Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which the tissue lining your esophagus changes, resembling the tissue that lines your small intestines. Barrett's esophagus does not normally cause symptoms, but can increase your risk of developing esophageal cancer. The cause of Barrett's esophagus is not known, but it is commonly found in people who have gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. If you have gluten-intolerance as well as Barrett's esophagus, you need to continue to follow a gluten-free diet, along with making modifications to your diet to control your GERD.
Grains
Gluten is a protein found in foods made with and containing wheat, rye and barley, which means you cannot eat most bread products, cereals, pastas and crackers. Instead, on your gluten-free diet for Barrett's esophagus, you need to include gluten-free grains and products. Safe gluten-free grain choices include amaranth, quinoa, rice, millet, arrowroot, cornmeal and tapioca. You can include any foods made with these grains that are also labeled gluten-free, such as gluten-free pasta or bread made with rice flour or gluten-free cereals.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are naturally gluten-free, making them a safe and healthy addition to your diet, as long as they are prepared without any gluten-containing sauces or food products. Healthy choices include all fresh, frozen or dried fruits, and fresh or frozen canned fruits. Carefully read the food labels of any frozen, canned or dried fruits and vegetables to make sure they are safe from cross contamination. Foods processed on machines that have also processed gluten-containing foods can be a potential source of gluten.
Meat and Beans
Meat and beans prepared fresh without any sauces are also naturally gluten-free. When selecting meats, choose leaner cuts to limit your fat intake. Foods high in fat exacerbate GERD symptoms. Healthy lean meat choices include white meat poultry, fish, lean pork chops and beef tenderloin. As with your fruits and vegetables, carefully read the food labels of your canned beans to make sure they are gluten-free. To play it safe, consider cooking your beans from scratch. You also want to avoid adding any spicy seasonings to your meat and beans to help control your GERD.
Dairy Products
Most dairy products are gluten-free. But you should carefully read the food labels of the more processed dairy foods such as American cheese, flavored yogurts and ice cream products. Milk and plain yogurts are safe on your gluten-free diet. Like your meats, choose low-fat dairy products to limit your fat intake to help control GERD symptoms and Barrett's esophagus.
Additional Tips
Including more fresh, unprocessed foods will help you limit the gluten in your diet. Heavily processed foods such as potato chips, hot dogs, soups and rice mixes may contain gluten, making it important that you carefully check food labels before including them in your diet. In addition to the gluten, eating small meals can help prevent GERD and help you manage your Barrett's esophagus. You should also avoid chocolate, caffeine and acidic foods to help limit GERD.
References
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders; Barrett's Esophagus; July 2008
- MayoClinic.com; Gluten Free Diet; January 2010
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders; Celiac Disease; September 2008
- McKinley Health Center; The GERD Diet; 2008
- Celiac.com: Safe Gluten-Free Food List
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