If you suffer from celiac disease, or celiac sprue, you cannot ingest any gluten, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center. Gluten is a type of protein that is in wheat, barley, rye and some other grains. It causes potentially severe intestinal damage in people who have celiac disease, and even a minuscule amount of gluten can be dangerous. If you have been diagnosed with celiac disease, you will have to avoid gluten for the rest of your life, but you can enjoy a gluten-free diet by finding delicious foods and new recipes that are safe for you to eat.
Step 1
Eat grains that are labeled "gluten free." Read the packaging of pastas, crackers, cookies, cereals, breads and other grain products carefully, recommends MayoClinic.com. In addition to being labeled "gluten free," check to be sure that they are processed in a gluten-free facility to avoid cross-contamination.
Step 2
Look for substitutes for wheat flour and other grains that you have previously eaten that contain gluten, suggests KidsHealth. It may take some taste tests, but if you are persistent, you should be able to find substitutes that taste good and that you can safely eat. Use cookbooks and Internet websites to find new recipes that do not contain gluten.
Step 3
Fill up on fresh meat, fruits, vegetables, rice and potatoes. Most dairy products are also gluten-free, but check the labeling to be sure.
Step 4
Check the labels of every product that you eat. According to FamilyDoctor.org, some potentially overlooked sources of gluten may include processed deli meat or bacon, sauces, soups and marinades. Communion wafers may contain gluten; talk to your pastor or priest before taking communion. Read the ingredient labels of medications, vitamins and lipstick as well.
Step 5
Cook your gluten-free foods separately from foods that may contain gluten. This is important, stresses MayoClinic.com, because cooking your food in the same pan or on the same grill as food that contains gluten can put you at risk for intestinal damage.
Step 6
Talk to the management at your favorite restaurants, suggests FamilyDoctor.org. They may already be familiar with the challenges of eating gluten-free, and if not, you may be able to educate them. Look for new restaurants that cater to the needs of those who cannot be exposed to any gluten.
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