You are at a restaurant with friends.

You order the hamburger with a gluten-free bun, making sure to emphasize that the bun must be gluten-free.

The waiter reassures you that they handle these types of requests all the time.

The bussers bring out the food.

Your burger looks delicious.

The cole slaw that you ordered instead of the fries, because the fryer is not dedicated to gluten-free foods, looks scrumptious.

You bring the burger up to your mouth.

Just as you chomp down, you notice out of the corner of your eye that your friend’s non-gluten-free burger has the exact same bun as your burger.

As you complete your bite you see your waiter running toward you waving frantically……

The bun is a regular gluten bun!

Aaaaigh!!!!!

What do you do?

This exact scenario happened to me. (My waiter didn’t come running but he did apologize profusely.)

I’m going to give you two options depending on whether you swallowed or not.  

And no. Saying “oh well” and enjoying the yummy burger with the gluten bun is not one of the options.

OPTION 1: IF YOU DID NOT SWALLOW

Do not swallow!

Spit the bite into your napkin. If they didn’t provide napkins, spit it on the plate, floor or wherever, so long as you get it out of your mouth. This is not the time to worry about etiquette. Get that gluten out!

Immediately walk to the restroom. Bring your water glass.

In the bathroom, rinse your mouth several times, swishing the water between your teeth. Do this until your mouth is completely clean.

Gargle with the water to make sure no particles are on the back of your tongue. Spit it out.

Do the following step as soon as possible.

Get Alka Seltzer Gold. Drop two tablets into a glass of water and drink it, rinsing out your mouth with the concoction before you swallow. (Buy a box today and keep a pack with you.)

If you cannot get access to Alka Selzter Gold…

Put ½ tsp of baking soda in 6 oz of water.

Rinse your mouth, swishing between your teeth.

Swallow the rest of the glass of baking soda water.

Alka Selzter Gold contains baking soda. Baking soda is alkaline. It inhibits protein digestion. It also dampens immune reaction.

If you have a true allergy to gluten, immediately take a Benadryl and call your doctor depending on the severity of the allergy.  

OPTION 2: IF YOU SWALLOWED. (GASP!)

Spit whatever you have in your mouth into your napkin.

Immediately walk to the restroom. Bring your water glass.

This part sucks, but if you can do it, you’ll avoid pain and suffering.

Make yourself throw up.

I know it sounds extreme, but it is way better than the alternative.

I’ve been in two situations, one where I barfed it out, one where I didn’t.

(Yakking into the bushes at a family picnic wasn’t any fun, but it was way better than feeling absolutely awful for over a week while on vacation.)  

In the bathroom, rinse your mouth several times, swishing the water between your teeth. Do this until your mouth is completely clean.

Gargle with the water to make sure no particles are on the back of your tongue. Spit it out.

Do the following step as soon as possible.

Get Alka Seltzer Gold. Drop two tablets into a glass of water and drink it, rinsing out your mouth with the concoction before you swallow. (Buy a box today and keep a pack with you.)

If you cannot get access to Alka Selzter Gold…

Put ½ tsp of baking soda in 6 oz of water.

Rinse your mouth, swishing between your teeth.

Swallow the rest of the glass of baking soda water.

Repeat the Alka Seltzer Gold or baking soda remedies three times a day for the next 3 to 5 days depending on symptoms.

I found if I stop on the second day, my symptoms rear up again.

OTHER REMEDIES

• Take a gluten-digesting enzyme. These enzymes help to completely break down the protein structure. It is the partially digested gluten that triggers an immune reaction.
• Take a multivitamin/multimineral. You will most likely suffer some degree of malabsorption over the next week or two, so you want to replenish.
• Activated charcoal is another remedy that may help when taken as soon as you ingest the gluten. Activated charcoal is taken as a pill. It binds to whatever you have eaten and carries it out of the body.
• HYDRATE. Drink. Drink. Drink. Staying hydrate is critical, especially if you are suffering from gastrointestinal symptoms, like diarrhea. Hydration is important for every system in your body, especially if the gluten has triggered an immune reaction.
• Be careful when exercising. I find I am most likely to suffer an injury immediately after being cross contaminated.

I hope this helps you avoid pain and suffering if you ever find yourself in this situation. (Hopefully, you won’t!)

What do you do when you get glutened? Leave a comment below!

Then, check out our Gluten Free Works Treatment Guide. It has everything you need to understand and fix your ongoing symptoms, identify deficiencies and be the healthiest you.

We have an assortment of remedies for you today covering a variety of ailments!

• How to Cleanse Your Liver
• Acid Reflux Remedies that Work and Drugs to Stay Away From
• Excessive Gas and How to Get Rid of It
• Tips for Dealing with Social Anxiety
• Using Probiotics to Improve Health

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Who loves pancakes? A better questions is Who the heck doesn’t! (A: Weirdos)

Here are five yummy pancake recipes for your weekend! Enjoy!

Gluten-Free Cappuccino Pancakes

Lavender Blueberry Pancakes. Gluten-free and Vegan.

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Gluten-Free Coconut Flour Pancakes

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Gluten-free Buckwheat Buttermilk Blueberry Pancakes Recipe

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Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pancake Recipe Your Family Will Love!

Ice cream and cookies and puddings, oh my!

Glutenfreeworks.com has over 100 delicious gluten-free dessert recipes in our dessert category. (118 in fact!)

Cookies, Muffins, Cakes, Pies, Sorbets, Ice-Cream, Puddings, Candy – the list goes on and on!

Peruse the entire category of scrumptious goodies here.

In the mood for something different? Entrees? Sides?

Click the recipe category links below to find the exact nom nom yummies you are craving!

