Probiotics and a Gluten-Free Diet

Ever wonder why all of these digestive problems, food allergies and intolerances were rarely heard of up until the past 10 years or so? It seems that many problems like Fibromyalgia / Chronic Fatigue, Gluten-Intolerance, Candida, Celiac Disease, and food allergies, are a relatively “new thing”, and that more and more people are being diagnosed each day. Many of the symptoms of these problems are similar… digestive upsets, fatigue, chronic pain, vitamin deficiencies, bloating, etc etc etc. So…what is causing all this stuff??

In my opinion ANTIBIOTICS are to blame. Most people are unaware that antibiotics have only been prescribed by doctors since the 1940s or so. Antibiotics do not make the immune system stronger, they just temporarily replace one of its functions: killing harmful bacteria. The immune system functions like an organ or muscle. When it is not put to use, it atrophies. So when an antibiotic does one its jobs, the immune system performs that job poorly once the antibiotic leaves the body. Because of this, someone who takes antibiotics to cure a bacterial based illness may end up catching the same illness, only with more severe symptoms, later on in life. With more and more antibiotic use, our bodies become more resistant to certain strains of bacteria as well.

Many people with the chronic problems I named above are victims of doctors’ over prescription of antibiotics. We all know that antibiotics aren’t ALL bad… in many cases they are necessary, and I’m sure have even saved lives. But because some of us have been given SO MANY of them, our immune systems have become weak, which has surely contributed to the problems we now face.

In my case, I was given dose after dose of antibiotics as child because of frequent ear infections. Then, during my 10 years of going from doctor to doctor to find out what was wrong… I was given even more. I had heavy doses of antibiotics after each sinus surgery, and was given “super antiobiotics” twice just as a “test” to see if an infection was what was causing my facial swelling. I’m sure each time, it only made things worse! And now, it surprises me that so many doctors would so carelessly prescribe antibiotics.

One of the main reasons antibiotics weaken the immune system is because, on top of killing the harmful bacteria… they also kill a lot of the “good bacteria” that our bodies need to function correctly and absorb nutrients. This is why PROBIOTICS are SO IMPORTANT! Especially for those of us still dealing with fatigue or “brain fog.” These “good bugs” are our friends, and will help renew the strength of our digestive and immune system! I now take the Garden of Life brand Probiotics 2x a day…and they work marvelously! I would suggest that anyone who’s gone gluten-free, but is still dealing with a lot of the same symptoms that you had BEFORE you went gluten-free… to look into taking probiotics. They could be the missing link to your health! I know they were for me :)

I like the Garden of Life
Women’s Probiotics


Here are some Tips on taking Probiotics:

1) Make sure to use a quality brand (like ReNew Life or Garden of Life). They can be expensive, but trust me, it’s worth it!
2) Make sure the brand you use contains AT LEAST FOUR different strains of the “good bugs”,  or it’s not worth the money.
3) Only use REFRIGERATED probiotics, and make sure to keep them in there! Heat can damage or destory them. Remember, we’re dealing with living organisms here.
4) It’s best to take them in between meals. I take mine 2x a day between breakfast and lunch, and again after dinner or before bed.
5) You can also get Probiotics through yogurt. Greek yogurt, such as the kind at Trader Joe’s, will give you a good amount of certain strains. For severe cases, though, I recommend sticking with a probiotic pill, since it will give you “billions” of these organisms.

What’s YOUR opinion on antibiotics / probiotics? Remember, I’m no doctor, so you may want to check with your physician before taking probiotics. For more information on how PROBIOTICS and PREBIOTICS can improve the health of those with Celiac  / Gluten Intolerance … click here!

♥ Christie

Author Information: Christie Bessinger, Fresno, CA
Publisher, Celiac Scoop Blog
You can reach Christie via Email

About Christie Bessinger

Christie Bessinger


  1. My mom has been using Active D’lites for a while now and has reported that she feels great. Active D’lies is probiotic infused chocolate. It’s celiac and diabetic friendly and says it has 10 billion active ingredients and two strains. She likes it better than taking a pill. The website is . What’s your take on these?

  2. I got here doing a search for gluten free probiotics. Beware Garden of Life! I just ordered a bottle, and the package said “gluten-free” on the front, but barley was listed in the ingredients.

  3. Emma-Louise Hardman

    Agreed but how about the near inescapable ubiquity of antibacterials? We are 70% microbial and we are using using chemicals that kill bacteria! It’s utterly crazy.

  4. yes, I personally believe that antibiotics prescribed and those pumped into our food supply and widely used NSAIDS (anti-inflamatory asprin/ibuprofen) are to blame for all these leaky gut syndromes such as Celiac, Arthiritis, Diabetes, …and the list goes on. Just wish we all would have known sooner how to take care of our bodies and the importance of the health of our gut and the food that we put into it…how conveniently ignorant we have all is time for a health REVOLUTION!

  5. Antibiotics may be one part of it, but most people don’t realize that Genetically modified food also alters our gut bacteria. The only published human feeding experiment revealed that genetic material inserted into GE soy transfers into the DNA of bacteria living inside our intestines and continues to function. Not only that but antibiotic resistant genes are inserted into most GM crops. Bt toxins (Bacillus thuringiensis) inserted into GM food crops to kill pests are reaching the bloodstreams of 93% of women and 80% of unborn babies [5] because of the consumption of meat, milk, and eggs from livestock fed GE corn. This could turn bacteria in our intestines into pesticide factories. Genetically engineered food genes transferring to our own genes could lead to problems like leaky gut syndrome.

    Go to the Institute for REsponsible Technology to find out more and watch The Future of Food – you won’t believe what has happened to our food supply!

  6. Great tips for anyone, especially those with digestive concerns. As you mentioned, not all probiotics are created equal. In order for the gut to receive the beneficial bacteria, the probiotics must be LIVE when they arrive to the lower intestines & colon.
    But Buyer Beware!
    Most products tout billions of live bacteria on their labels, or use verbiage like, “Live at the time of packaging” and like you shared, many probiotics are meant to be refrigerated to keep the bacteria from dying.
    Truth is, in order to receive all the beneficial good bacteria, the product must say that the probiotics are LIVE at the time of Delivery to the gut. I have only ever found 1 probiotic with that labeling and honestly, its less expensive than most others on the market.
    You may also like to know that in sugar will kill the good bacteria. So if you are choosing yogurts, be sure to eat the plain.

  7. Yeah I think at least with celiac that there is damage to the intestines and that makes the symbiosis of good and bad bacteria off. If you take antibiotics or have a cold or flu you need probiotics. Huge dosages. It is also good for anyone to take an enterically coated probiotic.

  8. I agree with your theory about antibiotics. They have been overprescribed and the bacteria have mutated into stronger, more resistant strains. I also have a few more theories. Genetically modified foods have made their way into our diets and to get Biblical, I believe we are in the End Times and I think our food supply (wheat, for example contains a higher concentration of tares, than in the past. Our food supply is being poisoned.) I understand the parable of the wheat and the tares is also an allegory about the human-looking tares infiltrating society and poisoning us, but these two views can be looked upon as going hand-in-hand. Just think about the logo for whole grains… it’s a check mark… as in a checklist. Poisoned grain supply? Check! Destroy the economy? Check! Attack Christianity? Check! It’s all very sinister.

  9. I take Primal Defense by Garden of Life. I asked the company which are best for those with food allergies/intolerances, and that was their recommendation. Some of their probiotics contain dairy, so be careful. But yes, they really help!

Leave a Reply
