be fine. And labelling is getting a lot better, so labels on bottles of lemonade (in the UK) should make it clear – for example, I’ve just looked up Tesco’s range of lemonades (diet, normal, cloudy, pink etc), and they all look safe. Hope that helps!
Hi – sorry to hear about your range of allergies and intolerances. It must make things very difficult for you. Have you consulted a dietician? They may be able to offer good advice.
Do you eat eggs? Are you allergic to all nightshades? I believe that chilli/bell peppers are in the nightshade family, as are potatoes and aubergines, tomatoes and some berries. If you are allergic to all nightshades, this would obviously affect your dietary options.
I don’t know of a site that lists ingredients for everything. I think you may have to cook from scratch, or at least hunt around very carefully. There are sites that offer recipes for gluten free, wheat free, dairy free vegetarians – you’d just have to avoid the dishes with peppers/chillis in. For example: cookieandkate.com or jessicainthekitchen.com or http://www.thekitchn.com
You don’t need to be restricted just to vegetables; as a vegetarian, you’ll know that pulse-based dishes would be an option (lentils, chickpeas and so on), as is tofu. Looking for gluten free vegan recipes might help too, because those would naturally be lactose free. For example: https://www.vegansociety.com/resources/recipes/gluten-free. And Pinterest often has boards with interesting ideas too, for example Soyummi’s board
I found this page, which discusses ideas for substitutes for chilli/bell peppers (due to allergies). And https://www.glutenfreeandmore.com has a few nightshade, gluten and dairy free recipes.
I hope you can find some recipe ideas for things you can eat and would enjoy!
As for whisky: Coeliac UK tells us that all spirits (including malt whiskies) are safe for coeliacs because of the distillation process. So I’m hoping you’d be OK with your extensive whisky store…