Gluten Allergies (or Intolerance): Foods You Should Avoid
Gluten is a protein that is found in grains such as barley, wheat and rye. Probably most familiar to you as the substance that is helpful in holding together dough, for bread and other baked goods.
Unfortunately, many people are allergic to this protein and cannot tolerate ingesting it. For those who are severely allergic, a reaction can be life-threatening.
Yet, another gluten-related condition is Celiac Disease, which is passed from one generation to the next. Symptoms occur when a person who has the disease eats any food that contains gluten. At that point, the immune system attacks the small intestine and hinders the digestive process.
In both of these cases, intake of foods which contain gluten must be avoided. One of the biggest problems with identifying these foods is the fact that these grains are used to process many other types of ingredients… making the gluten much harder to identify.
Besides avoiding products that contain barley, wheat and rye those with gluten allergies need to pay close attention to package labels, as well. Be on the lookout for the following:
- Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein otherwise referred to as HVP, unless it has been manufactured from corn or soy.
- Soy sauce products that contain wheat.
- Modified Food Starch, unless it has been manufactured from potato, corn, arrowroot, tapioca or maize.
- Cereal and flour products unless they have been derived from soy flour, potato flour, corn flour or rice flour.
- Most types of Vegetable Gum
These are just a few things to be aware of. You should also avoid purchasing products, which refer to starch, emulsifier, stabilizer, flavoring and hydrolyzed plant protein on their packaging.
Other categories of foods, which should be avoided are soup bases, beer, coating mixes and croutons, lunch meats, imitation bacon and seafood, candy, marinades, vitamins and supplements, over-the-counter medications.
Suffering from a gluten allergy doesn’t mean that you have to eat bland foods. There are just as many foods you can eat, as those you can’t. Fresh fruits and veggies, eggs, fresh beef and pork, most types of cheeses, ice cream, tuna and other seafood, coffee, tea and soda are just the beginning.