Rice flour does not contain gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and possibly oats. Rice flour can be a safe alternative to wheat flour in baked recipes or commercially prepared products. However, processed foods made with rice flour still might contain gluten as an additive. If you have celiac disease or a wheat allergy, check product labels carefully to make sure that bread, cookies, cereals or other foods made with rice flour do not contain gluten. Also, gluten-free foods may have been prepared or stored with foods that contain gluten, the Celiac Sprue Association notes.
Health Concerns
When you have celiac disease, your intestinal tract responds to gluten as if it were a harmful substance. This autoimmune disorder damages the portion of your intestinal lining that absorbs nutrients from the foods you eat. Currently the only way to prevent the intestinal damage of celiac disease is to follow a gluten-free diet, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Foods made with rice flour are generally considered safe on a gluten-free diet, the clearinghouse notes. However, gluten-free products made with rice flour may be contaminated with gluten if they're made in the same factory with wheat-based products.
Gluten Precautions
Gluten occurs in all baked products and cereals made with wheat, rye or barley. Food manufacturers use gluten as a thickener or additive in a wide variety of products, from sauces, dressings, cheeses and ice creams to medications and cosmetics. Foods that are minimally processed or prepared at home may be safer than highly processed foods, according to Drugs.com. Read labels on sauces, ketchup and other condiments to ensure they are gluten-free. You can find gluten-free substitutes for many of these items at natural foods stores or supermarkets. When you're eating at a restaurant, ask the staff about food preparation. Some restaurants offer gluten-free items, but check to make sure that these foods didn't come in contact with wheat, rye or barley products.
Rice on a Gluten-Free Diet
Rice and rice flour can be healthy additions to a gluten-free diet. Many gluten-free baked products and cereals contain rice flour as a substitute for wheat. Eat rice cakes, crackers, ready-to-eat dry cereals or cream-of-rice cereals if you have celiac disease or a wheat allergy, according to Drugs.com. Serve brown or white rice as a side dish, a breakfast cereal or as an ingredient in soups or casseroles. Brown rice provides more fiber than white rice, along with B vitamins, iron, phosphorous and magnesium. Glutinous rice, also called sweet rice, waxy rice or sticky rice, does not contain gluten, and can be part of a gluten-free diet.
Baking and Cooking
To eliminate the possibility of foods making contact with gluten, prepare baked products at home using brown or white rice flour. Substitute one cup of brown rice flour for one cup of wheat flour in baked recipes. Sweet rice flour, or glutinous rice flour, contains more starches than brown or white rice flours, and can thicken your homemade sauces or gravies.
