A gluten-free diet consists of foods that do not contain gluten, a protein. This can be a complicated diet because gluten is in common grains and many processed foods. A gluten-free diet is not a weight loss or fad diet, but instead one for people suffering from celiac disease, a hereditary autoimmune disorder. A gluten-free diet seems to greatly alleviate symptoms of the disease, as sufferers experience small intestine inflammation when they eat gluten. If you have celiac disease, talk to a registered dietitian specializing in celiac disease to determine the right course of action.
Symptoms of Celiac Disease
Celiac disease, or celiac sprue disease, is characterized by vastly different symptoms, depending on the person. It is difficult for doctors to diagnose, as some people have no symptoms. However, you might experience digestive problems like cramping, increased appetite, gas, bloating and diarrhea. You might also have back pain, muscle cramps and other symptoms. Celiac disease can damage the intestines and cause your body to not fully absorb nutrients from your food.
Diagnosis of Celiac Disease
To determine if you have celiac disease and whether you need to go on a gluten-free diet, talk to your doctor. Your doctor will perform a physical exam, take a blood test and schedule a duodenal biopsy of the small intestine. Despite these tests, your doctor will only diagnose you with celiac disease after you also go on a gluten-free diet and your small intestines show improvement.
Foods to Avoid
On a gluten-free diet, you avoid all foods that contain gluten. This includes many common types of grain, such as wheat, barley, graham, bulgur, rye, semolina and matzo meal. Some less known grains containing gluten are kamut, triticale, spelt, farina and durum. It is currently unclear whether oats are safe or not. Many processed foods also contain gluten, including candy, beer, gravy, imitation meat and seafood, lunch meat, sauces, soups and salad dressings. Carefully read food labels to make sure the food does not contain gluten and that it was not made in a facility that uses gluten.
Foods to Include
You can still include a number of grains and starches in your diet, although you may not have previously encountered many of them. These include arrowroot, buckwheat, corn, quinoa, rice, tapioca and amaranth. With these, check the label to make sure they are not mixed with wheat or contaminated with gluten. Aside from grains, you can include most whole foods in your diet, such as fruits and vegetables, plain meat and fish, most dairy and wine. Also check for foods that say "gluten-free." You will probably end up making a lot of your food at home to ensure it's gluten-free, especially since certain food additives also contain gluten.
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