'I Can't Tolerate Gluten In The U.S., But I Can In Europe': Experts Unpack The Phenomenon - HuffPost

“I ate pasta each time connected my travel to Italy, but I can’t devour it astatine each erstwhile I’m astatine home.”

“I tin devour each the breadstuff I privation successful France, but it makes maine truthful bloated successful the U.S.”

You’ve astir apt heard a person accidental these things, oregon possibly you’ve experienced it yourself. Essentially the communicative goes similar this: Someone who usually adheres to a gluten-free oregon low-gluten fare says eating items with gluten portion astatine location successful the U.S. causes bloating, abdominal symptom and an upset stomach, but they tin load up connected the carbs portion traveling successful Europe without immoderate symptoms.

Many judge this is due to the fact that wheat grown successful the U.S. has a higher gluten content, and that much herbicides are utilized successful the accumulation of wheat successful the U.S.

But could this really beryllium true? It’s pugnacious to say, according to nutrition experts, and immoderate judge it could beryllium a placebo effect.

“While radical with gluten sensitivity whitethorn study nary oregon less symptoms erstwhile eating European products with gluten, determination are capable variables successful the premix that it’s not wide what’s astatine play,” said Claire Baker, elder communications manager astatine Beyond Celiac.

Here’s a look astatine immoderate of the factors that whitethorn lend to the thought that idiosyncratic tin devour pasta, breadstuff and pastries with nary problems successful Europe but not successful the U.S.

First, wherefore bash immoderate radical person problems eating gluten?

About 1% of the U.S. colonisation — though experts accidental the fig is really overmuch higher — has celiac disease, which is an autoimmune illness that causes harm to the tiny intestines erstwhile idiosyncratic eats gluten. For radical with the disease, consuming gluten tin origin malnutrition, infertility and an accrued hazard of thyroid illness and different conditions.

“No 1 who has been diagnosed with celiac illness by a aesculapian supplier should devour gluten successful immoderate form, from anywhere,” Baker said. So, if you person the disease, debar gluten astatine each costs, adjacent erstwhile you’re traveling.

Not everyone who has problems with gluten has celiac disease, though. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) causes symptoms akin to celiac illness — including bloating, diarrhea, fatigue, headaches and a tegument rash — but eating gluten doesn’t harm the intestines. Research besides suggests that the symptoms of immoderate radical who fishy they person NCGS mightiness not really beryllium caused by gluten.

People with NCGS should debar gluten portion abroad, but it’s yet up to the individual, Baker said. “Even with gluten sensitivity, portion connected abrogation whitethorn not beryllium the champion clip to trial this theory, arsenic being sick successful your edifice country is astir apt not however you imagined your holiday.”

Andy Sacks via Getty Images

Wheat grown successful the United States is typically precocious successful gluten content, since the bulk is hard reddish wheat. Much of Europe's wheat is simply a softer, little gluten variety.

Different types of flour incorporate antithetic levels of gluten

All wheat contains immoderate level of gluten, but those levels alteration depending connected the benignant of wheat, said Alyssa Pike, elder manager of nutrition communications astatine the International Food Information Council (IFIC).

“Wheat grown successful the United States is typically higher successful gluten content, since the bulk is hard reddish wheat, portion Europe grows brushed wheat which has little gluten content,” said Christina Meyer-Jax, a modular process nutrition seat and adjunct prof astatine Northwestern Health Sciences University.

But, there’s nary mode to accidental for definite that the breadstuff you’re eating successful Europe is made strictly from brushed wheat. Both Europe and America turn antithetic types of wheat, truthful immoderate places successful Europe turn hard wheat, Baker added. And, successful 2021, 17.5% of U.S. wheat exports went to Europe.

Research besides shows that the climate wherever wheat is grown tin impact its macromolecule composition, said Tamika Sims, elder manager of nutrient exertion communications astatine IFIC. Other studies show that baking techniques could perchance little gluten levels.

Chemicals whitethorn beryllium much to blasted than gluten

The digestibility of breadstuff and different wheat products mightiness not beryllium related to gluten astatine all.

“Gluten-containing foods successful the United States besides tin incorporate higher levels of chemicals — herbicides, additives and preservatives — that tin interfere with gut wellness and summation wide inflammation successful the assemblage compared to their European counterparts,” Meyer-Jax said.

Glyphosate is an herbicide that’s utilized connected wheat and different products, and immoderate scientists judge it’s perchance connected to accrued reports of wheat products causing wellness issues. One study recovered that “fish exposed to glyphosate make digestive problems that are reminiscent of celiac disease.”

The World Health Organization has classified glyphosate arsenic “probably carcinogenic to humans,” but the herbicide (the main constituent successful the weed slayer Roundup) is wide utilized successful the U.S. It’s besides used successful Europe —though to a lesser grade than successful the U.S. But, galore fishy the European Union mightiness prohibition the herbicide soon. Europe besides imports wheat from astir the world, which has apt been grown with glyphosate.

Cris Cantón via Getty Images

When you're eating pasta connected abrogation successful Italy, it's apt you're taking a stroll afterward to assistance successful digestion.

Preservatives and different ingredients successful wheat products could play a role, too. Preservatives indispensable beryllium approved arsenic harmless for humans by the European Food Safety Authority oregon U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Sims emphasized. But, they mightiness disrupt gut bacteria for immoderate people, Meyer-Jax said. This could origin diarrhea, constipation, bloating, rashes, headaches and inflammation, which mightiness lucifer a gluten intolerance.

How you’re eating successful Europe whitethorn play a role

Lifestyle factors whitethorn lend to however you consciousness erstwhile you devour gluten erstwhile traveling abroad. In Europe, you’re apt to devour less processed foods, smaller portions of gluten items and much caller foods, Meyer-Jax said.

“If idiosyncratic who is utilized to much processed foods visits a bakery wherever astir items are caller alternatively of from a market store oregon eats freshly made pasta without additives oregon preservatives, determination whitethorn beryllium a antithetic reaction,” Baker said.

Movement is different factor. You mightiness extremity up walking astir museums oregon strolling done shops aft you devour erstwhile visiting Europe. Research shows that walking aft meals tin assistance with digestion, which mightiness relieve tummy aches oregon discomfort.

Stress tin disrupt your gut and origin tummy problems, too. When traveling, you’re apt enjoying yourself and feeling little stress, Meyer-Jax said. “Being relaxed tin assistance your digestion consciousness a batch amended with oregon without gluten.”

So, bottommost line: Experts accidental determination isn’t a definitive reply to wherefore you consciousness similar you tin tolerate gluten successful Europe. Still, determination are galore reasons that you mightiness consciousness amended erstwhile you devour breadstuff and pasta. Maybe it has to bash with gluten, possibly it doesn’t.

“Being relaxed, eating fresh, unprocessed foods and walking much could assistance radical vacationing consciousness amended successful wide and assistance successful their digestion,” Baker said. “There could beryllium a placebo effect.”