A gluten-free diet renders a number of treats off-limits, including some alcoholic beverages. With celiac disease, or gluten intolerance, you must remove all foods that contain gluten from your diet. As a person with celiac, selecting alcoholic beverages can be tricky. You must avoid malt liquors, particularly beer, unless they are marked "gluten-free." Wine is prepared from grapes and is a gluten-free beverage, reports MayoClinic.com.
Gluten
Gluten is a small protein in a variety of grains, including wheat, rye and barley. Gluten is also found in crossbreeds of these grains, as well as extracts derived from them, such as barley malt extract. Foods or beverages prepared from these grains contain gluten, with the exception of distilled spirits. Hard liquor, such as rye and rum, are safe for a gluten-free diet because the distillation process removes the gluten.
Gluten Intolerance
Gluten intolerance, or celiac disease, is a hereditary disease affecting approximately one in every 133 people in the U.S. With gluten intolerance, your autoimmune system kicks into overdrive when you eat gluten. Your body attacks your small intestine, prompting symptoms such as bloating, gas, constipation and diarrhea. Long-term exposure to gluten might lead to more severe side effects, including malnutrition, neurological conditions and a higher rate of some intestinal cancers.
Wine
Wine first emerged in Mesopotamia, some time between the years 4,000 and 6,000 BCE. Historically, wine is made from crushed, fermented fruit, usually grapes and other fruits. Modern wines are made with some additives, meant to clarify the wine or enhance flavors. These ingredients may vary according to the recipe of the producer. Wine is considered gluten-free because none of the additives used in making wine contain wheat, barley or rye.
Cautions
Some people with celiac disease experience other food sensitivities. Damage to your small intestine might leave you vulnerable to other food sensitivities. For example, you might experience a period of lactose intolerance until your small intestine heals. Another problematic ingredient is caseins, a form of protein commonly found in milk but also in wines. If you are new to gluten-free diet, caseins in wine might cause you to experience gastrointestinal symptoms.
References
- Mayo Clinic; Gluten-Free Diet; 2010
- University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research: Frequently Asked Questions
- Medline Plus: Celiac Disease
- Living Without; Hidden Additives and Allergens in Beer and Wine; Drea Knufken
- Cornell University: Song of the Vine: A History of Wine
- “The Telegraph”; Wine Ingredients Including Fish and Charcoal Should be Listed on the Bottle, Say Regulators; Jasper Copping; 2009
