We recently updated our Gluten News file with word that science has discovered a new treatment for Celiac Disease, commonly known as Gluten Allergy. That’s great news for Celiac sufferers, but according to another team of researchers, it won’t do you any good if you just have Gluten sensitivity…
The Onion Family: One of the big contributors of Fructans in your diet…
While many people today claim they are ‘Gluten Intolerant’, the truth is, only a few of them actually suffer from Celiac Disease, or Gluten Allergy. For them, a treatment (not a cure, mind you) is on the way. But for folks who suffer bloating, Irritable Bowl Disease symptoms and other minor side effects of consuming gluten-containing foods, the answer appears to be something different.
New evidence…
A new study published in the journal Gastroenterology reveals that simple ‘Gluten sensitivity’ may be caused by a completely different substance.
Scientists say they conducted a series of closely monitored and controlled studies using self-reported ‘Gluten sensitivity’ sufferers as subjects. In the studies, they discovered that not Gluten, but another substance found in Wheat, called Fructans, caused the subjects digestive problems. Fructans, fairly common carbohydrates, are not related to Gluten, and they are also found in other foods not related to Wheat or each other, including Onions and Chick Peas (Garbanzo Beans).
First, the Good News…
For ‘Celiac sensitivity’ sufferers this is both good news and bad.
The good news ism they can avoid the discomfort and associated issues they thought were caused by consumption of Wheat products simply by avoiding foods containing Fructans.
The bad news is, there are a lot of those out there. High-Frucan foods include:
| Grapefruit | Chicory root | Rye |
| Nectarine | Globe artichoke | Pumpernickel bread |
| Persimmon | Jerusalem artichoke | Kamut |
| Plum | Beetroot (>2 slices) | Wheat (dependent on serving size) |
| Pomegranate (>38g) | Savoy cabbage (>1/2 cup) | Barley |
| Watermelon | Garlic | Spelt (dependent on serving size) |
| Some types of dried fruit | Leek (bulb) | |
| Common banana (ripe) | Mange tout (> 5 pods) | |
| Onion (white, shallots, Spanish, et al) | ||
| Spring onion bulb | ||
| Snow peas (> 5 pods) |
(Source: Muir et al., 2009; Monash University App, 2017)
On balance, there is light at the end of the tunnel…
…And it’s not an oncoming train. These new findings allow IBS and ‘Celiac sensitivity’ sufferers to be more proactive – and, as a result, less troubled – by their Fructan-initiated diseases.
Cheers!
~ Maggie J.