Many food allergies and gastrointestinal problems are caused by gluten, a protein found in wheat that has been implicated in several conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease and celiac disease. It creates a reaction when cooked that forces chemicals to bind together resulting in rising or leavening. AllergyEscape.com explains that symptoms from ingesting gluten can occur immediately after eating or hours later. These can be alleviated by a diet free from all gluten. Avoiding foods containing wheat and other grains known to be high in gluten will offer relief of symptoms for sufferers of gluten intolerance and allergies.
Grains
Rush University suggests that people with gluten intolerance and allergies avoid the following foods: biscuits, batter-fried foods, bran, granola, bread, bread crumbs, graham rolls, rye bread, farina, flours, gravies, macaroni, crackers, croutons, doughnuts, bulghur, buns, cakes, cereals, cookies, cornbread, crackers, pancake mixes, pasta, pastries, noodles, pumpernickel bread, dumplings, muffins, Cream of Wheat, matzos, spaghetti, tortillas, ice cream cones, vermicelli, waffles, pies, pita bread, pizza, pretzels, and wheat germ. (See Reference 3.)
Condiments and Seasonings
Rush University Medical Center suggests avoiding seasonings and condiments with high-gluten content (see Reference 3). Steer clear barley malt, certain mayonnaise made with gluten, sauces, soups, Worcestershire sauce, any salad dressing or gravy thickened with wheat, modified food starch, monosodium glutamate, malt products, soy sauce and tamari.
Processed Meats
A gluten-free diet should not contain most sausages and processed meats because the majority contain some grains. For relief from gluten intolerance, avoid the following processed meats as recommended by the Celiac Sprue Association: bologna, hot dogs, salami, pate, liverwurst, sausages and cold cuts. (See Reference 1.)
Alcoholic Beverages
Certain hard liquors and other alcoholic beverages such as beer, ale and light beer are made with grains containing gluten and should be avoided by people with gluten intolerance or allergy.
Sweets
Pass on a variety of sweets and sodas such as chocolate, cocoa, candy, ice cream, flavored mixes for milk, puddings, root beer and malted milk, all of which can contribute to allergic responses due to their gluten content.
