With the holidays upon us, celiac disease and gluten exposure has been on my mind and many of my patient’s minds too. When you are traveling or at the mercy of other people’s cooking, it can be hard to tell if you are getting “glutened.”

Many people feel that eating gluten isn’t a big deal unless you have celiac disease. But there is good evidence showing that Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS) can cause an array of symptoms, including digestive disorders.

Curious if you are gluten intolerant? Read this to learn more.

Of course the ideal is to not eat gluten if you have celiac disease or NCGS, but knowing where gluten hides is sometimes the issue. That’s why I created a guide to gluten avoidance. But in truth, I didn’t really make the guide for those of you who have already been following a gluten free diet. I made this guide as resource for my patients who have been newly diagnosed with a gluten issue.

But you know what I found out? My patients have been sharing this with friends and family. Why? Because when you educate the people in your life about all the places gluten can hide it can make family functions and holidays so much more manageable.

But what to do if you get glutened?

It happens. You can not control everything in your environment at all times. Here are my top 3 tips of what to do should gluten find its way into your body.

1. Take Digestive Enzymes. Keep digestive enzymes on hand and take with questionable meals. If you can break down the gluten protein you can potentially minimize it’s effect. I prefer something similar to All Zyme or Digestzymes because it also contains hydrochloric acid which support digestion further.
2. Take a Probiotic. 25-50 billion twice daily the day of and 3 days following. Therbiotic Complete by Klaire labs is a good option. There are also options for kids and infants.
3. Take L-Glutamine. 3-5 grams for 7-14 days to help repair intestinal lining. Designs for health makes a great glutamine powder that can be put into beverages without altering their flavor.
4. Drink Bone Broth. The amino acids in bone broth help heal your intestinal lining. Bone broth itself is anti-inflammatory. Click here for a bone broth recipe.
5. Activated Charcoal. 1-2 caps with a suspicious meal or onset of gut symptoms (gas, bloating, diarrhea) can help reduce your symptoms. Four things you must know when taking activated charcoal: 1. It can cause constipation if over done. 2. You must increase your water intake. 3. It will cause black stools. 4. It will bind other nutrients and should only be used if absolutely necessary.

If you are looking for the specific supplements I am recommending you can view them here.

I truly hope that you have a wonderful time with family and friends. This time of year, it is important to enjoy your time with those most important to you, which often includes enjoying a good meal!

About Jolene Brighten, ND

Dr. Jolene Brighten is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor, wife, mother, and entrepreneur located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Jolene specializes in women’s health, from fertility to postpartum care, adrenal and thyroid support, autoimmune conditions, and digestive disorders. In her family-oriented practice, Jolene thrives on navigating the space between conventional and alternative medicine, all while working with patients to help them achieve optimum balance, health, and happiness.

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