If you are allergic to wheat or gluten, you probably already know how difficult, it is to avoid foods containing wheat or gluten.
The trouble is that the more you look for foods without an ingredient, the more foods you find which you can’t eat!
The first step to eating wheat/gluten-free, is to start looking for foods you can eat. It tends to attract the right things into your life. Of course even as you can for ingredients you can eat, you must also be on the lookout for ingredients you must avoid. But start with what you can eat, it is so much more encouraging!
The fact is that even with a gluten-free diet, there are lots of things you can eat. Here is a partial list. I will expand on it over time.
Basic Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free Ingredients
The following ingredients do not contain wheat, although there are some caveats. Double-check the ingredients noted, as they may sometimes be mixed with wheat. For example, 100% pure corn starch is safe, but some brands of corn starch have wheat added (just to annoy you!).
Some of the ingredients listed here are wheat-free, but contain gluten. They are noted.
- Amaranth
- Arrowroot
- Barley (contains gluten)
- Beans
- Buckwheat
- Corn
- Flax seed
- Garfava
- Millet
- Nut Flours
- Oats (may contain gluten. Many celiacs consider this safe)
- Potato
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Rye (contains gluten)
- Sorghum
- Soy
- Tapioca
- Teff
See also: Gluten free foods list for an extensive and growing list of gluten-free foods.
{ 45 comments… read them below or add one }
can wheat allergy person eat complian,bournvita etc?
Hey guys,
I am glad I came across this site in the myriad of sites found on the net. I can empathize with a lot of the people who’ve posted. For the longest time I thought I just had a weak stomach and making runs to the restroom after eating was just something I had to do. However, as I got closer to 30, things just got worse. I was always having lose bowels, or at times borderline diarrhea. I started to gain more weight and I always seemed bloated. Then came stomach cramps, joint pain, IBS type symptoms, and all my doctor (legalized drug dealer) did was prescribe some little blue IBS pills. This did help the stomach discomfort a little, but the side effects were bad. They made my vision blurry, and this happened when I was driving. So, I promptly stopped that crap. Then, I turned to the net. Over and over again, I kept running into allergy type symptoms. I then went to get some blood work done, and sure enough. I am allergic to wheat, cow milk, cow beef, peanuts, and pork. Along with dust mites. So, I then presented the information to my doctor who pushed the whole think aside as nothing but BS. He stated that the report showed only nominal levels in allergic reactions. However, he didn’t know I had already started to eliminated much of the stuff from my diet starting with the wheat.
My stomach problems all but stopped, and I now weight around 175-180 from 195-200. It is very hard to avoid these things, but it’s well worth it. So, I can easily attest that doctor’s don’t know sh#* from shoe shine when it comes to allergies. Sadly even an allergist I visited was of little help. I don’t know if it’s because of his old age and he is set in his ways or just because he doesn’t know anything about dieting? In my experience, they just want you to take some prescription medications instead of changing your eating habits.
Yet, I can easily say my stomach is of little concern to me anymore. I finally know what it’s like to feel normal bowel movements (strange and foreign to me at first) and have solid stools.
However, there is one more pervasive problem I am having. For as long as I can remember maybe early teens, I would periodically get ulcers in my mouth. At first it was just one or two small ones, and not to big of a deal. Then as I got older they got worse. Sometimes lining almost my entire mouth. Since I started avoiding the foods I am allergic to, they have been periodic and minimal. Yet, I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this and may know what triggers them. I do my best to avoid the stuff I am allergic to, but wheat is just about everywhere and a lot of the time my job forces me to eat out. I’ve read a lot about the ulcers in the mouth and the causes vary. Not to long ago, I was reading a forum from a university whose MD professors specialized it these types of things. Sadly, it seemed that the answer to the causes was a big fat “we don’t know”. I read everything from stress to allergies.
If anyone has any information on this, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks & God Bless
Mouth ulcers can be a symptom of celiac disease. It is possible that this symptom is being triggered with small amounts of wheat that don’t trigger digestive problems.
I used to get occasional mouth ulcers and traced it to sensodyne (or similar – toothpaste for sensitive teeth). Never had a problem since cutting it out.
Of course neither of the above may apply to you, but it may give you more ideas of what to look out for.
i found out my cousin was allergic and allergic to wheat & seafood. she nearly died one time but came back to life! she only eats little things and shes only 9!
