Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Cupcakes were offered at work the other day and I couldn't resist. It doesn't happen all that often, fortunately, and usually I'm not that badly affected. Ideally in future I might prime myself for these events by eating extremely tasty paleo food beforehand. But I'm sure I'll lapse again.

Given that gluten causes a lot/most of its damage supposedly by ruining the gut lining, perhaps eating gluten-containing foods with some gluten-free foods/drinks should help minimize the damage - it's more likely that the gluten will be wrapped in less-damaging matter as it travels through one's system. Does that sound plausible? Are there any special foods that one could take before/during/after a gluten mistake that can minimize the harm?

flag	asked Mar 3 2012 at 13:54 dav 1,356●1●13

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I have celiac disease so I never eat gluten. If I accidentally get glutened it means a few days of feeling like cr*p and the unfelt damage is even worse. As much as I used to love a good piece of chocolate cake I wouldn't eat it now because of what it does to me anymore than someone not avoiding gluten would eat it if it had a bit of rat poison as a special seasoning! – Jennifer Mar 23 2012 at 13:33

henny · Answer 1 · 2012-03-03 13:59:28Z UTC

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No, just eat something else instead. Keep something in your desk that will compensate- like a lara bar to be eaten in case of emergency!

answered Mar 3 2012 at 13:59

henny

	I'm pretty sure I could do something like that. But I'd snack too much, which would ruin my intermittent fasts. – dav Mar 3 2012 at 20:53
	So then just intermittent fast when you see cupcakes in the office! – henny Mar 4 2012 at 4:00
	Don't mean to be mean, but ... I have to LOL at people that IF and eat cupcakes. That's a recipe for a seriously deranged diet and lifestyle. YMMV, of course. – greymouser Mar 23 2012 at 14:51
	What I meant was, if someone brings muffins to the office quit eating and start fasting. – henny Mar 24 2012 at 0:32
	thank you all for a well needed chuckle on my lunch break :) – Jen Mar 29 2012 at 19:44

Dragonfly · Answer 2 · 2012-03-03 14:17:44Z UTC

Sorry, no such luck. Second having a gluten-free snack as an alternative.

And keep in mind that gluten stays in the system for awhile, so if you are gluten-sensitive or intolerant, and you "cheat" even occasionally, you are just perpetuating the gut damage (and possible nutrient deficiencies because your gut doesn't absorb as well.)

Ralph Furley · Answer 3 · 2012-03-03 14:23:13Z UTC

I'm not that sensitive to gluten, but I don't eat it...ever...not even a cupcake. That is the one thing that I never "cheat" with. I like wheat based foods a lot, but I can resist them because of the potential for damage to my system. No cupcake on earth could taste good enough for me to eat it. I do occasionally indulge in non paleo foods. It's pretty rare these days, but when it happens it may be something like a little all natural ice cream, good cheese, good bourbon or wine, that sort of thing - never wheat. That’s a tradeoff that I can handle for the next 60 years – God willing.

If you tolerate gluten well, go for it. If you don't, perhaps you can stop focusing on lapsing again and trying to find tricks to help you tolerate it better. I don't have a background in physiology or science, but your idea that gluten could be wrapped in more tolerable foods as it winds its way through your system sounds like Bro-science to me.

Jeff · Answer 4 · 2012-03-03 14:27:47Z UTC

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I've heard about drugs that look promising for these situations but I'm sure we're still some time away.... The sugar, artificial chemicals, and PUFAs are another story however.

answered Mar 3 2012 at 14:27

Jeff
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Pedrita · Answer 5 · 2012-03-23 09:00:37Z UTC

I think it isn't impossible that something helps, but I don't know if that's the case. Just speculating a bit: For example, some people say potatoes are much better tolerated when eaten with enough saturated fat. Something similar could happen for gluten. I do remember butter cookies being much better than regular cookies (with PUFAs) for me, so I often wonder that.

Another thing is that according to Ray Peat, raw carrots are gut lining protective, while they also accelerate gut transit, so it could also be that they help if eaten together with gluten or after taking them in a long term, but I don't think that would make a lot of difference alone. Sure not for a celiac, of course.

I think it is better to avoid gluten as much as possible. You seem still addicted to grains. If you are able to avoid them for a few weeks, you may never feel like having them again. Once the cravings are gone, you become able to resist those pastries, and if you cheat you will find out that you actually have learned that they aren't nice for you. I was once addicted to grains, and now whenever I see some pastry it's like they are invisible to me. I just don't feel like having them. At all.

Protection from gluten?

5 Answers