Originally created for patients suffering from skin diseases and intestinal problems, the gluten free diet plan is about eliminating all forms of gluten from your diet. Gluten is found in some cereals and is a mixture of protein. Generally speaking, most forms of wheat contain gluten, so it is advised that you avoid all forms of whet on this diet. This diet is a tough diet at first because of the many everyday foods that need to be avoided, but with careful diet planning and time, you will enjoy the benefits of a gluten free diet program.
Foods Containing Gluten
Here are several foods containing gluten that need to avoided on this diet. Foods to be avoided are – Farina, graham flour, durham, semolina, rye, wheat, barley, kasha, matzo meal, kamut, bulgur, triticale and spelt. Many medical professional are not sure whether or not to include oats into this group as is often mixed with wheat making it hard to assess if oats contain gluten.
There are many other foods that contain gluten such as bread, pasta, crackers, croutons, cereals, many soups and gravies, self basting poultry, cakes, cookies, pies sauces and salad dressings, candies, beer, alcohol, fake meat and fake seafood, and processed foods especially processed meat.
There are even everyday products that are not foods that contain gluten such as toothpaste, postage stamps, lip balms, medications, vitamins, lipstick, food flavorings and food additives. You should always make sure that the cooking utensils and surfaces you prepare you foods on are free of any foods that have been mentioned here. As well as avoid gluten free foods such as amaranth, quinoa and buckwheat unless specifically designated to be gluten free.
What Foods are Gluten Free?
You are now wondering to yourself – what foods can I eat on a gluten free diet? Well the good news is there are plenty of fresh and healthy foods that you can eat on this diet plan such as fruits and vegetables, rice and potatoes wine, gluten free flours such as rice flour, corn flour, potato flour and soy flour, almost every type of dairy product and all types of fresh meats, chicken, turkey, lamb and fish.
If you ever crave a food that is not gluten free, then try checking the shelves at your local grocery store for gluten free products like gluten free pasta. There are tons of gluten free specialty foods available; you just got to look in the right place.
Following a gluten free diet can be good for weight loss for the simple reason that a gluten free lifestyle limits the possibilities to go out to a restaurant as most restaurants specialize in serving gluten rich foods, thus you will have to eat at home more often and control the types of foods you are eating as well as they way your food is prepared.
Try a gluten free diet only with the recommendation of your doctor or dietician, it is a healthy way of eating and can help for those of you suffering from celiac disease and/or dermatitis herpetiformis.