I have suffered from upset stomachs for many years, which can come on very quickly and suddenly have to dash to the bathroom, which can be vary embarrasing, i tryed talking to my doctor about it, and he said to change my diet, and keep a diary to try an eliminate certain foods, i’m thinking of trying a wheat free diet to see if this helps, i really love bread and pasta, so hoping it’s not this! although to be free from my problem will make a big difference to my life
Can people with wheat intolerance eat yeast extract?@
As far as I know, the general answer is that yeast extract is wheat free.
BUT you must check the ingredients of the yeast extract to make sure no wheat or wheat products have been added to a particular brand or type of yeast extract. You may want to call the company just to be sure.
My 10 year old son has always suffered from asthma..n reflux and constipation…recently he had an upper gi endoscopy and I was told he was lactose intolerant. As a baby he had a soy allergy ..so I had him retested for soy so I can substitute the dairy products..Well the doctor decided 2 run more test , he is allergic to wheat ,soy,egg,whites,walnut,peanut,sesame,clam,corn. He also is allergic to apples he is in the class 3 for most of the allergies ..and he has allergies to grass and trees ..so basically my question is what do I feed him and where do I even begin .Please help !!
Multiple food allergies are a real problem!
Focus on what he can eat. Make a list of everything you can think of that does not include what he is allergic to. Write it down. Refer to this list and use it for your cooking.
It seems hard at first, but it gets easier.
Feel free to share any recipes you come up with.
My son has some of the same allergies (corn, wheat, barley, oats, rice, peanuts, walnuts, carrots). We have been working on changing over his diet and have cut out everything but rice so far. The corn one is killing me, there are forms of corn in everything, including most gluten free products.. A friend of mine recently mentioned she has a friend who’s child is allergic to corn but found out it was only the corn protein and not things like corn syrup. I will talk to the Dr. more about that at our next visit.
If you have a list of things he can eat, please share!
Im allergic to wheat, soy and peanuts, shellfish all very serious and thats just my food allergies!!.. i find when i eat alot of meats and veges i cant swallow properly and my tounge tingles and im confusing it with anaphylaxis, feels like there is nothing else left that i can eat, any ideas? and also im pregnant so want to eat as healthy as possible.
You face a tough problem!
I’m seeing this problem more and more – multiple food allergies.
Right now I don’t have a solution, but it is something I’m thinking about.
Sign up for the allergy newsletter so I can inform you when I have some way of helping you and others with this very difficult problem.
I was allergy tested two weeks ago and l reacted to wheat, rice, rye, oats and barley. I stopped eating these types of food and with in 3 days l had a itchy rash over my chest , back, neck and stomach.
Has any one else had this sort of reaction?
I did have quinoa for the first time also, which thankfully l love!
Any feed back would be great!
You say you stopped eating these types of food and then you got a rash?
I’ve never heard of people getting a rash by not eating something. However, sometimes people can have withdrawal symptoms when they stop eating the foods they are allergic to, similar to an addiction. Allergies actually can have an addiction-like cycle to them.
Stick with the diet and see what happens in the long term (4 or 5 weeks).
Good luck!
Hi ,can blood test show gluten allergerys
Hi Diane,
I believe there are blood tests designed to show a gluten allergy. I have not made a detailed study of allergy tests, which is why there is no information about such tests at present.
All allergy tests can be inaccurate so while helpful, do not depend on them. Their biggest use is suggesting allergies that you might have, that you may not have suspected.
The best test is the elimination diet.
I just found out that my best friend has cilliac disease………………
I was shocked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She cann not go to a Birthday party and eat the cake, pizza, and chips that they serve………………………
She doesn’t seem to want to talk about it………………….
She feels like a freak ,
But I told her it wasn’t her fault!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Instead of focusing on all the stuff you can’t eat………… FOCUS ON THE STUFF YOU CAN EAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just remember to stay true to yourself and your friends and don’t listen to what any body else says!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Madison, that is such great advice to your friend. She isn’t a freak – there is about 1% of the population just like her (many of them don’t know it and are needlessly sick).
It is hard to tell your friends that you can’t eat this and you can’t eat that. But real friends help each other out, just like what you are doing for her. She’ll be just fine when she gets used to it and understands that most people are supportive and helpful.
