8 Tips For Coping After You've Been "Glutened"

If you suffer from gluten intolerance or celiacs disease, you will know the horrible feeling you get when you've been glutened. It's horrendous...but thankfully, there are ways to relieve the discomfort. 1. Relax When I first went gluten-free, every time I realised I had been glutened, I freaked out a little...but stressing will only make you feel worse. So the first thing you need to do is take a few deep breaths and try not to worry; yes you have been glutened, and yes it will feel horrible...and yes, you will look 6-8 months pregnant for the next 24 hours, but it is manageable. Don't panic. 2. Drink plenty of water Staying hydrated is essential, as it will enable your body to flush the gluten out. It will also help if your bowel movements have been affected by the gluten (and let's be honest, that's undoubtedly going to happen). 3. Sip herbal tea I find that green tea works brilliantly for me, but peppermint tea and ginger tea are also great at not only helping to flush the gluten through your body, but also helping to ease the stomach discomfort. This may not be the same for everyone, but it's worth a try. 4. Try some apple sauce This may sound absurd, but it works for me, and many other people. Eating some apple sauce can work wonders when you've been glutened as, among the many other benefits, it contains a lot of fibre, which is great for helping to regulate the digestive system. Just what you need when you're suffering from a gluten attack. 5. Have a nap This clearly isn't always an option, but if you are fortunate enough to be at home, or near a comfy sofa, then a nap is always very beneficial when you've been glutened. It will ease your mind, and allow your body to focus on repairing any damage caused. It gives you some much needed time away from the discomfort and pain from consuming gluten. 6. Avoid fatty foods After being glutened, it can often be hard to want to eat anything, but it is important not to starve, so you will need to eat something after a while. Whatever you decide to eat, make sure that it's not something high in fat or sugar; this isn't just because those aren't the healthy options; it's because fat and sugar can wreak further havoc on your digestive system. 7. Try eating some brown rice When you do decide to try some food, opt for brown rice; not too much though. A small amount of brown rice is a great thing to eat to help to settle the stomach, while also filling yourself up (comfortably). Brown rice will not only satisfy your hunger cravings, but it also helps to promote regular bowel function, and because it's a carbohydrate, it will replenish your energy levels. 8. Try to figure out how you got glutened This is often harder than it initially appears to be, as, if you have had a sudden reaction after eating a meal, then it's usually fairly obvious what caused it, but, if the reaction has slowly appeared, then it can be almost impossible to figure out how you got glutened. Always try to work it out though, because this will ultimately prevent it from happening again! Take your time to write down everything you've eaten in the past 24 hours, and look for anything that you perhaps hadn't eaten before. Sometimes you just have to (annoyingly) accept that you won't find out what caused the reaction, but it's good to at least try, so you can save yourself from the discomfort again...hopefully!   Some of these may not work for you; every body is different after all, but even if you only take away one great tip from this article, then it will help you to get through being glutened next time.

What are your top tips for coping after ingesting gluten?

  Featured image credit: Getty Images/B2M Productions featured at http://celiacdisease.about.com/   Sources: http://www.ehow.com/list_6107250_green-tea-benefits-stomach-problems.html http://udisglutenfree.com/2013/12/16/you-got-glutened-now-what/ http://momsglutenfreenoms.com/2013/08/30/frequently-asked-fridays-what-can-i-do-to-feel-better-after-gluten-poisoning/ http://www.livestrong.com/article/521472-health-benefits-of-applesauce/ http://www.livestrong.com/article/511299-brown-rice-on-an-upset-stomach/ http://primaldocs.com/opinion/top-10-ways-to-recover-after-gluten-exposure/ http://www.activebeat.com/diet-nutrition/8-foods-to-ease-an-upset-stomach/