Q & A on Gluten

Permalink Reply by Kati Derrick on October 28, 2009 at 1:46pm

I have recently joined Team First Endurance and am really excited to see how much focus you give to Gluten Free living. I was diagnosed with Celiac four years ago and have been on a very strict gluten free diet ever since. I, unfortunatly am one of those that have a very high sentsitivity to gluten and can not tolerate any gluten or cross contamination. From reading the website I was unclear on which First Endurance products are gluten free. Could you give me information about that? I would love to try your products but with such a high sensitivity I always have to double check first!! Thanks so much!!

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Permalink Reply by Robert Kunz on October 28, 2009 at 1:52pm

Kati,
Thank you for joining. All the First Endurance products are gluten free.

Kati Derrick said:

I have recently joined Team First Endurance and am really excited to see how much focus you give to Gluten Free living. I was diagnosed with Celiac four years ago and have been on a very strict gluten free diet ever since. I, unfortunatly am one of those that have a very high sentsitivity to gluten and can not tolerate any gluten or cross contamination. From reading the website I was unclear on which First Endurance products are gluten free. Could you give me information about that? I would love to try your products but with such a high sensitivity I always have to double check first!! Thanks so much!!

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Permalink Reply by Kati Derrick on October 28, 2009 at 1:55pm

That is GREAT news!! Thanks so much!!

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Permalink Reply by Richard Ellis on November 9, 2009 at 5:09pm

I was diagnosed with celiacs disease at age 48 after finishing my first half ironman. Two weeks on a gluten free diet, I was a new man. Four years have passed and the diet has worked well since. Training and social life has improved tremendously!

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Permalink Reply by Adrienne Amman on June 23, 2010 at 7:20am

I have been gluten casein free for approximatley 9 weeks. I feel great and have notice improvements in my energy level, ability to train, and race performance. I originally started the GF diet because I was having intermittent abdominal pain with running that has been going on for about the last 4-5 years. The pain is intense and is about 1.5-2 inches to the right of my belly button. It can come on suddenly or sometimes there can be precursors. Sometimes it can happen when I start my run and I am only 1/2 a block from my house, and other times I can make it almost 2 hours before it comes on. Overall I think the GF diet has lessened the occurrance of the pain as well as some bloating and cramping issues I was having after eating, but I am still having the abdominal pain which forces me to walk or significantly slow down during a race. It is very frustrating because the rest of my body feels great. I figure it cost me about 30 minutes on the run at IM WI last year, which was my A race. I also was forced to walk in the last 3 miles at Spirt of Racine 1/2 IM last summer because of the pain. After that race I went to the medical tent thinking that I might have a sports hernia. They checked me out and told me that it was just a muscle spasm. I went home and did 6 weeks of ab/core work, with no results. I then took dairy out of my diet for 2 weeks prior to IM WI and it still happened (started at mile 1 of the run). In the fall I tried taking a gel 15 minutes before each training run and this seemed to help until this spring, when it happened again on a training run and I had to walk 4 miles home in the rain. It was then that I went GF. I was doing pretty well, but had another occurance at the High Cliff 1/2 IM last weekend. My run started with a sloshy stomach, added a side stitch and finally dropped down into the "bad zone" where the infamous pain is. I have tried breathing techniques, stretching, etc., and am scheduled to go in and see a GI specialist in a couple of weeks. Now I'm also thinking maybe it's salt/electroylte related? Does anyone have any suggestions or similar experiences? Everyone that I've talked to about this has never heard of anything like this before. Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Kati Derrick on June 23, 2010 at 7:58am

I have had issues with cross contamination here and there while on a gluten free diet, so it might be simply a little bit of gluten still getting in your diet.
I also found that on my long races I had to really simplify my nutrition plan. I don't do solids and I don't use any proteins. I found that really took care of my bloat and cramping.
Hopefully the GI doc can shed some light for you!!

Adrienne Amman said:

I have been gluten casein free for approximatley 9 weeks. I feel great and have notice improvements in my energy level, ability to train, and race performance. I originally started the GF diet because I was having intermittent abdominal pain with running that has been going on for about the last 4-5 years. The pain is intense and is about 1.5-2 inches to the right of my belly button. It can come on suddenly or sometimes there can be precursors. Sometimes it can happen when I start my run and I am only 1/2 a block from my house, and other times I can make it almost 2 hours before it comes on. Overall I think the GF diet has lessened the occurrance of the pain as well as some bloating and cramping issues I was having after eating, but I am still having the abdominal pain which forces me to walk or significantly slow down during a race. It is very frustrating because the rest of my body feels great. I figure it cost me about 30 minutes on the run at IM WI last year, which was my A race. I also was forced to walk in the last 3 miles at Spirt of Racine 1/2 IM last summer because of the pain. After that race I went to the medical tent thinking that I might have a sports hernia. They checked me out and told me that it was just a muscle spasm. I went home and did 6 weeks of ab/core work, with no results. I then took dairy out of my diet for 2 weeks prior to IM WI and it still happened (started at mile 1 of the run). In the fall I tried taking a gel 15 minutes before each training run and this seemed to help until this spring, when it happened again on a training run and I had to walk 4 miles home in the rain. It was then that I went GF. I was doing pretty well, but had another occurance at the High Cliff 1/2 IM last weekend. My run started with a sloshy stomach, added a side stitch and finally dropped down into the "bad zone" where the infamous pain is. I have tried breathing techniques, stretching, etc., and am scheduled to go in and see a GI specialist in a couple of weeks. Now I'm also thinking maybe it's salt/electroylte related? Does anyone have any suggestions or similar experiences? Everyone that I've talked to about this has never heard of anything like this before. Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Robert Kunz on June 23, 2010 at 8:54am