Just remind her to take full responsibility for her health, and make absolutely sure there is no wheat or gluten in anything she eats, even if she has to ask the same person the same question in five different ways, just to be sure.
Good luck to her! Invite her to this website to share her story!
Can a sensitivity to wheat come and go? I’m trying to figure out what’s causing my on and off stomach problems and acne. (And whether they’re related.) How quickly would I be having a reaction to wheat from the time I ingested it, if I had a sensitivity?
Hi Sarah,
I doubt a sensitivity to wheat can come and go, but your resistance to the problems may vary. For example, if you are feeling more stressed, lacking sleep, and possibly eating other foods that don’t agree with you, you will probably feel the symptoms more than if you are relaxed, well rested, and eating what’s right for you (other than the wheat).
Few people are allergic to just one thing.
It is also possible that you think you have a problem with wheat, when it is really something else. You may be looking at the wrong foods.
Hope that helps.
alex
“What is the difference between a wheat allergy and celiac disease?
Wheat allergy and celiac disease are two different conditions. When someone has a wheat allergy his/her immune system has an abnormal reaction to proteins from wheat, with symptoms similar to that of other allergic food reactions. When a person with celiac disease eats food containing the protein gluten (found in wheat and some other grains) it damages the lining of the small intestine, which stops the body from absorbing nutrients. This can lead to diarrhea, weight loss and eventually malnutrition. If you are unsure whether you have a wheat allergy or celiac disease, consult an allergist or a physician.”
Strong possibilty
Hey, I’d like to start by telling my story.
I always had perfect skin. Even as a teenager, I never had any skin problems. In 2008, I decided to turn vegetarian. I did it in one shot, just stopped eating anything meat related. A couple months in I started to get acne around my chin. After another couple months, I had full blown stage 3 acne. I became so self conscious, I quit my job. Even though friends and family kept telling me my body was maybe reacting to food changes, I couldn’t get why eating “healthier” would cause so much havoc. So I read things about detoxing and how it was the bodys way of dealing, so i figured I’d just deal with it and eventually everything would be fine. Well a year had passed and no change whatsoever. Tried so many face creams, cleansing systems which made no difference at all. I went back to eating meat a couple months ago. Since bread and pasta had been heavily incorporated in all my meals as a vegetarian, when I started eating meat again I started consuming them less. I notice my face wouldn’t swell in the evening as it used to before. The acne stayed but my overall face was much less tender. I still didn’t make the correlation between the bread and my acne until a couple weeks ago. I had been exercising and eating mostly protein and vegetables. On the weekend, I decided to have a “binge” and ate bread, cookies, pancakes; the works. The next day my face was so horribly swollen and I had again started to have cystic acne which had seemed to go away. I then realised maybe it was a food allergy, even though the doctor had told me it was impossible because if I wasn’t tolerating food I would have more severe reactions such as stomach pains and breathing issues. He told me it was just acne and to deal with it. I have have an appointment with an allergy specialist in May, but it’s in quite a while and I would like to know if there is a strong possibilty that I may have a food intolerance.
Is it possible for a person to have only have skin problems due to an allergy? I also get rashes now and then on my stomache area, below the navel and to the sides. It’s usually after I eat spaghetti.
I am still taking precautions and trying to eliminate as much wheat as I can from my diet, but I don’t want to make the same mistake again and start another chain reaction.
Thank-you
-Jane
Suspect wheat or gluten
Hi Jane,
Sorry to hear about your troubles.
The good news is that you have probably found the answer.
First of all, many if not most doctors are clueless about diet. The allergist may help … or not. Definitely keep your appointment.
From your story, wheat, or its evil running-mate gluten, could be the problem.
This means that you might have a $wheat-allergy$, a $gluten-allergy$, or $celiac disease$.
There are reliable tests for celiac. Sometimes the symptoms are not classic. I’m just working on a series of articles about a specific example of that. Doctors, if they know about celiac at all, look for classic symptoms of celiac.
You don’t have classic symptoms of celiac, but you may still be sensitive to gluten.
I suggest you avoid wheat and gluten completely. This will not harm you, in fact it will force you to eat healthy (no processed foods for example).
You have to be very strict about this diet, and that’s the only ‘problem’ with it. Well worth it though if it gives you results.
