We know that some people have gluten sensitivity – maybe as many as 20 million Americans actually. When consuming too much gluten there might be some physical symptoms. But Celiac Disease is a little different– it’s an autoimmune disorder where the body gets a bit “upset” every time that gluten is eaten. Inflammation and damage occur in the small intestines, and nutrients cannot be absorbed.
Dietary treatment for Celiac Disease is to provide symptom relief, get you back to more energy ad better health.
A Gluten-Free diet = NO foods containing sources of gluten – wheat, barley, rye, malt &brewer’s yeast.
Gluten-Free foods:
- nut & bean flours
- quinoa, rice, buckwheat, millet
- potatoes
- corn & corn starch
- gluten-free oats
- dried beans & peas
Other Gluten Free foods: vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds, dairy, fish, poultry, beef and pork. You just need to be sure that they are not prepared with gluten-containing additives or coatings.
And there are some great Gluten-free snack options: gluten-free tortilla chips with hummus or salsa, popcorn cooked in oil, peanut butter on rice crackers, or how about a snack mix with gluten-free corn chex, nuts and dried fruit. So many healthy options. Homemade and made-from-scratch is the way to go when you can. You will also want to be sure to avoid cross contamination in your kitchen, keeping work areas, appliances, and toasters clean.
Celiac Disease resources: www.celiaccentral.org (The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness) and www.celiac.org (The Celiac Foundation).
