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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
You Gluten Free people are a cult. You’ve convinced yourselves of this disorder just to ruin the dining experiences of your respective boyfriends.
Yes! And as an actual Celiac it is annoying to no end. I’ve had enough of my “natural health” friends sending me links to dubious information such as this. And all the people who look at me and think if they go gluten-free they can be thin like I am. I’m thin because I’m a gym rat, not because I have Celiac Disease.
Maybe the coffee is making you two so grouchy? 🙂
I agree that many jump on the bandwagon for various reasons, one of them being losing weight. I was diagnosed as ‘gluten intolerant’ which basically means I can’t digest it well. Eating more than a few crumbs results in stomach pains, cramps, headache, etc. No, I’m not celiac and I don’t ever claim to be. For a quick answer I say I’m allergic to gluten – but if someone is inclined to listen and understand I go into details about digestion, etc. I wish I could go back to eating gluten, even if only on a regular basis, but I can’t unless I want to be in pain. And I don’t.
Wow-you sound like a real catch there Jim….not! It’s a real condition. Just live with a household like ours for a few weeks and you won’t be able to stick your selfish head in the sand and deny gluten is deadly for some. Thank God my dauter’s found an incredible boyfriend who sees what it does to her and is supportive and caring enough to be her partner in this lifestyle as opposed to a selfish jerk who can’t see past his own nose. Do you say the same thing to diabetics??
really a cult? Then how do you explain my positive biopsy? and blood work? Having celiac disease is not a cult but an autoimmune disease is diabetes also a cult? because it is also an auto immune disease.
Go tell that to Dr Fasano. Dr Green and other world -rekown researchers who lead the research on Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance. Tell that to the hundreds of thousands of children who “fail to thrive” some near death before finally being diagnosed; tell that to the women who can’t get pregnant and don’t know why; tell that to migraine sufferers, those with fibromyalgia and other chronic illnesses who finally get relief when they stop eating gluten. It’s people like you who ruin it for 1 in 100 who have the condition. I feel sorry for your girl friend that she has to put up with the likes of you! You sound like a mean-spirited grouch!
That makes sense to me – I always have stomach issues after drinking my coffee every morning. I should switch to tea for week and see if there is a difference.
I’ve experienced migraines for most of my life, but have seen much improvement in the last year while experimenting with a grain and sugar free diet. However I do use coffee, but only as a medicine. I never drink it otherwise, but when I have a migraine, the headache can often be resolved or lessened by drinking a cup of coffee. Seems strange given the new information in this blog post. Maybe the coffee isn’t bad for me because I’m not actually enjoying it lol!
Yes, caffeine works great as a once in a while fix for a mild headache. I use green tea though and never coffee.
Green tea is Estrogenic. Coffee with sugar is pro-thyroid. Read Dr. Ray Peat.
My case is similar to yours Sandy, terrible migraines for most of my life, and I never drank coffee.
I’ve been on the GAPS diet for several months now and I’m really happy to report that migraines are a very rare occurence for me now, and even when I get one is almost always related to a die-off or a cheat.
I do use strong black tea for this and it works too just like coffee, give it a try!
This effect is called cross reactivity of gluten with other foods. There are at least 24 other foods that are known to cause the same reaction as coffee in people with thyroid and other autoimmune diseases. Does it mean you should stop eating all of them? NO, it means you should get tested and find out what foods YOU are reacting to and can have cross reactivity similar to gluten. Everybody is different and there are NO one fits all dietary approach to thyroid disease and autoimmunity.
This is a more common sense answer. Coffee with sugar can be very pro-thyroid for most people. (Dr. Raymond Peat)
Can you elaborate on this or provide a link? thanks, Joyce
What’s the name of this problematic protein?
This is ‘internal research’ from a testing facility that will, conveniently, let you order the test from them to see if you are reacting to the coffee? Not peer-reviewed research, not even publicly accessible research?
I’ve heard about this several times lately, and I’m skeptical. And I’m not a coffee drinker, so I’m not invested in it being untrue.
But let’s say the research is true. If you’re on a strict gluten-free diet, you should stop making anti-gliadin antibodies as you stop stimulating your immune system with gluten. If you are gluten intolerant and continue to eat gluten, you will continue to make antibodies and will continue to react. So if you’re on a strict gluten-free diet, at least six months into the diet, the coffee should no longer be reactive, right? Because there are no anti-gliadin antibodies to attach to this coffee protein.
Exactly! Someone posted this on facebook and being a Celiac, I was curious so followed the link. I’m extremely skeptical. I will not stop drinking coffee based on a company trying to sell me tests.
I’m skeptical also, and not because I happen to like (decaf) coffee. I’m celiac, and in all my years of research have never come across any info relating to coffee being cross-reactive. Not that it can’t be, just… well, a research paper would be helpful! I looked at Dr. Clark’s site, but didn’t see a link to one.
And like Sally said, if I’m not pumping out antibodies – what’s the problem? Just like I’m not longer pumping out anti-transglutaminase antibodies (since I’ve not eaten gluten in over 6 years), why would I start reacting to this nameless protein in coffee? Or are they referring only to newb g-free folks?
If you never stopped drinking coffee when you went gluten free then you would never have stopped making gluten antibodies if you were cross reactive. Not everyone is cross reactive but it seems that the great majority are.
Sarah,
What is the best way to come off coffee without the withdrawal headaches?
I kind of thought coffee might be triggering my joint pain in my fingers from inflammation but didn’t want to accept it. Now I am going to give it up to see if I get better. I have an immune disease but am not gluten sensitive. Did I understand that the Dr. You spoke of says all auto immune conditions/diseases comes from the sensitivity. I think I might be a little confused but want to understand. ( I love coffee too but want to get well)
Thank you for all your research!
Here is a post on how to quit coffee…
http://www.cheeseslave.com/how-to-quit-coffee/
Great read!!! I have been dealing w/Fibromyalgia & Chronic Myofascia Pain for 10 years now. Just last year is when things became clear to me that I am healing in layers. A lot of my symptoms have disappeared. But this inflammation thing comes & goes!! I did not take the gluten test but since I’ve removed it from my diet, I can feel the difference! But I need to be more disciplined.
But what about coffee enema. I just recently started an enema program to help clean my liver. Does it have the same effect?
Oh my – I so love coffee, but I’m giving it up today cold turkey. It was my last big vice – I’ve been drinking it plain with some raw milk in it. After doing some more digging, the Dr. says similar things about dairy products as well – but doesn’t specify if he means conventional dairy or if we need to cut out the raw milk dairy we’re getting from our farm as a cross-reactor. I’ve not been able to find anything further…and i know you’re a big propronent of the Raw Milk…any thoughts?
I think most of our celiac/ gluten issues come from the large companies genetically messing with our grain. Personally, I believe Mother Nature knows best. Especially since She listens and takes direction from our Heavenly Father. I wish conspiring men would leave our food supply to those that actually care about doing things the right way.