If gluten or wheat is the problem (could be both for that matter), it may take several weeks to notice any difference at all, and several months for your system to completely clear.
You mentioned going on a wheat binge.
This makes me even more suspicious. Oddly, we often become addicted to the foods we are allergic to.
I suggest you go on a gluten free diet, because that eliminates wheat and gluten (be careful though, of products that may say they are gluten-free, but have wheat bran or some such thing in them).
If that works, you’ll probably notice more energy and other health benefits.
Try it and see how it goes. Please come back and let us know how it goes.
๐
Thank-you for your reply.
I will definately be eliminating wheat/gluten from my diet.
It’s nice to have a confirmation that it is not all my head and that doctors don’t always have the answers.
thanks again,
Jane Doe
After finding out that I was allergic to wheat, I wanted to make sure that I didn’t have celiac disease. So, I went back to the lab and they told me that I would have to start eating wheat again in order for anything to show up. Since, I had already eliminated wheat from my diet. Is this true? I just don’t want to got back to the way I felt, so it was like them asking me to jab a knife in my gut and twist it around for a few weeks.
I know exactly how you feel, Rowland.
Do you feel OK with rye or barley? If so, ask the lab if eating either of these gluten grains will make the test valid.
Please let us know what they say.
BTW what lab is it, and what kind of test?
Sick Feeling
I have been having trouble with heartburn, acid indigestion for a while. It seems lately after I eat my stomach begins to feel “icky” and sometimes immediately after eating I get diarhrea. I have been very tried also.
What do you recommend?
General ‘allergy’ reply
Hi Trixie,
You ask a very general question.
I guess the first thing I recommend is to go see your doctor. But that may or may not help. Still, it has to be done.
So the second thing I recommend is cutting out the most common food allergens. See Top 20 Food Allergies with Delayed Reactions.
Wheat and milk are common causes, but there are others too.
Hope that helps.
I think I am allergic to gluten
I have always had a problem with eggs, milk and chocolate. spaggetti,bread , cheese and a whole lot of other things.When I say problem, I mean my skin gets itchy and I suffer from outbreaks of boils on my buttocks area. For many years I have been told by doctors that there is no cure for the boils. I have suffered a lot as you can imagine ,the pain from the boils makes it hard to live a normal life. I also see that they get irritated now when I wear pants that have elastic in them, it seems that all jeans have that now. They have been getting worse and sometimes I have to take antibiotics for them because they get so infected. I have noticed now, that they blow up as soon as I eat bread, or spaggetiti. Does it sound like I am alergic to gluten? I must mention that I have had skin problems all my life. The first boil I can remember was in second grade, Since then they have multiplied and break out all at the same time. I cry from the pain. My sister suffers with them too. I always thought I was lactose intolerant,but know I just don’t know. Please help me figure this out, I would like to live a normal life.
Try an elimination diet
Hi there Helen,
Wow, your problem sounds really irritating. I can see how even sitting comfortably could be a problem that can effect your life in so many ways.
First of all, you have to ignore your doctors on this one a little bit. Doctors saying “there is no cure for your boils” means they don’t have a bloody clue.
Boils are likely a sign that your body is trying to eliminate toxins through the skin.
First, I’d look at your list of suspicious foods. You’re suspicious of them for a reason.
Yes: cut out all gluten from your diet. Wheat is added to so many things, you’ll have to read ingredients, and ask lots of questions at restaurants.
If at all possible, avoid restaurants completely for a while.
Also, avoid yeast, sugar, milk and all highly processed foods. Actually, by avoiding this list of ingredients, processed foods are pretty much out of the question, which is a good thing for your health no matter what.
Also, if you have any fillings, make sure they’re not amalgam. Those things are 50% mercury, a deadly toxin. If you have such fillings, get them removed as soon as possible by a dentist who is qualified to safely remove mercury fillings.
Finally, consider detoxifying with $Immunocal$.
Hope that helps. Come back and let us know how it goes.
Food allergy
I thought I would ad this prior post of mine here since your symptoms and allergies sound similar to mine. I have found relief from the boils at times in my life by eating all organic rice, tuna, apples and other organic vegetables. with that I present to you my prior (Meat allergy post) below. Good luck.
