You may be asking yourself if you will have to give up some of your favorite drinks on the gluten-free diet. The answer is yes and no. The good news is that there are tons of beverages that are gluten free. A few are not, but there are even some gluten-free alternatives for the forbidden beverages.
First, what is a gluten-free diet? It is the diet recommend for people with a gluten allergy, or celiac disease. There are some medications available, but a gluten-free diet is most effective treatment available. The diet involves avoiding all gluten containing foods. Although most grains contain a protein called gluten, wheat, barle, and rye are the most popular gluten grains in our normal diets. For people with a gluten allergy, eating even small amounts of gluten damage their small intestine. Gluten triggers a response in the body, which then attacks the small intestine. The small intestine becomes inflamed and damaged over time. This small intestine damage can lead to malnourishment, osteoporosis and delayed growth in children.
The best way to avoid complications from celiac disease is to entirely eliminate gluten from your diet. Soda, juices, distilled liquors, coffee and tea are all fine to drink on the gluten-free diet. But malt drinks and beer are off the diet.
What to Look for
When you head to the beverage aisle of your local store, you will most likely find a wide selection of gluten-free drinks. Everything from water to sodas and wines are included in the diet. Look for any beverage that does not list malt, wheat, rye or barley in the ingredients.
If you are looking for a gluten-free alcoholic beverage, ask if the store sells gluten-free beer or wine. Most distilled liquors are gluten free with the exception of gin, whiskey and rye.
Common Pitfalls
For the most part, you should avoid beer, gin, whiskey and rye. You may be able to find gluten-free beers in the grocery store. However, finding gluten-free beers at restaurants and bars may be more challenging.
Soy drinks are often mixed with gluten-containing ingredients. Steer clear of soy drinks that may list wheat, rice, starch, stabilizer, emulsifier or flavoring in the ingredients.
