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No Grain No Pain – Is Quinoa Gluten Free?

gluten free quinoa

A commonly asked question for those embarking on the No Grain No Pain diet – “Is quinoa a safe alternative to eat?”

What is Quinoa?

Quinoa is actually not a grain. It is a pseudocereal seed used by many as a gluten free substitute.

It is a commonly used staple crop in South America, specifically grown in the Andes. Quinoa has a favorable protein content and contains a number of minerals and B-vitamins. With the popularity of the gluten free diet on the rise, interest in quinoa has skyrocketed, and it is being touted as a safe and healthy alternative to wheat, barley, rye and other gluten containing grains. Ergo the question – Is quinoa a safe gluten free food?

The Problem With Quinoa…

Technically, quinoa is gluten free. However; the processing of the pseudo grain is often performed in facilities that also process other grain based foods. This is where cross contamination becomes a major issue. A recent study found that 41% of processed products randomly pulled from grocery shelves contain enough gluten to cause damage to those with gluten sensitivity. As stated above, quinoa is a seed. One of the problems with seeds in general, is that they are particular hard to digest. Many seeds contain gluten like proteins and chemical compounds called lectins. Many of the lectins and gluten based components have been shown to created digestive suppression and inflammatory problems in humans, and they are known contributors of autoimmune disease.

Is Quinoa Gluten Free?

Technically speaking quinoa is gluten free based on the definition of gluten created for those with celiac disease. However; quinoa does have “gluten like” storage proteins that can mimic proteins found in wheat, barley, and rye. The obvious question is: are these storage proteins sufficiently similar to traditional glutens that they could cause an immune reaction in celiac patients or in patients with other forms of gluten sensitivity? According to new research, the answer is yes…

New Study Identifies Quinoa as a Potential DangerIs quinoa safe on a gluten free diet?

A recent research paper published by V.F. Zevallos and co-workers examined 15 different varieties of quinoa, to examine their safety for people with celiac disease.

The quinoa proteins were tested to determine if they led to an increased production of IFN (interferon)-gamma and IL( interleukin) 15. These inflammatory chemicals (also called cytokines) play important roles for the human immune response to gluten. What did the researchers find?

Two out of the 15 quinoa cultivars (“Ayacuchana” and “Pansakalla”) stimulated an immune response that was as potent as that observed for wheat gluten.

This result suggests that quinoa is not necessarily safe for ingestion in those with gluten sensitivity. Additionally, the results shed more light on the traditional flawed thought that proteins in wheat, barley, and rye are the only food proteins to be problematic in patients with gluten sensitivity.

Resource: Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 Jul 3. [Epub ahead of print]

Gluten Definition Overhaul is Needed

Current testing for gluten relies on a methodology called ELISA. The testing measures the quantity of traditional glutens present in food. Unfortunately, it does not measure weather other glutens and gluten like proteins cause inflammatory problems in patients. This problem has been pointed out multiple times in research. Case in point – rice, corn, soy, and dairy have all been shown to cause inflammatory reactions and or villous atrophy identical to celiac disease in human studies. Yet the generic recommendation by most doctors and nutritionists is to eat this foods without concern. When you also take into consideration that up to 92% of people following a traditional gluten free diet don’t heal, and continue to be stricken with multiple forms of autoimmune disease, it becomes clear that more precise definitions are needed.

Looking out for your health,

Dr. Osborne

4 Responses

  1. I have a thyrodid problem Hashimoto which happened because I have gluten sensitivity; and I have to take Eutyrox medication daily which is made from corn starch as well. How can I avoid gluten?…any suggestions ..tnx

  2. After being grain-free for over 2 months, during reintroduction to GF grains, I discovered (the hard way) that quinoa, rice, corn, and oats all caused some level of distress when I ate them. But of all, quinoa was the absolute worst!

  3. I had terrible raction to quinoa. I had pain in my throat and burning sensation, couldn’t breathe, my lungs felt like they were cut with sandpaper, heart rate went up, couldn’t stop scratching. It was very frightnening.

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