I have been allergic to milk all my life. I also have what is known as geographical tongue. The milk swells my throat closed (I keep and Epinephrine Pen) Eggs also cause red patches and swelling in the neck region. But what I really came to talk about was the “SORES” I get. I get these red puffy itchy sores all over my back, shoulders, face, and chest. I just recently thought to try a red meat diet. I mean I have tried every other diet on the planet, and I can only remember the sores going away when I was eating just rice, tuna, and apples.
About the sores: They are like pimples in some areas probably due to the excessive grease on the skin, yes my skin gets soooo oily/ greasy when I am having these reactions. But the sores are different, they get to be about the size of a penny, they are swollen and they never come to a head, well sometimes they do, but more often not. The sores itch and peel in the later stages. The reactions take about a week to set in it seems, and can last almost a month. I have not seen a lot of other people describe in much detail about these slower reactions.
It can be tough to nail down a slow food reaction like this. I recommend a very basic diet, such as rice, tuna, and apples like I found relief on in the past. Introducing only one item at a time per week. “boring, I know but it will produce the most results in this type of situation. I am about to start on it in the morning myself.
As a side note: All my doctors over many years have all shrugged off my geographical tongue. I would get minor swelling, patchiness and red rings on my tongue. “AN UNSOLVED MYSTERY” they would say. I personally have noticed that my tongue gets normal when I am allergy free. Wow, a life time of irritable tongue to normal like magic. Not much of a mystery if you ask me. Don’t be fooled by trusting the resolve of all your life’s health mysteries to the words let roll out of a doctors mouth. They are not God, so they don’t know everything there is to know about the human body. They only know what they read in a books, the results of tests and research studies that have been done, etc. If you are the type that comes home with a new sack of pills every time you go to the doctor, it might be time to conduct some of your own tests. Pills are never a good thing for your body unless you can’t survive without them (My opinion).
try eliminating potatos, every time i eat potatos i get boils
I Am allergic to alot of stuff read below i am only 16
hi i am allergic to wheat,soy,dairy,animal protein(all meat),egg white,peanuts,fish,2 types of dustmites cow,dog,cat and horse hair and kiwi… i have astma aswell i had a blood test doen recently to confirm my allergys i carry a pen with me at all times its very hard for me to find food to eat i just eat rice and potatoe its very annoying i dont no how i am allergic to all of this the doctors wouldnt tell me how im just turned sixteen does anyone have any advice if you do add comment thankz
I Iam allergic to wheat,
I Iam allergic to wheat, barley, dairy,soy, latex, Starch and everything on the upperpage, what can I eat?
Concentrate on what you can eat
Hi Paty,
I know how you feel – seems you can’t eat anything.
Concentrate on what you can eat. For example, do you eat meat? Vegetables? That’s a start.
I could be wrong but I doubt you are allergic to starch. You should avoid starch derived from foods you are allergic to (e.g. avoid wheat starch if you are allergic to wheat), and starch of unknown origin (“starch” on a list of ingredients, when it doesn’t say from what), but if you can eat potatoes (for example), then you can eat potato starch.
Hope that helps.
Wheat allergy.
I too recently found out about my Wheat allergy.Bread has to be cut out of your diet completly this includes pizza crust and anything deep fried in batter.Not good news, my wife did find bread she could make in the bread maker,but it was 10 dollars a loaf and tastes like shit.Sorry for the bad news but we still have Steak and potatos.
There is some hope
I was recently told that I am allergic to wheat and corn. I agree, it is almost impossible to find foods without these staple ingredients. I suggest checking out a cookbook series called “The Gluten-Free Gourmet”. It has recipes ranging from soups to breads to desserts, all omitting wheat. The author, a celiac disease sufferer, has done extensive experiments with non-wheat flours. She suggests a few flour mixes that you can make in big batches and then just use it like you would regular flour. It’s a bit expensive starting out with the ingredients, but it’s totally worth being able to eat normal tasting food and not feel sick afterwards. I made a yellow velvet cake from one of her books; I had many friends try it and they were blown away that it was wheat free! Her book also has lots of info about wheat-free ingredients so you can make modifications to your favorite recipes. Plus, one of her books is entirely devoted to breads. I’m fairly new to all of this, but I would say these books are definitely worth checking out. Good luck! ๐
Where to get them
Thanks for the suggestion.
