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Attempting to eliminate gluten, which is a grain protein that may turn up in breads and cereals, from your diet is no easy task. However, sufferers of celiac disease, an autoimmune disease that is marked by a high intolerance of gluten, must contend with a gluten free diet on a daily basis. Steering clear of gluten is particularly difficult because of the "guilt by association" factor presented by grains that do not contain gluten but may have been grown or processed alongside gluten grains.
Doctors are now recommending gluten free diets for more than just celiac sufferers -- but cutting gluten from your diet can seem nearly impossible. Maintaining a gluten free diet is doable with these strategies:
Know Your Grains: The main no-nos for a gluten free diet are rye, barley, wheat and oats. This means no breads made with these oats, but also cereals, sweets or any other food that may contain these grains. Food preparers aren't obligated to label products safe for a gluten free diet, so you will need to read nutrition labels carefully to scope out the culprits. You can, however, eat some grains, like rice, quinoa, corn, tapioca, flax and buckwheat.
Find Delicious Alternatives: Just because you're navigating the world of gluten free diets doesn't mean that you can't enjoy your favorite, can't-live-without staples. Luckily, as celiac disease becomes more well-known, many companies are rising to the challenge of supplying delicious, gluten-free food, like the Gluten-Free Oats company, which supplies safe oats to be used as a substitute in any recipe that calls for traditional oats. Gluten Solutions is also worth a mention, since their online store is full of healthy breads, flour, pasta and even cookies, all of which are gluten free, of course.
Look for Sneaky Grains: A big part of sticking to your gluten free diet will be identifying foods that don't seem to contain any grains, but are actually full of harmful gluten. Watch out for soy sauce, potato chips, salad dressing and even soup. Kitchen Daily's gluten-free page is a great resource for a more comprehensive list of foods that may hide grains. In general, look for the words "contains wheat" to signal that the product is not compatible with your gluten free diet.
Like any major lifestyle change, adapting to a gluten-free diet will take time, but once you master some simple shopping strategies, it will be easier than you think.
Email This
Attempting to eliminate gluten, which is a grain protein that may turn up in breads and cereals, from your diet is no easy task. However, sufferers of celiac disease, an autoimmune disease that is marked by a high intolerance of gluten, must contend with a gluten free diet on a daily basis. Steering clear of gluten is particularly difficult because of the "guilt by association" factor presented by grains that do not contain gluten but may have been grown or processed alongside gluten grains. Doctors are now recommending gluten free diets for more than just celiac sufferers -- but cutting gluten from your diet can seem nearly impossible. Maintaining a gluten free diet is doable with these strategies:
Know Your Grains: The main no-nos for a gluten free diet are rye, barley, wheat and oats. This means no breads made with these oats, but also cereals, sweets or any other food that may contain these grains. Food preparers aren't obligated to label products safe for a gluten free diet, so you will need to read nutrition labels carefully to scope out the culprits. You can, however, eat some grains, like rice, quinoa, corn, tapioca, flax and buckwheat.
Find Delicious Alternatives: Just because you're navigating the world of gluten free diets doesn't mean that you can't enjoy your favorite, can't-live-without staples. Luckily, as celiac disease becomes more well-known, many companies are rising to the challenge of supplying delicious, gluten-free food, like the Gluten-Free Oats company, which supplies safe oats to be used as a substitute in any recipe that calls for traditional oats. Gluten Solutions is also worth a mention, since their online store is full of healthy breads, flour, pasta and even cookies, all of which are gluten free, of course.
Look for Sneaky Grains: A big part of sticking to your gluten free diet will be identifying foods that don't seem to contain any grains, but are actually full of harmful gluten. Watch out for soy sauce, potato chips, salad dressing and even soup. Kitchen Daily's gluten-free page is a great resource for a more comprehensive list of foods that may hide grains. In general, look for the words "contains wheat" to signal that the product is not compatible with your gluten free diet.
Like any major lifestyle change, adapting to a gluten-free diet will take time, but once you master some simple shopping strategies, it will be easier than you think.