About Gluten-Free Living
People with coeliac disease or gluten sensitivity must follow a gluten-free diet in order to ensure that the food that they eat does not cause adverse reactions within their bodies.
Maintaining a gluten-free diet helps individuals with gluten intolerance to control their symptoms.
At first, following a gluten-free diet may seem like a daunting, frustrating experience. With time, however, maintaining a diet that does not cause complications will become second nature to you, and you are sure to find plenty of safe foods that you enjoy.
The key is to be patient by giving yourself time to get used to your new diet. Learn to be creative with your meals until you find ways to prepare meals or to order food that appeal to your taste buds.
It is important to be very cautious when shopping for groceries. Most processed foods contain gluten, and many foods include additives or preservatives that include gluten. There are also plenty of food items that are naturally free of gluten.
Gluten-free foods include:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Beans, nuts and seeds that have not been processed
- Eggs
- Fresh meat and fish (stay away from marinated or breaded meat products)
Most grain products such as bread or pasta include gluten as a main ingredient. However, these days, it is possible to find a number of gluten-free alternatives made from grains or starches such as buckwheat, amaranth, millet, rice, soy, arrowroot, corn, potato, and sorghum. You are likely to find many products that are labeled “gluten free” since there are so many people with gluten intolerance.
Keep in mind that some products that do not in themselves contain gluten are often contaminated with wheat during the production process. Talking with a dietitian and carefully investigating the food items that you are accustomed to develop a gluten-free diet will pay off in the long run.
If you have questions about a gluten-free diet, contact your local doctor who will arrange for you to see a dietitian and nutritionist.
