Gluten is the generic name for certain types of protein contained in cereal grains such as wheat, barley, rye and spelt. People diagnosed with celiac disease --- also known as gluten intolerance, nontropical sprue and gluten-sensitive enteropathy --- have trouble digesting gluten and can suffer damage to the small intestine after consuming foods that contain it. As of 2010, the only treatment for celiac disease is strict adherence to a gluten-free diet. Though more and more manufacturers are prominently labeling gluten-free foods, people with gluten intolerance must take great care when shopping for groceries.
Step 1
Read food labels carefully and avoid buying products that contain wheat, durum, graham, Kamut, semolina, spelt, rye, barley and triticale in any form, advises the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America. Grains allowed on a gluten-free diet include rice, corn, potato, tapioca, beans, garfava, sorghum, quinoa, millet, buckwheat, arrowroot, amaranth, teff, Montina and nut flours.
Step 2
Consult your physician or dietitian before consuming any product that contains oats. Although pure, uncontaminated oats in moderation are considered safe for most people with celiac disease, the effects vary by individual.
Step 3
Choose wine and distilled alcoholic beverages, which are all gluten-free, over beers, ales and lagers, which are made from gluten-containing grains. If you do purchase beer, look for "gluten-free" on the label.
Step 4
Examine labels every time you buy a food, as a manufacturer can change the ingredients at any time. If you're unsure about the ingredients in a product, avoid purchasing it or find a similar product that is gluten-free.
Step 5
Consume as much fresh fruit and vegetables as you like, as they are all gluten free. Read the labels of canned or frozen fruits and vegetables carefully, however, as manufacturers sometimes add gluten-based ingredients to these foods. Choose fresh meat, poultry and seafood over their frozen or canned counterparts as well.
Step 6
Check with your doctor or pharmacist for information on whether your over-the-counter medications, vitamins and minerals, nutritional supplements and prescription drugs contain gluten-based ingredients. If they do, ask them to provide gluten-free alternatives, if possible.
Step 7
Buy enriched, whole-grain, gluten-free foods whenever possible so that you get your daily recommended intake of vitamin B, iron and fiber, advises Kimberly A. Tessmer, author of "Gluten-Free for a Healthy Life."
