gluten-free bread
Grains
Is gluten-free bread high in glutamates?
Find out whether gluten-free bread is high or low in glutamates, see its exact rating, and check its FODMAP, salicylate, oxalate and diet compatibility all in one place.
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Sensitivity notes
Why glutamates food checker matters
Glutamates, including MSG, are flavor enhancers found naturally in many foods and added to others. Some people report sensitivity causing headaches, flushing, or other symptoms, though research on 'MSG syndrome' is mixed.
- MSG goes by many names - look for 'glutamate' on labels
- Naturally high in soy sauce, fish sauce, and aged cheeses
- Tomatoes and mushrooms are naturally high in glutamates
Triggers
Diets
Serving size, prep, and portion notes for gluten-free bread
Gluten-free bread is made without wheat, rye or barley, and it grades clean on gluten, lactose, dairy protein, histamine, salicylates and sulfites. What it is not is automatically low FODMAP. Gluten is the protein that gives an ordinary loaf its structure, so gluten-free bakers have to replace that structure with something, and the usual replacements are inulin, chicory root fibre, psyllium and pea or bean flour. Inulin and chicory root are concentrated fructans, which is the exact FODMAP that upsets most people who feel bloated after normal bread. That is why we grade gluten-free bread moderate on FODMAPs and fructans rather than clean. If gluten was your problem, this is a genuine fix. If fructans were your problem, swapping wheat bread for an inulin-enriched gluten-free loaf can leave you exactly where you started, or occasionally worse.
Watch for
Moderate on fructans and total FODMAPs, usually from added inulin or chicory root fibre rather than from the flour itself, so a gluten-free loaf can still bloat a sensitive gut / Clean on gluten: products carrying a certified gluten-free claim are held under 20 ppm and are appropriate for coeliac disease / Moderate on nickel, because gluten-free blends often lean on chickpea, buckwheat, oat or teff flour, all of which sit higher in nickel than white wheat / Read the fibre line on the label, not just the front of the packet. Loaves built on rice flour and tapioca starch behave very differently from loaves built on chicory root and pea protein / Not paleo or AIP compliant, and only a moderate fit for DASH and Mediterranean patterns given how refined most gluten-free starch blends are
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Glutamates Guide
Everything you need to know about glutamates sensitivity and smart food choices.
Glutamates, including MSG, are flavor enhancers found naturally in many foods and added to others. Some people report sensitivity causing headaches, flushing, or other symptoms, though research on 'MSG syndrome' is mixed.
Sensitivity varies widely. What triggers one person may be fine for another. Track your reactions to find your personal threshold.
These foods are generally well-tolerated for Glutamates sensitivity:
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These foods have moderate levels and may be tolerated in small amounts:
These foods are high in glutamates and may trigger symptoms:
View full list
If you're sensitive to Glutamates, consider these strategies:
- 1MSG goes by many names - look for 'glutamate' on labels
- 2Naturally high in soy sauce, fish sauce, and aged cheeses
- 3Tomatoes and mushrooms are naturally high in glutamates
- 4Yeast extract and hydrolyzed proteins contain glutamates
- 5Fresh, unprocessed foods are generally lower
Pro tip: Keep a food diary to track your reactions. The Triggerbites app makes this easy with automatic pattern detection.
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Get the AppFAQ
Is gluten-free bread high in Glutamates?
Glutamates: low signal for most people.
Can I still eat gluten-free bread if I'm sensitive to Glutamates?
Usually fine in normal portions.
What else should I check?
Check Paleo AIP, FODMAPs, and Fructans next for a fuller picture.