If you’re reading this article then I’m guessing you have made the commitment to ditch gluten from your diet, bravo! Ditching gluten is the most important step you can take in restoring your health, particularly if you have an autoimmune disease, or Hashimoto’s, Graves’, or any other thyroid condition.

That’s because it causes leaky gut, increases your inflammation, and can cause your own body to attack itself. Gluten fuels the fire of chronic and inflammatory disease, and removing it permanently from your diet will make a big difference in your symptoms, flare-ups, and overall health.

However, thanks to our modern food system and all of the additives put into our products, gluten can often sneak its way on to and into our bodies if we aren’t on the lookout!

I personally have been fooled a time or two, which is why I want to share my list of 10 unexpected places gluten is hiding.  I hope the list below will help arm you with the right resources to stay healthy, happy, and gluten-free.

1. Body and beauty products

Lipstick, toothpaste, body lotion, shampoo, soap, conditioner, baby powder and sunscreen can all contain gluten. Because of this, I stick with beauty brands that are committed to offering both gluten-free and toxin-free products!

My favorites include Beauty Counter for makeup, Babo Botanicals for baby and mommy-friendly bath products and sunscreen, and milk + honey for body products such as lotion and deodorant.

2. Medications, supplements and herbal formulas

Many of these have fillers like dextrin, which can come from corn or wheat.  There are several websites, such as this one, that list gluten-free medications.

All of the supplements that I carry in my online store are verified gluten-free by 3rd party testing. If you are purchasing supplements elsewhere, always be sure to check labels carefully!

3. Play-Doh and paints

Play-Doh is made from wheat flour, salt and water, and many paints also have wheat-derived ingredients.

4. Sauces and condiments

Ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, tomato sauce, gravy and salad dressings can all contain gluten.

5. Scrambled eggs

Some restaurants add pancake batter to make eggs or buy packaged egg products that already contain batter in order to make the eggs fluffier. The waiter, or even chef, may be unaware they’re using a product that contains wheat or gluten, so make sure to ask questions!

6. Stamps and envelopes

The adhesive that makes stamps and envelopes stick can come from gluten. I always use a sponge to dampen the envelope seal or use a self-adhering kind.

7. Luncheon meats, crab and vegan meat substitutes

Wheat can be used as a filler in luncheon meats, and of course most beef jerky contains soy sauce. The “crab meat” used in many sushi rolls, like California rolls, is imitation crabmeat and contains wheat as a stabilizer. Many vegan “meats” and veggie burgers are either made from wheat or contain one of the troublesome 20 ingredients.

8. Alcohol

Beer contains gluten, of course, but distilled liquors such as vodka can also be made from wheat. Depending on your sensitivity, you may need to steer clear of these. I recommend eliminating alcohol entirely during the first 30 days on any of my programs or until your symptoms have resolved. However, if you have eliminated your symptoms and want to enjoy alcohol occasionally, I usually stick with tequila.

9. Mashed potatoes

Flour is sometimes added to thicken mashed potatoes.

10. Candy

You must read the ingredients! Licorice and many other solid candies are made from wheat flour.

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