Top 6 things to do when you have been glutened

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No matter how cautious we are to avoid gluten and cross-contamination, it is possible to accidentally consume gluten, which many people refer to as “glutened”. The symptoms of gluten consumption vary from person to person and can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, migraines, etc. In such a situation, taking the necessary steps to minimize the effects and recover as quickly as possible is essential. Here is a list of my top 6 things that you can do to help yourself when you have been glutened.

1. REST

Your body needs to recover and to facilitate that recovery the best thing that you can do for it is rest. Nap, watch Netflix, read a book, whatever it takes to just let your body recuperate from what has happened to it.

2. HYDRATE

It is so important to make sure that you stay hydrated to help replenish electrolytes and fluids that are lost from sweating or any gastrointestinal distress that you may experience while sick. You may even want to consider a sports drink like Powerade or an oral rehydration drink like Pedialyte, which are both gluten-free. Also, lots of water can help to flush out your system.

3. TAKE A PROBIOTIC

A probiotic will add good bacteria to your gut that will help to fight off any bad bacteria that has invaded your body. It can help you feel better faster by restoring balance in your gut. Probiotics can also be beneficial even if you haven’t had an accidental gluten ingestion. They can help you stay healthy by supporting your immune function and decreasing inflammation.

4. TAKE A DIGESTIVE ENZYME

A digestive enzyme can help your body break down and digest gluten proteins to help you feel better faster after an accidental ingestion of gluten. A digestive enzyme, unfortunately can’t help prevent any internal damage done, but if taken soon enough after ingestion can help hasten your recovery. The studies are still being done on supplements like this, but some people also like to take it before eating at a restaurant or other “risky” environments where you don’t have control over cross contact to help ease symptoms if needed.

5. EAT SMALL MEALS AND THE BRAT DIET

While your gut is trying to heal it is often best to not overload it with big, heavy meals. It also can be beneficial to follow the BRAT diet, which is bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (gluten-free, of course) which is commonly thought to be gentle on the stomach and easy to digest.

5. USE A HEATING PAD

Using a heating pad for 15 minutes directly on your stomach can be very soothing. It can promote movement in your digestive tract as well as relax your stomach muscles.

6. DRINK TEA

Peppermint tea is so helpful to relax the intestines and ease the feeling of nausea.

Please note, these are suggestions to help you feel better if you are experiencing side effects of ingesting gluten or cross-contamination. However, I am not a medical professional. It is very important to see a doctor right away if you have excessive vomiting, diarrhea or feel dehydrated.

I know that many people will use activated charcoal to ease the symptoms of being glutened. While activated charcoal has been shown to bind and remove some toxins from the body, I am not aware of any studies that show this as being the case with gluten or that it helps with gluten exposure symptoms. I would caution anyone who takes activated charcoal to be aware that it can have a couple of negative side effects. Activated charcoal can cause dehydration, this is especially prevalent in children. It also can reduce the efficacy of medications, so be careful if you take any prescription medications and know that this can happen. Click here for more information about activated charcoal.