NOTE: Always consult your doctor before making any changes in your diet or other healthcare. It’s important for your doctor to advise you on the best healthcare options for your personal situation.
Gluten-free diets. We’ve all heard about them but what’s the real hype?
A gluten-free diet involves excluding foods that contain the protein gluten, including wheat, rye and barley.
If you or someone you know experiences daily intestinal upsets and other problems, especially after eating foods containing gluten, there could be an allergy or sensitivity to gluten. Your doctor can order tests to help determine if this is an issue for you. Abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation and headache are some of the signs to consider. If your doctor suspects a serious problem or celiac disease which requires a gluten-free diet as treatment, he/she may conduct the following tests among other examinations:
- Blood test. A blood test will look for antibodies that incorrectly interact with the gluten protein. The most common test is a tTG-IgA test.
- Biopsy from your small intestine. People with a positive blood test will likely need to have a biopsy. This is a process in which a small tissue sample is taken from your intestine and checked for damage.
You should minimize or eliminate gluten if you are diagnosed with celiac disease or are told by your doctor that you are gluten-intolerant. These tips from the Mayo Clinic may help.
Diet details
Following a gluten-free diet requires paying careful attention to both the ingredients of foods and their nutritional content. Your doctor will help you understand what to do, and may recommend a visit with a nutritionist or dietitician.
Allowed fresh foods
Many naturally gluten-free foods can be a part of a healthy diet:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Beans, seeds and nuts in their natural, unprocessed forms
- Eggs
- Lean, non-processed meats, fish and poultry
- Most low-fat dairy products
Grains, starches or flours that you can include in a gluten-free diet include:
- Buckwheat
- Corn and cornmeal
- Flax
- Gluten-free flours (rice, soy, corn, potato, bean)
- Hominy (corn)
- Millet
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sorghum
- Soy
- Tapioca (cassava root)
Grains not allowed
Avoid all foods and drinks containing the following:
- Wheat
- Barley
- Rye
- Triticale (a cross between wheat and rye)
- Oats (in some cases)
While oats are naturally gluten-free, they may be contaminated during production with wheat, barley or rye. Oats and oat products labeled gluten-free have not been cross-contaminated. Some people with celiac disease, however, cannot tolerate the gluten-free labeled oats.
Many grocery stores have a special non-gluten section so check to see what they offer. Don’t forget to check the grocer’s freezer section too. You can also find gluten-free products online. The key is to only use sources you can trust to be truly gluten-free. Schar is a good option but there are others to explore.
It’s also easier to order gluten-free in restaurants today so call ahead to see if your choice of restaurants has this option.
Eating a gluten-free diet may sound intimidating, but you will learn that it’s easy to eat delicious food that is healthier for you once you make the change. You will definitely feel better and decrease your risks of a serious reaction to foods. And as a bonus, you might just lose a little weight, have more energy, and enjoy life more.
Here’s to a healthy gluten-free lifestyle!
Visit the Mayo Clinic website for more information.
HALLMARK HOME HEALTH CARE 