Gluten is a protein that can be found in grains, such as wheat, rye or barley. It can also be found in some meats, sweets, beer, dairy, malt coffee or even vinegar. A lot of people suffer from gluten intolerance. This condition is called celiac disease. The body doesn’t digest gluten and tries to get rid of it by all means.
The symptoms of celiac disease depend on the age of the person with that condition. There are also different types of gluten intolerance. One of them is a full-blown celiac disease, also called classic. It’s easy to recognise, as it causes stomach pains, flatulence, diarrhoea, loss of body mass, low height, growth problems in children, anaemia, depression and fatigue. It can also lead to some skin changes.
Another type of celiac disease is hid symptomatic, or one that doesn’t show characteristic symptoms. So when someone has unexplained iron deficiencies, anaemia, higher cholesterol levels, stomatitis, recurring miscarriages, fertility problems, bone and joint pains, depression, epilepsy, skin problems and constant fatigue, they should contact a specialist to rule this condition out. A third type of celiac disease is hidden, in this case blood tests will show the presence of, characteristic for this ailment, antibodies.
In case you are diagnosed with celiac disease, you should immediately resign from eating any products containing gluten. In stores, you can already find a lot of products that don’t contain gluten, and you can safely go on a gluten-free diet. There are special cook books, where we will find perfect recipes for people who are gluten intolerant. Healthy food offers a whole range of products that can replace the traditional food. Those products are marked with a crossed out ear of grain. Pure corn, rice, buckwheat, millet, amaranth and oats don’t contain gluten. Products from these grains are perfect to use in a gluten free diet.
You can also consume lentils, which can be made into a tasty soup. Other products that also don’t contain gluten, are all kinds of vegetables, fruits, legumes, for example all types of beans, herbs, honey, sugar, fish and soya gluten free sauces, homogeneous spices such as salt, pepper, garlic and onion. In a gluten free diet, you can prepare yummy cookies and desserts with an appropriate gluten free flour. You can eat non-processed meats, eggs, milk and yoghurts.
You can drink coffee, tea and fruit or vegetable juices that are freshly squeezed. A diet with this intolerance is therefore not that hard to maintain. Lately, there has even been some restaurants offering gluten free food, to help people in their existence.
Gluten free diet

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