Celiac Disease Diets – Finding Foods Free From Gluten
If you have Celiac disease, it is difficult for your intestines to absorb nutrients from the food that you eat. This is because, the villi that line up the walls of your intestines and are responsible in the absorption of nutrients from the food we eat are damaged and may not be able to function well. With this, you need to have a Celiac disease diets that does not contain the protein, gluten.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye and those suffering from Celia disease cannot tolerate this in their digestive system. Gluten can damage the hair-like structures that absorb the nutrients in the body and thus should be avoided. Once these structures in the intestines are damaged, it will lead you to become malnourished - even how much food you will take.
If you are looking for Celiac disease diets that you can have to avoid harming your intestines, watch out for foods that contain wheat, barley and rye as they contain the protein, gluten. Watch out also for products that may contain them as ingredients and for other foods that may seem to be safe but have gluten 'hidden' on them.
Among the foods that you can avoid are cakes, breads, cookies, biscuits, pasta, pizza, some breakfast cereals, pancakes, barley water and other malted drinks. Although there are quite a lot of restricted food if you have Celiac disease, you can still be able to get nutritious and healthy food if you plan your meals right.
Celiac disease diets are gluten-free diets and it can be a big switch for many, but even if there are lots of foods that you have to watch out for and avoid in your diet, you can still find healthy and nutritious foods for your diet. Although eating in restaurants or buying your food can be a challenge in itself because you will be on the search of gluten-free foods and products, and that would also mean avoiding some foods that you used to enjoy.
Among the foods and food ingredients that you can still enjoy however includes, fish, meat and poultry, vegetables, fruits, eggs, cheese, rice and rice flour, sugar, cider vinegar, honey, jelly, fruit juice, tea, wine and gluten-free beer. You may want to check out processed products though as many may contain main ingredients that may seem to be free from gluten but may involve gluten in the preparation.
Sausages for example that are said to be free from gluten may have the substance in their binders. Luncheon meat may also have gluten in the fillers. Indeed, it can be a challenge on spotting which really is safe for your diet. To help you with this, you can visit a dietician or a nutritionist and keep updated of some websites that offer support for people with the disease so you will know where and what to buy important foods for your diet.
Keep in mind too that gluten can also be found in cosmetics such as lipsticks, and in vitamins and supplements, so you may want to watch out for that too.
What is a Gluten Free Weight Loss Diet?
The gluten free weight loss diet started out as a kind of recommended diet for those with celiac disease. However, due to the onset of diet fads, the gluten free weight loss diet became recognized even those who are not diagnosed with the disease. A lot of people are self-diagnosing just so they can buy gluten-free products and start losing weight. Remember that a lack of understanding of diets can lead to complications and side effects that may even lead to more weight gain so before jumping into the bandwagon of the gluten free weight loss diet, make sure that you are properly informed on what it can do for you.
The person with celiac disease
Gluten is a protein component that can be found on barley, oats, triticale, wheat, and grains. A person with celiac disease has a small intestine that is sensitive to gluten. In fact, even small portions of gluten can cause them harm. There are no known causes for the disease but it is believed that there are environmental and genetic factors involved. There is still no cure but it can be managed with a gluten-free diet. If left untreated, it can lead to a variety of disorders like osteoporosis, malnutrition, and infertility.
What the diet can do
The gluten free weight loss diet contributes to the recovery of the small intestine as well as in aiding in the absorption of important nutrients. With this diet, you avoid all types of food that have rye, barley gluten, and wheat. Examples of foods we love to eat but contain gluten are breads, pizza, pasta, malted breakfast cereals, bagels, and crackers. Oats are also avoided and you have the option whether to avoid or limit your intake of milk. Beer products, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages are also avoided.
What you can eat
With a gluten free weight loss diet, you can still eat any of the following food products since they naturally do not have gluten:
1. Fresh, dried, canned, or frozen fruits and vegetables as long as they do not have thickening ingredients and additives that have gluten.
2. Starches and flours made from rice, soybeans, tapioca, corn, and buckwheat.
3. Dairy products like cheese. However, avoid these products at the beginning of your treatment for celiac disease.
4. Eggs
5. Alcoholic beverages like wine and liquor like brandy, whiskey, ciders, and liquers.
6. Unprocessed meat products
7. Frozen or canned meat products, provided that they do not have any sauce.
8. Cereal products made from corn, lentil flour, rice bran, amaranth, lentil flour, psyllium, and polenta.
9. Rice crackers, rice crispies, corn tortillas, taco shells made from corn.
10. Gluten-free pasta, bean or rice vermicelli, buckwheat noodles, and rice noodles.
11. Condiments like tomato paste, jam, honey, cocoa, vinegar, honey, tahini, and some salad dressings and sauces.
12. Snacks like plain corn chips, plain chocolate, and popcorn.
13. Drinks like coffee, tea, mineral water, and spirits.
A few precautions
Be careful when buying foods that are labelled as "wheat-free" because it does not necessarily mean that they are gluten-free. When buying food, read the ingredients on the labels and be aware of the kinds of hidden gluten like those that can be found in different food additives and medications. Also, be aware that there are products that have "modified food starch" written on their labels because they may contain gluten.
Do not self-diagnose
Never self-diagnose that you have celiac disease. Before going on a gluten free weight loss diet, make sure to check with your doctor first. Only your doctor can give you the right diagnosis by showing that your bowel lining is damaged through endoscopy, blood tests, or by performing a biopsy on your bowel. More importantly, it is advised that you do not go on a gluten free weight loss diet before going to the doctor for a real diagnosis.
Stuff to remember
The gluten free diet may seem a little overwhelming at first. However, with enough knowledge, information and support, you can incorporate the diet into your lifestyle without any problems. Having celiac disease does not mean you have to stop eating majority of your favorite foods because despite several restrictions, you can still enjoy a variety of foods included in the diet. Furthermore, if you need more information on celiac disease and gluten free diets, you can consult a gastroenterologist, your doctor, or a credited/licensed dietitian or nutritionist.
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