Summer’s here and so are backyard barbecues and picnics in the park. You want to see your friends and eat good food… but you’re worried about gluten with all those burger buns and pasta salads around.
Unfortunately, avoiding the obvious sources isn’t enough if you’re gluten sensitive. For you, even small amounts of this problematic protein cause pain and other uncomfortable symptoms. And it’s hiding in some very unexpected places… including many of your favorite barbecue staples!
Luckily, you can keep yourself gluten-safe without missing any fun. All it takes is a smart, proactive approach to protect against gluten consequences.
Quick Answer: If you are gluten sensitive, gluten can hide in many summer foods you would not expect, including pickles, flavored and iced tea, ketchup, beer, cold cuts, hot dogs, premade burger patties, mayonnaise, marinades, salad dressing, French fries, licorice, and marshmallows. It also appears on labels under more than a dozen aliases like malt flavoring, modified food starch, maltodextrin, and semolina. Even foods labeled "gluten-free" can still test positive, so reading labels is not always enough. To reduce the impact of accidental gluten, many people add digestive support such as gluten-targeting enzymes (DPP-IV, Tolerase G), specific probiotics, and Betaine HCl to their routine.
What Are the Symptoms of Gluten Sensitivity?
Gluten sensitivity usually shows up first as GI distress, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, gas, and bloating. It can also reach beyond the gut, contributing to brain fog, skin rashes, and joint pain.
Millions of people suffer when they eat even miniscule amounts of gluten. And if you’re one of them, you know how horrible it can make you feel.
Usually, the first gluten consequence you’ll notice is GI (gastrointestinal) distress. That can take the form of:
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Foul-smelling gas
- Bloating
- Indigestion
But gluten consequences reach far beyond your gut. It can cause anything from brain fog to skin rashes to joint pain. So if you’re gluten-sensitive, you’ll want to avoid it at all costs. But to effectively sidestep gluten, you have to know where it likes to hide.
Where Does Gluten Hide in Everyday Foods?
Gluten turns up in many unexpected foods, including pickles, flavored tea, ketchup, beer, cold cuts, hot dogs, premade burger patties, mayonnaise, marinades, and French fries. On labels it also hides behind aliases like farina, malt flavoring, modified food starch, semolina, and maltodextrin.
You do your best to avoid gluten… but that’s harder than most people think. For one thing, many foods you’d never expect to contain gluten actually do. For another, it’s not always easy to spot on ingredient labels because it goes by many different names.
Let’s start with some surprising foods and drinks that may contain gluten. Did you know that gluten can hide out in:
- pickles
- flavored tea and iced tea
- ketchup
- beer
- cold cuts (like salami)
- hot dogs
- premade burger patties
- mayonnaise
- marinades
- salad dressing
- seasoned rice
- French fries
- licorice
- jellybeans
- marshmallows
Plus, you’d think that you’d be able to spot gluten on ingredient lists. But it’s not quite that simple. Gluten has more than a dozen aliases that show up on food labels. So along with ingredients like wheat, barley, and rye, be on the lookout for these other gluten nicknames:
|
farina |
caramel |
glucose syrup |
durum |
natural colors |
|
malt flavoring |
dextrin |
modified food starch |
hydrolyzed vegetable protein |
textured vegetable protein |
|
semolina |
spelt |
artificial colors and flavors |
malt extract |
maltodextrin |
And to make things even more complicated… Many people think that an effective GF lifestyle is as simple as sticking with foods labeled as “gluten-free.” But as studies have proven, even THOSE foods may still contain gluten.
Can You Trust “Gluten-Free” Labels?
Not always. In one analysis of 5,624 foods labeled gluten-free, about 32% still contained gluten, including roughly half of gluten-free pastas and pizzas. That is why a label alone may not be enough for someone who is highly sensitive.
You shell out the extra cash for gluten-free foods thinking they’ll be safe. Then you’re confused when you’re sticking to a gluten-free diet but still suffering from symptoms.
That’s because of this disturbing truth: You can’t always trust “gluten-free” labels.
Researchers tested 5,624 foods that were labeled “gluten-free” and found that many of them weren’t. Out of the foods they analyzed:
- 32% overall contained gluten
- 34% of packaged gluten free “dinners” contained gluten
- 51% of gluten-free pastas contained gluten
- 53% of gluten-free pizzas contained gluten
It’s frustrating and infuriating to do your best to avoid gluten and still get stuck with the consequences of unintended gluten.
But there is something you can do to protect yourself against accidental or hidden gluten.
How Can You Protect Yourself From Hidden Gluten?
Beyond reading labels, many people add digestive support that helps the body break down gluten, including targeted enzymes like DPP-IV and Tolerase G, specific probiotics, and Betaine HCl to support stomach acid and digestion.
If you have any level of gluten-sensitivity, it’s because your digestive system has trouble breaking down this protein.
The solution? Help your body process gluten more easily with supplemental support that includes:
- Targeted enzymes such as DPP-IV and Tolerase G that break down gluten into harmless amino acids
- Proactive probiotics such as Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus subtilis HU58™, and Saccharomyces boulardii that help your gut manage gluten more effectively
- Betaine HCl, which increases acid production in your stomach to increase digestion and healing nutrient absorption.
Adding these to your daily routine helps you stay clear of gluten consequences… so you can focus on the fun instead of the fear.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hidden Gluten
What summer foods unexpectedly contain gluten?
Common surprises include pickles, flavored and iced tea, ketchup, beer, cold cuts, hot dogs, premade burger patties, mayonnaise, marinades, salad dressing, French fries, licorice, jellybeans, and marshmallows. Always check labels at a barbecue or picnic.
What names does gluten hide under on labels?
Besides wheat, barley, and rye, gluten can appear as farina, malt flavoring, malt extract, modified food starch, semolina, durum, spelt, dextrin, maltodextrin, and hydrolyzed or textured vegetable protein, among others.
Are "gluten-free" labeled foods always safe?
Not necessarily. In one study of 5,624 gluten-free labeled foods, about 32% contained gluten, including over half of the gluten-free pastas and pizzas tested. Cross-contamination and labeling gaps are part of the reason.
How can supplements help with accidental gluten?
Some products combine gluten-targeting enzymes such as DPP-IV and Tolerase G, specific probiotics, and Betaine HCl to support the body in breaking down gluten and digesting food. They are meant to support digestion of accidental gluten, not to replace a gluten-free diet.
Why do I still react even on a gluten-free diet?
Hidden gluten in unexpected foods, label aliases, mislabeled "gluten-free" products, and cross-contamination can all expose you without your knowing. Reading labels carefully and adding digestive support can help reduce the impact of accidental exposure.
Just Thrive Gut Health Products
Calm Gluten Fears with Gluten Away
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Gluten Away helps your body effectively deal with accidental gluten with powerfully supportive ingredients including:
- Gluten-neutralizing enzymes DPP-IV and Tolerase G
- Gluten-disarming probiotics Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus subtilis HU58™, and Saccharomyces boulardii
- and the gluten-melting stomach acid might of Betaine HCl
To calm your gluten fears and enjoy every summer feast…
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