COPING WITH A WHEAT FILLED WORLD
Starting a gluten free lifestyle is an everyday learning experience, especially during the first couple of months of the transition. Here’s what you need to know when going to the supermarket. FOOD TO COMPLETELY AVOID Wheat (Einkorn, Durum, Faro, Graham, Kamut, Semolina, Spelt) Rye Barley Triticale FOODS THAT CAN CONTAIN GLUTEN Beers (Ales & Lager) Breading Brown Rice Syrup Crackers & Cookies Croutons Cereal Dressings Drugs Energy & Protein Bars Flour Herbal Supplements Marinades Pastas! Sauces Self-basting Poultry Soy Sauce Soup Bases Stuffings Thickeners Vitamins & Mineral Supplements Spotting gluten on a product’s label is not always easy, as gluten has different names. Always ensure that the ingredients do not include: Atta Barley Yeast Bulgur Durum Einkorn Emmer Farina Farro (dinkel) Fu Graham flour Hydrolized wheat protein Kamut Malt Matzo Modified wheat starch Oats Rye flour Seitan Semolina Spelt Triticale Wheat bran Wheat flour Wheat germ Wheat starch Whey This might look like a very long list, but these ingredients are mostly other names for wheat. The secret to a successful gluten free lifestyle relies in always reading food labels. Do not put anything in your mouth with suspicious ingredients. It would be less than smart to eat something with unavailable ingredients. You wouldn’t walk on a tightrope with your eyes closed, would you? If you have to call the manufacturer to verify the ingredients, do it. Otherwise, avoid it because you are hurting your small intestine every single time you ingest gluten, even if you cannot physically see the repercussions. Last but not least, you should know that wheat free is not the same as gluten free. Wheat free products tend to contain spelt, barley, and rye.