• Appetizer (48)
• Baked Goods (95)
• Beverage (12)
• Breakfast (46)
• Cookies (29)
• Desserts (118)
• Dinner (34)
• Entrees (108)
• GFCF Recipes (46)
• Lunch (40)
• Muffins (7)
• Salad (18)
• Sauce (10)
• Side Dishes (57)
• Snacks (39)
• Soup (18)
• Vegan (10)

Looking for our most prized recipes? These are the special ones you cannot find anywhere else. The best pie crust. The best bread recipe. The best pizza crust. Nutritious and delicious entrees, sides and desserts. You can find them all in our Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Cooking Made Easy e-cookbook and nutrition guide. Get healthy while you learn which foods you need to eat to get the nutrients your individual body needs. It’s a win-win! See the recipes here.

Gluten does not have to be listed on medication labels presently in the United States.

Since gluten is sometimes used as a binder or filler in medications, this makes it difficult to know which medications are safe or unsafe.

The Gluten in Medicine Disclosure Act would change United States law by requiring drug manufacturers to label medications intended for human use with the list of ingredients, their source, and whether gluten is present. 

Here is what you can do to help.

The Celiac Disease Foundation has created a form on their website that makes contacting your representatives easy. Click here to access the form and contact your representatives.

I just submitted my letter to my representative through the Celiac Disease Foundation website. It only takes a few minutes and will help so many when this passes. Thank you!

If you are like me, you LOVE Asian food.

Here are five delicious gluten-free Asian entrees to add to your cooking repertoire.

Enjoy!

Beef & Broccoli {Take-Out-At-Home}

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Asian Chicken Meatballs over Sesame Noodles

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Whip Up a Healthy Gluten Free Meal with some Asian Lettuce Wraps

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Gluten-Free Asian Pot Sticker Recipe

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Gluten-free Orange Sesame Beef Stir Fry Recipe

The Gluten Free Works Treatment Guide contains a Dictionary with over 700 medical terms, to help you understand and get the most from the guide.

Watch this video to see John and Cleo discuss it and show you how it works.

Panic attacks and anxiety are debilitating disorders that negatively impact life.

I know. I was anxious all the time until I discovered the true cause and fixed it.

Stress is a part of life. Our brain must be able to handle it, and normally, it can. If a certain underlying problem is present, no amount of medication, therapy or meditation will help.

In this video, I answer a question posed in an online support group and explain a frequent cause of chronic panic attacks and anxiety that is easily fixable.

Find out more about anxiety, what it is, its causes – including nutrient deficiencies – and the steps you can take to fix it in the Gluten Free Works Treatment Guide.

These 5 tips will help you stay gluten-free at the times when it is toughest.

Restaurants: Talk to the Manager.

Restaurants can be a minefield. Talking to the manager before you eat, even before you visit, can guarantee a safe meal. Why the manager? The manager has a vested interest in making sure you have a great experience. He or she often knows what is in the meals, usually understands gluten if the restaurant claims a gluten-free menu, and has quick access to ingredient labels. The other staff, even including cooks, may be new hires or less educated when it comes to gluten.

Family Events: Bring it. Hide it.

Family parties and get togethers are great, fun, boisterous times! Unless you know the host is making a gluten-free meal with lots of options, it is best to bring your food, even if it is “just in case.” Why hide it? When the cousins see your delicious gluten-free cookies or meatballs or bbq chicken, they are going to eat it. All of it. Cross contamination is also an issue. We’ve all seen people use the same spoons to scoop up different dishes. Bring it. Hide it. At least hide some of it.

Grocery Shopping: Choose Whole Foods over Processed.

Most processed foods contain multiple ingredients. Some are easy to figure out. Others might as well be a different language. Choosing whole foods makes it easy to shop gluten-free. Whole foods include eggs, meats, vegetables, nuts, fish, fruits…basically ingredients. While preparation might take a little longer, lots of times the meals we make are more nutritious and delicious. Especially when made with gluten-free love.

Don’t Chance It. When in Doubt, Toss it Out.

I once asked my mother whether a leftover in the refrigerator was still good. “When in doubt, toss it out,” she said. The idea is that it isn’t worth getting sick over. This logic applies to gluten-free. If you’re not sure about a food or meal, don’t risk it. Eating that particular food or dish isn’t worth being sick for hours or days. Also, your instincts are generally right.

Snacks Save.

“I……am…….starving!” We’ve all been there. Skipped breakfast. Worked through lunch. Whatever the reason, now we are starving and judgment is out the window. This is exactly the situation we want to avoid because being hungry makes it exponentially harder to make good decisions. Carrying snacks is so important and can be a live saver. Find a few shelf stable snacks you like and keep them in your glove compartment or in a desk drawer for those times when you need ANYTHING to eat.

Question: Has anyone just lived GF after only a bloodwork diagnosis? Do you fully trust just the bloodwork?

Quick Answer: Many people live GF after only a bloodwork diagnosis. It is best to get both the bloodwork and endoscopy with biopsy before you go gluten-free. None of the current tests for celiac disease are 100% accurate. If you are not eating gluten, your tests will be negative.  

Long Answer: It is best to get tested before going gluten free. This way, your doctor will take your diagnosis seriously. Also, you will be tested for various deficiencies as a baseline to determine future healing.

The blood tests are not pass/fail, but rather provide a level of antibodies that your immune system is producing. If the level is at a high enough point where a doctor would probably find intestinal damage on endoscopy with biopsy, then you are given a positive result. If the level is not high enough, then your result would be negative. Just because you are negative today, doesn’t mean you will not be positive in the future. This is exactly what happened to a physician assistant I met at a gastroenterology conference. She tested negative. Three months later her results were sky high.

Learn more about Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity Testing and Diagnosis here.