There are good reasons why many people are choosing to adopt a gluten free diet. On the one hand a gluten free diet is recommended in the treatment of anyone who has celiac disease or an allergy to wheat or other grains. On the other hand it is recommended for anyone who wishes to adopt a healthy whole food diet that can contribute to general good health and effective weight management.

Gluten is a protein in grains such as wheat, barley, rye, kamut, spelt, and triticale. Some people do not tolerate gluten well and this can cause an autoimmune disorder called celiac disease. The gluten can cause the villi of the small intestine to become damaged or atrophied. The result is that important health giving nutrients are not well absorbed by the small intestine and pass out of the body without providing benefit.

Symptoms of celiac disease vary widely and may include vitamin and mineral deficiency diseases, fatigue, anemia, osteoporosis, ulcers, and diarrhea. As a result of the wide variety of possible symptoms, diagnosing celiac disease can be difficult. One study indicated that in the United States one person out of 133 suffers from the disease, but due to the difficulty in diagnosing the disease the incidence rate may be much higher.

Another good reason for a person to eat a gluten free diet is that it is a very healthy diet. The diet forces a person to avoid processed convenience foods, sometimes called “junk” foods, because nearly all convenience foods contain wheat gluten of some kind. The diet also keeps a person from dining at fast food restaurants because most menu items at those restaurants contain gluten or are cross-contaminated with gluten containing cooking agents. So, just by avoiding convenience foods and fast food restaurants a person will be able to avoid a lot of excess calories, fats, and carbohydrates in their diets. And their gluten free diet will be substituting healthier foods in their place.

Among the foods to avoid are the numerous products made with wheat, barley, and rye. More specifically, this can include different types of cereals, breads, cakes, cookies, doughnuts, tortillas, beer, chips, many sauces, ketchup, hot dogs, many sausages, muffins, numerous snack foods, and ice cream. Also, some cosmetics such as lipstick and lip balm may contain gluten. Tip – read the labels!

Happily, fruits and vegetables are naturally gluten free, but the labels of any processed fruit and vegetable products should be checked to see if any gluten has been added. Unprocessed meats are also gluten free and fine for the diet. Flours made from potatoes, nuts, beans, rice, and buckwheat (which is not related to wheat) can be used in baked goods, including bread. Therefore, a person can still enjoy some tasty bakery item treats. As you can see, a gluten free diet can include a satisfying variety of foods and does not have to be a bland diet.

There are many cookbooks and resources on the Internet to help guide a person who has chosen to cook and eat gluten free meals. It’s a good, healthy choice, and many people have decided that it is the right way to go.

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