Kati,
I would first work with a sports doc to rule out ischemic colitis which can be prevalent in runners. Though your symptoms are a bit different than a typical case, it may be something to consider.

My next suggestion reiterates what Kati is doing. Greatly simplify your nutrition plan. Your statement that you get sloshing in your stomach is an indication that what you are consuming is not getting through the gut. We have designed our products to assure they are all fast absorbed and don't get stuck in the gut. Fiber, gums, gluten, fats, slow carbs and proteins can all slow gastric emptying and get stuck in the gut and many times this happens due to the nutrition you took that morning and during your ride. It then manifests during the run portion as you described.
Consider using ONLY EFS drink and EFS liquid shot for your fueling as these products offer a very potent electrolyte blend and they also eliminate all nutrients that slow gastric emptying.

Adrienne Amman said:

I have been gluten casein free for approximatley 9 weeks. I feel great and have notice improvements in my energy level, ability to train, and race performance. I originally started the GF diet because I was having intermittent abdominal pain with running that has been going on for about the last 4-5 years. The pain is intense and is about 1.5-2 inches to the right of my belly button. It can come on suddenly or sometimes there can be precursors. Sometimes it can happen when I start my run and I am only 1/2 a block from my house, and other times I can make it almost 2 hours before it comes on. Overall I think the GF diet has lessened the occurrance of the pain as well as some bloating and cramping issues I was having after eating, but I am still having the abdominal pain which forces me to walk or significantly slow down during a race. It is very frustrating because the rest of my body feels great. I figure it cost me about 30 minutes on the run at IM WI last year, which was my A race. I also was forced to walk in the last 3 miles at Spirt of Racine 1/2 IM last summer because of the pain. After that race I went to the medical tent thinking that I might have a sports hernia. They checked me out and told me that it was just a muscle spasm. I went home and did 6 weeks of ab/core work, with no results. I then took dairy out of my diet for 2 weeks prior to IM WI and it still happened (started at mile 1 of the run). In the fall I tried taking a gel 15 minutes before each training run and this seemed to help until this spring, when it happened again on a training run and I had to walk 4 miles home in the rain. It was then that I went GF. I was doing pretty well, but had another occurance at the High Cliff 1/2 IM last weekend. My run started with a sloshy stomach, added a side stitch and finally dropped down into the "bad zone" where the infamous pain is. I have tried breathing techniques, stretching, etc., and am scheduled to go in and see a GI specialist in a couple of weeks. Now I'm also thinking maybe it's salt/electroylte related? Does anyone have any suggestions or similar experiences? Everyone that I've talked to about this has never heard of anything like this before. Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Adrienne Amman on June 23, 2010 at 11:50am

I have read that drinking water can dilute your electrolyte balance and so I was thinking of just doing ONLY EFS drink and EFS liquid shot for my nutrition. Typically I eat 2 cliff bars 3-4 hours prior to the race and drink about 1/2 a can of Red Bull. I guess my questions are:

1. Can you drink only EFS liquid and take EFS liquid shots without having any GI problems?
2. Any recommendations for breakfast race morning?

Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Robert Kunz on June 30, 2010 at 12:39pm

Adrienne,
Though you can certainly have just EFS drink and EFS liquid shot with no apparent GI issues our recommendation is to stick to your 'regular morning diet' with just some minor modifications. Try and reduce or eliminate gluten and spread the calories out a bit over a few hours. I do not like to offer an exact breakfast plan because it may be something that deviates drastically from your normal diet.
Remember that the goal of this meal is to try and reduce any possible side effects or gastric distress, so its best to look at it from that standpoint. If your diet has been solid for the days leading up to your race then a bit less on race morning is better than too much.
You are welcome to post your morning plan and I will gladly help analyze it a bit and offer some recommendations to consider.

Adrienne Amman said:

I have read that drinking water can dilute your electrolyte balance and so I was thinking of just doing ONLY EFS drink and EFS liquid shot for my nutrition. Typically I eat 2 cliff bars 3-4 hours prior to the race and drink about 1/2 a can of Red Bull. I guess my questions are:

1. Can you drink only EFS liquid and take EFS liquid shots without having any GI problems?
2. Any recommendations for breakfast race morning?

Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Chris Stock on October 24, 2012 at 10:05am

Question...

I have celiac disease and follow a strict GF diet. I seem to have a sensitivity when using salt stick for extra electorlytes during training but tolerate the FE products just fine. Any suggestions on electrolyte products other than salt stick that may be a little eaier on the stomach?

Thanks!!