What is a Gluten Free Diet?

A gluten-free diet is one completely devoid of ingredients derived from gluten-containing cereals such as wheat, barley, rye and spelt. The suitability of oats in the gluten-free diet is uncertain; consequently most perople following a gluten free diet would also avoid them. This diet must be strictly followed by sufferers of celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis. Other people whohave a sensitivity to wheat based products rather than the more serious problems of celiac disease, might also find that the gluten-free diet helps with their condition.

This diet rules out all ordinary breads, pastas, and many convenience foods. Many countries do not require labelling of gluten containing products, but in several countries new product labelling standards are enforcing the labelling of gluten-containing ingredients. Various gluten-free bakery and pasta products are available from specialty retailers.

Several grains and starch sources are considered acceptable for a gluten free diet. The most frequently used are maize (corn), potatoes, rice, and tapioca (derived from cassava). Other grains and starch sources generally considered suitable for gluten-free diets include amaranth, arrowroot, millet, montina, lupine, quinoa, sorghum (jowar), sweet potato, taro, teff, and yam. Various types of bean, soybean, and nut flours are sometimes used in gluten-free products to add protein and dietary fiber. In spite of its name, buckwheat is not related to wheat; pure buckwheat is considered acceptable for a gluten-free diet, although many commercial buckwheat products are actually mixtures of wheat and buckwheat flours, so care must be taken to check the ingredients of the product.

Special care must be taken when checking the ingredients of products  for your gluten free diet. Gluten might be present through a variety of ingredients such as vegetable proteins and starch, modified food starch (when derived from wheat instead of maize), maltodextrin, malt flavoring, and glucose syrup, etc.

Many foods will contain gluten, but not be indicated on the ingredients, because they are not in the formulation of the product, but in the preparation of it. One example of this is the dusting of the conveyor belts in the production facilities to prevent the foods from sticking during processing. The food itself might not contain gluten, but there is gluten in the ingested product.

List of foods that are gluten free >

List of foods that contain gluten >

Our sponsor:  Ikon Kitchen Appliances