For those who what to find out more about these books:
The Gluten-Free Gourmet Cooks Comfort Foods: Creating Old Favorites with the New Flours
The Gluten-Free Gourmet Bakes Bread: More Than 200 Wheat-Free Recipes
The Gluten-Free Gourmet Cooks Fast and Healthy: Wheat-Free and Gluten-Free with Less Fuss and Less Fat
There are others, but the above is a sample of three you can start with.
try Udi’s brand bread and pizza crust in the frozen/organic section or found online. It is the only bread that I have found that is edible out there. Make sure you get the gluten free option as they do make a regular option of bread.
There are lots of ready-baked gluten-free breads that are excellent, but they tend to be regional, as anything designed to ship long distances has a long shelf life and is not very nice. It is good to know about more options though, and freezing certainly opens the door to good results with a long shelf life. Is this bread that you bake yourself, or is it all ready to go once thawed?
I just found out on Monday
I just found out on Monday that my husband is allergic to barley (he has eosinophilic esophagitis and allergy testing showed barley, tomatoes and shellfish as the items he is most allergic to). After 2 trips to the grocery store this week, I would like to point out that beer is not the only concern. Try to find a loaf of bread in the bread aisle which doesn’t have barley flour in it. This now raises the concern that he can’t eat bread or buns unless we have the packaging to check the ingredients (it also rules out any breaded/fried items in a restaurant). It is also in some cereals. These items are things I have come up with in the 3 days since his diagnosis.
I found out a few days ago that my son is allergic to oranges,rice,chicken,soy,oats,rye,peanuts,corn. I am having trouble finding anything my son can eat. NO cereal,bread,even gluten free items have what my son is allergic too. I really need some help on what I can do. I am getting stressed and so is my son. NO cake,cookies,candy,even cereal…HELP ME!!!!
barley allergy means i have cilliac disease?
every time i type in barley allergy it always comes up with wheat allergy…does that mean i have cilliac disease if i m allergic to barley means wheat too…these websites all asscociate as same… i dont even know what i van eat ,my eyes are swollen hives loss of hair on my legs pimpley things and lymphnode neer goes saway… itchy everywhere wholistically like rooling in poison ivy …i want to fuk1ng d1e ,its making life too unbearable torcher no cure ..im starving not eating trying to get rid of this by not eating… i ll prob have to get cosmetic surgery on eyelids cuz they arewrinkled all up and puffy and i have to rubthem stretching my eyelids…oi cant live like this,and no one has a treatment… thats pathetic of medical science, i dont even know what to avoid..i m also allergic milk and tomato…. im contantly torched by this…sure ive got allergy test appoint in jan but i dont eat any more literally…losing weight fast…
Barley allergy vs. celiac vs. wheat
Hi Alex,
Wow, it really sounds like you are suffering and in rough shape. I know how you feel – such symptoms can really feel terrible.
If you search for barley allergy, celiac often comes up, which seems to relate barley to wheat. They are related, but they are not the same.
What they have in common is that they both contain gluten. If you have a $gluten$ allergy, then barley, wheat and rye are all off-limits. The same goes for $celiac$. If you have a barley allergy however, avoidance is much easier.
The main thing to watch out for with barley is beer. You may also find that barley is contained in some speciality products, but most food is free of barley.
If you still have such bad symptoms, then you have other causes besides a barley $allergy$.
Do try cutting out $wheat$ – this is a very common allergy. $c_Yeast$ is another common allergy.
allergy
Hang in there until your appointment in January, and I hope you are able to improve before then.
first of all ,you need to go to a holistic dr /medical dr…(one who actually has a medical degree but wants to find out what the problem is instead of just treating your symptoms.) the regular drs were very unfamiliar with what was going on with my daughter. my daughter has the same things you are talking about. they took viles of blood and stool samples and they determined what she is allergic too and what she has sensitivities too. they rate those things on a scale of 1-6. she also can’t eat gluten, tomatoes,dairy, sesame seeds, oats, nuts and shellfish is really bad. her symptoms were rashes, alternating between diarhhea and constipation, lethargy and listlessness, hair falling out and she had trouble concentrating. she still has the rashes and she feels her hair is thinning, but everything else is under control. we are going to take her to an allergist to see if they can de-sensitize her to the food allergies except gluten. she will never be able to eat gluten again but there are many alternatives in the market these days. hang in there!!! find a good dr and begin to find your health again.