For celiac disease patients, living a gluten-free lifestyle is the only way in which they can control the symptoms associated with gluten intolerance. Eating gluten causes an autoimmune reaction in which the villi of the small intestine are damaged. Villi are projections from the lining that increase the surface area for nutrient absorption. Over time, eating gluten-containing foods can cause nutrient deficiencies due to malabsorption. Reducing symptoms involves eliminating all sources of gluten including foods, beverage and prescription drugs.
Gluten-Free Foods
Gluten is found in products containing wheat, barley or rye or their derivatives. Safe foods include many natural foods such as beans, eggs and rice. Fats and oils including nuts are also gluten-free options. A wide array of gluten-free flours can be substituted for wheat flour, including teff, white rice and brown rice flours. You will, however, need to exercise caution with processed foods that may be manufactured with gluten-containing ingredients. Common food additives such as modified food starch or artificial flavorings may contain gluten.
Gluten-Free Labeling
You will find many products labeled gluten free at your grocery store. To legally use this designation, the products may not contain more than 20 parts per million of gluten. Several manufacturers that produce lines of gluten-free products include General Mills, Heinz and Bob's Red Mill. Due to the growing awareness, you are likely to find gluten-free foods at most grocery stores and health food stores.
Gluten-Free Dining
The gluten-intolerant individual is likely to encounter more difficulty dining out, though awareness continues to rise. Many major restaurant chains such as Wendy's, McDonalds and Outback Steakhouse provide allergen information on their company websites. Online sites such as AllergyEats.com and the Gluten Free Restaurant Awareness Program can provide assistance for choosing a restaurant that can accommodate your special diet needs. You may want to call ahead to the restaurant before dining to be certain. Because of the risk of cross contamination, you may want to stick with restaurants that have a clear allergen policy to help ensure that staff are aware of proper food handling procedures.
Prescription Drugs
Unfortunately, gluten-intolerant individuals cannot be certain that their prescription medications are gluten free. Mixing agents used in medications may contain wheat protein, a permitted substance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A Citizen's Petition to the FDA has been submitted; however, a decision is still pending whether the agency will consider regulation to ensure gluten-free prescription drugs. You should consult your doctor and contact the pharmaceutical company to check the gluten status of any medications you are taking.
References
- Celiac Disease Foundation: What Happens With Celiac Disease
- Celiac; Safe Gluten-Free Food List (Safe Ingredients); Scott Adams; November 29, 2007
- Wheat Free: Wheat-Free and Gluten-Free Flours
- Celiac; Unsafe Gluten-Free Food List (Unsafe Ingredients); Scott Adams; November 27, 2007
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Questions and Answers on the Gluten-Free Labeling Proposed Rule; January 23, 2007
- Celiac: Citizen's Petition to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to Make Drugs Gluten-Free; M. Weber; February 6, 2009
