Eating a gluten-free diet is incredibly trendy right now, but for many people, going gluten-free is not just a lifestyle choice but a necessity. People with celiac disease, IBS, or any autoimmune disorder greatly benefit from cutting out gluten from their diet. Gluten is a well-known allergen, and if you are allergic or intolerant to gluten, it can seriously affect your health and cause discomfort.
What is Gluten?
Gluten is a protein found in grains, particularly wheat. If you are intolerant to gluten, your body will find it hard to digest gluten, which sets off an inflammatory response in the gut. Symptoms of gluten intolerance include bloating, wind, diarrhea, and gastric upset. Symptoms can appear within a few minutes or after a few hours of eating a food containing gluten.
People with IBS will find relief with probiotics from IBSrelief.com, but if you suspect that gluten is the problem, or you have celiac disease, cutting out gluten is a wise idea. Anyone with an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s Thyroid Disease is also advised to eliminate gluten from their diet, as even without symptoms present, gluten can trigger an inflammatory response and make matters worse.
Saying Goodbye to Gluten
The good news is that banishing gluten from your life is not half as difficult as it was a few decades ago. Most supermarkets offer a good range of gluten-free foods, so you should have no problem finding store cupboard items that are free from gluten.
Read Labels
It is essential that you read labels when buying pre-packaged food or grocery staples such as stock cubes or canned goods. Some manufacturers highlight any allergens on food products, but it may not be obvious if a food contains gluten, especially if you buy fresh bread or other goods. Watch out for any mention of grains such as wheat, barley, and rye. Also, watch out for anything with malt in the ingredients, as it is not gluten-free. If in doubt, ask for advice or refrain from purchasing the product.
Corn, rice, millet, and sorghum are gluten-free. Oats are technically gluten-free, but a fifth of celiac sufferers still have symptoms, so it is wise to ask for a blood test in case you are sensitive to the proteins in oats.
Eating Out on a GF Diet
Most large restaurant chains offer a selection of gluten-free dishes on their menu these days. You can now enjoy gluten-free pizzas and pasta that are just as tasty. If you eat out and the menu does not explicitly state whether a dish is gluten-free, ask your server for advice. Meat, fish, salad, and rice dishes are commonly safe, but avoid the sauces as they usually contain gluten.
Cooking the Gluten-Free Way
In general, preparing dishes from scratch is the best way to stay healthy and gluten-free. For example, if you make your own lasagna from fresh ingredients; as long as you use gluten-free pasta sheets, there won’t be a problem, but if you buy a jar of readymade Bolognese sauce, it will probably contain gluten.
Experiment with GF cooking and learn how to bake gluten-free cakes, bakes and pies. That way you don’t have to miss out on tasty treats!