Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
Coffee should be avoided by those who are Celiac and many who suffer from wheat sensitivity as it contains cross-reactive proteins to gluten.
If you drink coffee, even bulletproof coffee and have gluten sensitivity or celiac, you might want to sit down for this one.
There is a surprising connection between gluten and coffee that is by and large ignored by the health community. This revelation holds ramifications for other autoimmune disorders as well.
The problem has nothing to do with caffeine, so decaf coffee would be included in this discussion.
In a nutshell, fairly recent lab research has revealed that 10% of coffee is a protein that cross-reacts with gluten antibodies.
This means that if you are gluten sensitive or celiac and are avoiding gluten-containing grains or perhaps have even gone completely grain-free if you still drink coffee there is a strong likelihood that the protein in the coffee is triggering the very same gluten-related health problems you are trying to avoid.
In other words, even if you think you are doing fine with your current gluten-free diet, it is very possible that skipping the coffee could take your health to the next level.
Symptoms of Gluten Sensitivity
Most people who are gluten sensitive don’t realize it because gastrointestinal problems like burping, gas, tummy upset, or toilet issues are the least common way for gluten issues to present themselves!
The most common symptoms of gluten sensitivity?
Migraines and other neurological issues – even MS!
Hormone and endocrine problems are another common way for gluten issues to manifest themselves.
How Coffee Triggers Gluten Sensitivity
So what exactly happens when a gluten sensitive person eats gluten?
Folks with gluten antibodies react to any gluten in the diet by mounting an immune response. This means that gluten is perceived by the body as an invader and the gluten antibodies attack the gluten itself trying to destroy it.  This gluten attack is an inflammatory response and inflammation issues can occur anywhere in the body in any tissue or organ.
Here’s the real shocker I came across when researching the coffee/gluten connection:
According to Dr. David Clark DC, functional neurologist and endocrinologist:
There’s not a disease or health condition you can think of that does not have an association – in the research literature – with gluten sensitivity.
That’s a very strong statement!
In essence then, if you are gluten sensitive in any way shape or form, and it seems that most people are whether they know it or not given the epidemic levels of autoimmune issues today, gluten antibodies have the potential to react to proteins in other foods as if they are gluten thereby triggering an immune and inflammatory response.
The protein in coffee is the most common cross-reactor for gluten. Because it is the protein in the coffee that is the trigger, switching to decaf coffee does not solve the problem. Apparently, instant coffee is the worst offender.
Is it possible to be gluten sensitive and not cross-react to coffee? Yes, it’s possible but you’ll have to do some expensive lab testing with a knowledgeable doctor to find out.
Reference
Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
More Information
You Probably Need to Change WHEN You Drink Coffee
Coffee Enema
Morning Coffee Fix
Caffeine and Chronic Back Pain
Healthy Coffee Substitutes
I have celiac and hashimoto’s.I rarely drink coffee,but almost every time I did,I either ended up in the emergency room with half my body almost paralyzed, or having major panic atack like symptoms.I also get these atacks after drinking white,green or black tea.I have been having these for over 20 years.So I don’t know if for me is the coffee or the caffeine.
I have given up so much in my life thanks to celiac that if coffee even bothers me I will not stop it. Celiac has ruined my life and I will not let it take away my coffee. Life is too short to throw away everything.
Me and my wife are both gluten sensitive and we have had this issue since 2011. However she can drink coffee with no issues at all even though she is more gluten sensitive an i am. If I drink coffee I have the same symptoms as if I just had gluten. So I know what you mean but doesn’t apply to ALL
Thanks, I’m Celiac and have had trouble figuring out why my stomach bothers me a lot (mostly in the morning) still. I was suspicious that it was some brands of coffee (maybe cross contamination?) but this makes sense.
Coffee has really helped handle allergic reactions. If I react, unusually it calms, deflates my face, reduces throat constriction and itching – a real godsend!! It’s not for everyone (my mother was horribly addicted) and I certainly don’t recommend it’s use if you are tired (then, I usually find it makes me feel worse). I am allergic to many plastics, dyes, nightshades, but _not_ gluten 🙂 I am sensitive to tea which makes me feel super-woozy!! Just adding another coffee point-of-view! I know the orthodoxy on coffee and as a ‘healthy-eater’ I have struggled mentally with its use.. and ultimately decided to go with my gut 😉 Not least because anti-histamines have many more side-affects for me… If I feel strong reaction coming on I rush to a coffee shop for a double espresso – not worth taking the chance…
Sarah, thank you for such a great article. I have so many health issues that I started searching for myself with doing functional medicine. I cut out coffee in June, but I was craving it after 2 months, it has been hard for me to quit this because I have been drinking it since I was 12 years old. I noticed I was doing better off it, but I believe I’m gluten sensitive for immediately after eating something with gluten I itch so bad. I now know the reason for craving it, for that’s the protein in the gluten that causes that. Coffee is just another issue to the inflammation going on in my body, it is a complicated piece when you trying to figure out your whole body structure, like science for no two individuals are alike. This is the other missing link to my puzzle of repairing, my gut, getting rid of toxins, eating healthy with proteins, vegetables, supplements and vitamins. Thanks again for a great article.
I just read this article about coffee and gluten issues. I have for many months have been having problems with swelling feet and ankles. I am gluten intolerant and have Hashimoto’s (autoimmune hypothyroidism). I didn’t drink coffee one morning recently and noticed later that evening that I had no swelling in my ankles/feet as usual. So, to test I didn’t drink coffee the next day…..again, no swelling. This is the third day with no coffee and still no swelling. I found this article while looking for information about coffee intolerance. This makes much sense to me as swelling feet goes along with Hashimoto’s and now gluten intolerance. Thank you! I was beginning to be fearful of congestive heart failure. I think this is my answer.
Nancy
Does this include coffee enemas which have always given me a severe migraine?
According to Biodynamic Wellness (clinic in San Diego), coffee enemas are well tolerated even by those with gluten sensitivity.
Thank-you for sharing this additional insight and possibly one more piece in the puzzle of my health issues. I am probably one of the cross-reactors. >sigh< I am glad that awareness has risen and more tests and connections are being discovered.
Agree. I am gluten sensitive; I rarely drink coffee, but whenever I do I get high blood pressure, . I had decaf coffee this evening and I got the same symptoms, again. Hope I will survive this night and I will never drink coffee again!!!