Gluten free Diet A-Z

One of the latest diet trends being talked about today is the gluten free diet. A gluten free diet is one that is void of all ingredients containing gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and oats. The gluten free diet was created to help people suffering from Celiac Sprue Disease, a digestive disorder affecting the small intestine, and those who have wheat allergies. With all of the information being made available about gluten free diets, many people who suffer from chronic abdominal pain, diarrhea, indigestion and any number of gastrointestinal discomforts are self-diagnosing wheat intolerance as the culprit of their pain. As a result, the gluten free diet is quickly gaining popularity. If you do suffer from a wheat allergy or Celiac Disease, you'll have to follow a gluten free diet for the rest of your life if you want to avoid the effects of the gluten sensitivity. It's important that you recognize the large number of products that contain gluten, and avoid them altogether. Following a gluten free diet isn't as easy as avoiding wheat, rye, barley and oats. Gluten has a consistency that makes it desirable as a thickening agent in many foods. It's also found in a lot of breads and baked goods. Additionally, there are some wheat products that are gluten free. So, you can see how confusing it can be to begin a gluten free diet.
How can foods that contain wheat products still be gluten free? It's all in the processing of the food. Wheat glucose that's been highly processed contains negligible amounts of gluten, making it acceptable in a gluten free diet. At the same time, foods you wouldn't expect to find wheat products in, such as ice cream or ketchup, actually contain gluten, which has been added as a thickening agent. Additional considerations that must be made for a person following an entirely gluten free diet are items like vitamins, medications and cosmetics (chap stick and lip stick). Gluten may be used in any of these products and they should be researched prior to use while following a gluten free diet. Another concern for people following a gluten free diet is cross-contamination of products that don't contain gluten in their ingredients, but may be processed in the same facility as products that do. Cross-contamination may also occur in raw food bins at grocery stores and at any restaurant where gluten free foods are cooked on the same grill or fried in the same grease as foods containing gluten. As with any diet that restricts entire food groups, the gluten free diet can be very difficult to follow and leave the body void of important nutrients. If you are considering following a gluten free diet, it's important that you understand the potential health benefits, as well as the potential health risks that can be associated with an exclusionary diet. Additionally, if you are self diagnosed, it may well be worth your time and energy to get an official diagnosis prior to turning your life upside down to accommodate a gluten free diet. In the end; however, if you do decide to follow a gluten free diet, it will be easier and safer if you consult a dietician who is trained specifically in gluten free dieting and can set you up for long term success and hopefully relief of pain and discomfort.