Whether you have Celiac disease, another autoimmune disease or just an intolerance to gluten, you will need to start with your gluten-free diet by figuring out what you can or can't eat. You may be familiar with some of the main options like skipping your normal bread products, checking condiments and being sure you avoid all forms of wheat. However, gluten can often be hiding in products you wouldn't suspect, and the only way to know is by understanding what ingredients contain gluten.
Ingredients with Gluten
Hydrolyzed malt extract
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
Phytosphingosine extract
Amino peptide complex
Secale cereale
Fermented grain extract
Hordeum distichon
Hordeum vulgare
Hydrolysate
Maltodextrin
Modified food starch
Brown rice syrup
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
Hydrolyzed soy protein
Be Careful Of These
So now you've checked out your items from the last store visit. As you read through the ingredients, you see a few familiar names, but now is the time to focus. Some of the names that are generally included in this somewhat hidden group are: kamut, hydrolyzed wheat protein, durum, farro, rye bread, atta and farina. If you have a serious gluten sensitivity, then it would be important to avoid these foods and their processed versions, but also be very careful about eating ingredients that can become tainted by the presence of gluten as well.
Sauces, Soups, Seasoning and Sausage
Among the foods mentioned here, these end up being some of the biggest surprises. The gluten found in liquid foods like spaghetti sauce, several varieties of creamy soups, and popular seasoning packets has usually been added as a thickening agent, but it's inclusion in sausage is entirely filler. With a small amount of research, it should be a piece of cake to find processed meats without gluten that can be enjoyed in very small doses. Many of these meats are clearly marked so that people who are interested in gluten free items can easily identify them.
More Foods to Avoid
When you're first learning about the intricacies of the gluten-free diet and lifestyle, it's probably seems like you're going to have to get rid of and avoid an unbelievable amount of food that you might enjoy. When you're getting ready to make a major dietary change, the best thing you can do for yourself is to empower yourself with knowledge so that you can find success by fully experiencing the variety and nuances of food. The good news is that there are a lot of great ways to confront these issues, so this article
will be primarily focusing on prepackaged ingredients to avoid when you are cutting out gluten.
Condiments
One of the main things that people neglect when looking at a gluten free diet is that condiments they love can be loaded with gluten. In recent years, the spread of gluten-free has become enough of a fad that it's become relatively common as a marketing point. Ketchup, mayonnaise, salad dressings, gravy, malt vinegar, marinades and even soy sauces may contain gluten. You will need to get used to reading labels to look for any ingredients that might have gluten. Just be sure to buy the gluten-free certified versions of your favorite condiments and you won't have to worry about it.
Beverages
If you're on the go or in a hurry in the morning, it can be pretty tempting to grab a flavored coffee for yourself on your way to work, but the hidden gluten in those drinks can derail a strict program. Instant drinks, root beer, wine coolers and other convenience drinks of similar type tend to include gluten in their list of ingredients. While having these drinks is a fast way to satisfy some urges, they aren't usually very healthy, and many of these types of drinks also tend to have a high level of acidity or cause acidity in the gut. It's always better to have fresh versions when you can. Here is a list of other names for gluten as it appears on some ingredient labels.
Processed Meats
These types of ingredients usually find their way into many lists. Health professionals have been warning consumers about the dangers of processed foods for years, particularly with a close eye on the effects of processed meats. These kinds of foods are well known for their acidic nature and tend to be behind a lot of heartburn issues. These conditions are ripe for swelling and inflammation which can make itself worse over time, so it should be no surprise that many of these packaged, coagulated meat products also contain a plant protein that a portion of the population has difficulty digesting.
I hope you found this article helpful if you are on a journey to removing gluten from your diet. When you're first making any dietary or lifestyle change, it can feel overwhelming. I remember when I was first diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease and began removing gluten, it felt like my world was ending ;). But, now it's become second nature and I love the food I eat and the way I feel.
If you need further assistance in understanding how gluten impacts your autoimmune disease or if you feel you may be gluten intolerant and want to learn more, please contact me for a complimentary consultation. If this does not apply to you and this can help a friend or loved one, kindly pass it along.
To your health & happiness,
XOXO
Amy
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