Selasa, 22 November 2011

A Brief Guide to Switching to the Gluten-Free Diet

Gluten is an ingredient that can be found in a lot of foods around the world, such as wheat, rye, certain malts and barley. While some people have no problem with gluten, it can be an issue for other people, particularly those that have an allergy to it, or people that suffer from a condition known as celiac disease, which is an autoimmune disorder where the sufferer reacts to gluten rather badly, and even a small serving of it can lead to sickness, diarrhoea and fatigue. These symptoms can least a very long time, so it's understandable that any person suffering from this disease will want to remove gluten from their diet completely.
So, whatever an individuals reason to want to remove gluten from their diet, they can find that initially, it can be a difficult thing to do, as a lot of the foods that we typically eat have high levels of gluten in them. However, in recent years, the gluten-free movement have come along leaps and bounds, as illnesses and conditions such as celiac disease have become more well known across the globe thanks in part to more awareness of the condition and better diagnosis of the illness.
While a lot of celiac and allergy sufferers can get special gluten-free foods, such as bread, pasta and even pizza bases from their doctor on prescription, a number of smaller, independent shops and even some of the big name supermarkets have started stocking a number of products aimed at the gluten free market, including staple ingredients, such as gluten-free flour. In the larger supermarkets, the gluten-free items can usually be found in the 'free from' or 'special diet' section, which along with gluten-free products, also houses products such as rice milk, soya products and even almond milk.
While it can be fairly simple to change cooking at home to cooking for a gluten free diet, eating at restaurants, bars and cafés can still be a little different for someone with an allergy or an intolerance of gluten. The general rule of thumb is to research where you're going first, and see if they have any special gluten free options, or even, if the specialise in catering with someone who can't eat gluten, as a number of these establishments have started popping up all over the country.
When it comes to snacking, it can be very tempting to buy something and eat on the go, but for someone that can't tolerate gluten, this doesn't leave many options open for them, and while some products are gluten-free, they can be very difficult to find. So, try to get into the habit of always carrying certain gluten-free snacks around with you wherever you go, and leaving them in the car, or in your bag, or even at your desk at work, so that if you get a little hungry, you can eat something that you know that your body will be able to tolerate.
While these suggestions are meant to be a starting point for anyone starting the diet, the can be easily tailored to suit you and your needs and because everyone is different, you will be able to find some things, such as gluten-free snacks that could suit your new diet and lifestyle perfectly.
Harvey McEwan writes to offer information and advice on a variety of areas, from technology to holiday destinations. Read through Harvey's other articles here to find out more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6701988

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