Being Glutened Prevention

How many times have you been to a restaurant that was supposed to be safe to eat at, only to discover you’ve been glutened? Depending on the person, the effects can last from a few hours to a few weeks. One supplement that I’ve found to be helpful in uncertain situations is AllerGzyme. AllerGzyme contains enzymes that assist in breaking down gluten and dairy proteins and can help to lessen reactions to them. These enzymes can be very helpful for those with gluten and dairy sensitivity in times where you’re concerned about cross-contamination or when you’ve accidentally consumed something you shouldn’t have.

Betaine HCL with pepsin

Other digestive enzymes may also offer some protection by helping to break down difficult proteins like gluten. Betaine HCl and pepsin are naturally occurring components of the gastric juices that support our digestion by breaking down protein bonds in our food so their nutrients are easier for our intestines to absorb. It may also help us break down gluten particles if you are glutened. You can learn more about the benefits of betaine with pepsin, and how to find out the appropriate dosage for you, here.

Unfortunately, enzymes only work when you take them with the offending food. Furthermore, while they can minimize the reactions to gluten and dairy, they are not likely to completely eliminate them. So, I don’t recommend trying to eat a pound of cheese or a loaf of bread just because you’re taking this type of supplement.

After the Exposure of Being Glutened

• Magnesium citrate– Magnesium is something that I recommend taking daily for most people with hypothyroid, as getting adequate magnesium from a standard diet can be difficult, and symptoms are often confused with those of other conditions. Taking additional magnesium in cases of accidental exposure to foods that you’re sensitive to will ensure that your bowels are moving properly and will support a healthy detoxification process if you are glutened.

• Physicians Elemental Diet

  – After you’ve been exposed to foods that you are sensitive to, one very important step in recovery is giving your digestive system time to rest. The best way to do this is through a period where you do not consume any solid foods, which will allow the inflammation to die down. The tricky part is, if you’re not consuming enough foods, you can wind up feeling tired and drained. One way to prevent this from happening is to use a special formula, like the Physician’s Elemental Diet, designed to provide the body with the nutrients it needs while allowing your intestines to repair. As always, I do recommend working with your personal health care provider to ensure this (or any other) intervention is appropriate for you. However, if you and your practitioner are having trouble obtaining this elemental formula, Dr. Siebecker’s homemade Elemental Diet may be a suitable alternative

• Lemon Water 

  – Drinking this first thing in the morning and throughout the day will help increase and support your stomach acid, as well as your liver detox pathways. It will also assist in the removal of toxins to help your body recover faster from accidental gluten exposure.

• Bone broth                                                                                                                                                   – While gluten and dairy exposure can lead to a leaky gut by perforating the walls of the intestines, bone broth can help soothe the gut and heal the damage. The gelatin in bone broth helps to seal the junctions in the intestines so they are no longer permeable. That way, gluten and dairy particles, as well as other food particles and toxins you may be sensitive to, can no longer pass through the intestinal wall. (In addition to boosting gut health, bone broth has many other benefits: boosting immunity, relieving joint pain, increasing energy, improving digestion, and giving you a more youthful appearance. You can find how to make my own version of bone broth here!)

• Bone Broth Recipe

  I want to share with you my lazy woman’s way of making bone broth — in a slow cooker! One of my favorite things in the world is waking up in the morning to the fragrance of fresh, delicious, bone broth that has been cooking all night in my kitchen, while I’m sound asleep and resting my adrenals.

  Ingredients:

  • 4-5 organic chicken legs
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 stalks celery
  • 1 onion
  • 6 to 8 large carrots
  • Purified water
  • Sea salt to taste
  • Black pepper to taste (if tolerated)

  Directions:

  1. Place the chicken, vinegar, and vegetables in a slow cooker.
  2. Fill with water to 1 inch below the top of the slow cooker, cover, and cook on high for 8 to 12 hours.
  3. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Strain, pour into jars, and refrigerate (or freeze).

• Epsom Salt Bath 

  – Taking a daily hot Epsom salt bath is not only a wonderful way to relax and de-stress, it’s also a great source of magnesium. The magnesium will stimulate the bowels and help your body eliminate toxins of being glutened. All you need is 1 cup of Epsom salts in a bath of hot water.

• Activated charcoal 

  – Activated charcoal is an amazing supplement that binds up toxins and can minimize food reactions. I recommend taking 1-3 capsules at bedtime, at least 4 hours away from other medications or supplements (to avoid impairing their absorption), to help detoxify from food reactions. Additionally, I recommend supplementing with magnesium when taking activated charcoal because it can cause constipation, and it’s important to keep the stools and toxins moving out of the body.

•  GI Revive: 

  This is a product I have found to be extremely beneficial in maintaining the health of my gut. GI Revive contains all of the necessary ingredients recommended by functional medicine practitioners to heal the GI tract and leaky gut syndrome.  It comes in a powder form (also available in capsules) and I like to add it to water throughout the day. It contains L-glutamine, N-acetyl glucosamine, aloe vera extract, slippery elm, marshmallow, chamomile, deglycyrrhizinated licorice, citrus pectin, mucin, okra extract, cat’s claw, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), quercetin, prune powder, and zinc carnosine…all excellent for healing leaky gut and maintaining a healthy GI tract.  It has a pleasant peach flavor and lasts a really long time. I have used GI Revive since the day I received my diagnoses and suggest it to client’s.