What Is a Gluten Free Diet?

A gluten free diet is the treatment for celiac disease. It's a disease also known as gluten intolerance. The diet completely cuts out any foods or food products containing wheat, barley, rye, oats, or gluten by-products.

The ingestion of gluten damages the villi in the intestines and the intestinal lining in those with intolerance to gluten. Villi are the small protrusions in the lining of the small intestines that allow the body to absorb nutrients from food. When the villi are damaged, the body no longer absorbs nutrients. This results in bone and muscle loss, thyroid malfunction, autoimmune diseases, and malnutrition, among other health issues.

Features

Gluten is a mixture of plant proteins found in wheat, barley, rye, and oats. Wheat, barley and rye are made into flour. Any flour made from these grains contain the gluten proteins.

These proteins trap carbon dioxide and expand when heated. This is what gives breads and baked goods made with these grains their elasticity. Gluten also acts as an adhesive. it's what holds baked goods together and gives them their airiness.

When gluten is eliminated from the diet, no flours made from these grains can be used for baking. On a gluten free diet, any food containing flours made from the above mentioned grains have to be avoided. This includes such foods as cereal and cereal bars, energy bars, packaged cookies, crackers, pasta, and most store bought breads. It also includes certain additives such as mono sodium glutamate (MSG) and artificial colorings and flavorings.

Function

Those with celiac disease suffer adverse reactions when they ingest any foods containing gluten, such as skin rash, bloating, severe cramping, diarrhea, constipation, headaches, and vomiting.

Some with celiac disease suffer none of these symptoms. Instead they may have stunted growth, nutritional deficiencies or neurological problems. This is usually referred to as silent celiac disease.

There is no medication that relieves the symptoms or cures the intolerance. The only treatment is to eliminate all forms of gluten from the diet. The diet allows the villi in the damaged intestines to heal. It is the only treatment available. Celiac disease can only be treated, never cured. Because the condition cannot be cured, anyone with celiac disease must stay on a gluten free diet for life.

Identification

A gluten free diet focuses not only on eliminating gluten, but it also focuses on increasing intake of proteins and antioxidants. Leafy greens, vegetables, fruits and high protein foods such as eggs and lean red meat make up the bulk of a gluten free diet. Foods high in omega-3 fats are also necessary.

The gluten free diet doesn't mean the elimination of all flours. Only those derived from grains containing gluten must be eliminated. Rice flour, bean flour, tapioca, and potato flour can all be used. Amaranth and soy flour are also safe for consumption.

Considerations

Gluten free flours do not behave in the same way as wheat, rye or barley flours. Breads and baked goods made with gluten free flours do not rise as well and are denser and more crumbly than those made with gluten flours.

For breads and baked goods, a mix of flours is often necessary for preparation. Bette Hagman, author of "The Gluten Free Gourmet Bakes Bread," offers several different combinations of flours for use in her recipes. One example of this is the featherlight rice flour mix, made up of rice flour, tapioca flour, cornstarch, and potato flour.

Significance

One of the more difficult aspects of the gluten free diet is not the elimination of store bought baked goods, but the determining of which foods contain "hidden" gluten. Reading the label of any food product can aid the celiac in avoiding gluten, but some ingredients are not as transparent in their content.

Modified food starch, malto, malt dextrin, caramel coloring, MSG, glucose syrup and mustard powder are just a few of the additives and food enhancers that are made using wheat. Ingesting packaged foods with additives that use wheat in manufacturing means the celiac has ingested gluten, resulting in damage to the intestines and recurring symptoms.

Foods such as beer, ice cream, chocolate syrup or candy, packaged hamburger patties, and hot dogs all may contain ingredients made from gluten containing flours. Condiments such as ketchup, relish and soy sauce also may have hidden gluten.

How does the celiac sufferer tell which foods are safe? Contacting the manufacturer and inquiring as to the grain content of any questionable ingredient is the only way to be certain.

Effects

The majority of those suffering from celiac disease regain health once they are on a gluten free diet. Fortunately, the intestines and villi can heal, and the body begins to absorb nutrients in a normal and natural way.

The advantage of a gluten free diet as treatment is that those with celiac disease need not take synthesized medications with negative side effects or endure painful treatments. A healthy diet made up largely of fresh foods and baked goods made from gluten free flours allows the body to heal itself, but it is a lifetime commitment.