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23 people sent replies to my post about inability to digest salads,
some raw vegetables and fruits, and some cooked vegetables. Many
thanks to all of you.  It's nice to know  you're not alone.
Following is a summary of points:

BEANO
Both my husband and I have CD and have been gf for over 2 years,
and we both have difficulty digesting raw veggies, some raw fruits
and even cooked veggies.   We use Beano, which makes previously
indigestable foods safe and comfortable to eat.  It was designed for
eating beans, but also works great for veggies.  The range of foods
that we can safely eat is much greater now.

CHECK DRESSING AND OTHER CONTAMINATION
Are you sure that your GF dressing does not contain a grain source
vinegar or other grain byproducts like fructose corn sweetener, or
dextrose which maybe contaminated with gluten proteins.
Are all of these foods to which you are sensitive fresh or prepared. If
they are prepared (frozen, canned, or offered in restaurants then they
are probably directly or indirectly contaminated in the preparation
process.

SULPHUR
Try making salads with cooked veges and see if that helps. Also a
lot of lettuce can have traces of sulphur.You may be allergic to
sulphur.
I avoid the "salad in a bag stuff" too, for the same
reason.(possible contamination)

THINGS WITH SKIN
I pretty much avoid anything raw at this point, especially if it has a
skin like blueberries or grapes.  Lettuce are by far the worst, though.
Raw vegetables and "skins" of raw fruits give me trouble.

SEEDS
As to the fruit problem, both blueberries and peas are seeds. I
cannot tolerate any seed or grain based foods or byproducts.

I have various problems with all of the ancient Middle Eastern crops.
wheat and barley obviously, but also green peas, chick peas and
lentils.  these last three are not like a celiac reaction, but they
cause discomfort and are not digested properly.

LOW STOMACH ACID
I was diagnosed 15 years ago with low stomach acid and took pills
to increase it at that time.  I'm guessing that the poor digestion may
be sporatic low stomach acid output.

INTESTINAL FLORA
I don't know why, but I also have varying degrees of difficulty
digesting salad...particularly the lettuce.  It helps if I cut it up into
small pieces and chew it very well.  The cellulose part of lettuce
(and other veggies) is undigestable by humans, so maybe we have
altered intestinal flora and don't have enough of the right bacteria?

INTESTINAL PARASITES
I am unable to tolerate either cooked or raw fruits of any kind.
Although there is a celiac in my family, I am gluten free for another
reason. My intestinal villi were damaged (possible permanently) by
intestinal parasites that were undiagnosed for several years. I keep
hoping that I will find a way

DAMAGED INTESTINE
I've been GF for a year and diagnosed for 8 months, but I still can't
digest red meat or unground forms of corn (popcorn, raw).  Red meat is
the worst though.  My GI specialist explained that after the intestine
has been damaged and heals, it still isn't the same as an undamaged
intestine.  He said it's as if the intestine has "forgotten" how to
digest certain foods.  And there's no guarantee that the ability to
handle those foods will ever return.

DIVERTICULITIS
Dear Nicki, my mom and sister have diverticuli which are pockets in the
large intestine that can trap foods and then become inflammed leading to
diverticulitis.  They then develop fever and end up having to take
antibiotics.  Practically all raw foods can be a problem especially
those with seeds like berries.  A colonoscopy gives the diagnosis.

LEAKY GUT
Too much salad bothers me.  Citrus fruits bother me, Vinegar bothers me.
I am allergic to milk and eggs.  I have been told that theproblem is
food intolerance.  Leaky gut, which is part of our cd problem causes it.

STRESS
I had a similar problem before I was actually diagnosed, but I think I
had CD at the time.  Any how!  It could be stress related.  I was
working on an ulcer when I had a hard time with raw vegetables and
fruits.  I would guess that maybe you are having temporary IBS symptoms
related to stress or working on an ulcer that too could be related to
stress.

KEEP LOG
Keep a food and symptom log, and avoid what bothers you.  Don't ask why.
Don't eat what bothers you, or it will aggravate the situation.

nicki humphries
university of maryland medical system
baltimore, md.
FAX 410-328-8664