Gluten Free Oats and Celiac Disease
Years ago when I was first diagnosed with celiac disease the common wisdom was that people with celiac disease had to avoid oats. As science began to determine that this was not exactly correct those who were more militant in their condemnation of oats gradually retreated to a position of "all oats grown in the United States are contaminated with wheat".
As a person inclined to rational analysis and skepticism, claims that include the word "all" get special attention in my way of thinking.
Recent studies have determined that a minority of people with celiac disease react in exactly the same way as they do to wheat when given absolutely pure oats. These people must avoid oats. But these studies also found that a majority of people with biopsy confirmed celiac sufferers are able to eat oats if they are not cross contaminated. For these people eating oats does not provoke the characteristic immune reaction as determined by blood work and biopsy samples. I seem to be among this larger group of people that can tolerate oats.
In fact I have eaten instant oatmeal packets indiscriminately for years, but then others with celiac disease managed to convince me that cross-contamination, especially with wheat, is a serious concern for the gluten free diet. Fortunately there are some growers and mills that co-operate to produce oats they can guarantee are gluten free. This was comforting news to me, because my gut feels really happy and content when I eat oats for breakfast.
We found the listings below by searching on Amazon.com for the term "gluten free oats", however we make no representation that these products are actually gluten free. Please do your own due diligence if you have celiac disease or any other medical requirement for a gluten free diet.
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Gluten Free Oats - 32oz Sale Price: $15.95  |
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Bob's Red Mill, Extra Thick Rolled Oats, 32 oz (2 lbs) 907 g (FOUR PACK) List Price: $5.76 Sale Price: $14.18 Average Rating:  |
