Gluten Free Diet-Simple Tips for a Gluten Free Lifestyle

Celiac disease affects more than two million people in the United States, according to the National Digestive Diseases information clearinghouse. It is a malabsorption disorder, as well as an abnormal immune reaction to gluten. Symptoms of Celiac disease, otherwise known as Celiac sprue, can range from mild to severe, causing pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting or weight loss. The people affected have a common bond-they must adhere to gluten free diets, or suffer the health risks and adverse symptoms of their disease.

It's commonly thought that those with Celiac disease cannot enjoy breads, pastas, and other foods they love, however by choosing to alter recipes, purchase gluten free bread and pasta, and avoidance of certain condiments, a person with Celiac disease can enjoy a relatively normal existence. If you, or a friend have been diagnosed and must maintain a gluten free diet, there is some good news. Not everything contains gluten, and there are still numerous foods you can enjoy.

Fresh fruits and vegetables, unprocessed meats, beef, chicken, fish, dairy products, and unprocessed frozen meats, fruits and vegetables contain no gluten. When eating out, keep in mind that marinades and sauces may contain gluten, so you should be vigilant in asking for your meal to be prepared without them. Most restaurants will accommodate individuals with special dietary needs, and adhering to your diet might not cause you too much stress, as long as you get what you actually like once in a while--like the beloved pizza!

While you will have unique challenges when choosing menu items while out with friends and family, the most missed items for many people are bread, pasta, and pizza. Why not have a pizza party at your house instead? Cheese and sausage and your other favorite ingredients will top your Gluten free pizza crust, sure to be loved by all! You can also find other great recipes for a variety of gluten free breads, pastas and sauces at RecipeZaar.com.

With these recipes, baking ahead on a weekend and freezing for future use shouldn't be a problem. Many people actually have several weeks worth of breads and baked goods frozen, and complete meals stored for lunches at work, even those who don't have dietary restrictions. If you don't want to cook, and money is no object-you can order breads, pastas, and desserts on line at GlutenFree.com and your groceries will be delivered to your home! This might be an easier alternative to those who don't like the inconvenience of having to cook and prepare special foods.

There are also websites to help you choose gluten free products from your regular grocery store. Gluten free diet awareness has changed labeling, and many grocery stores have limited gluten free products on their shelves. The Gluten Free Kitchen has a list of different products from a variety of stores that are gluten free, including some frozen dinners and packaged foods. Reading labels is imperative-many packaged foods have changes in ingredients that can affect your diet, just because the label indicated there wasn't gluten in your product last month, you cannot be assured that the ingredients have changed. Gluten free living has some very good information on label reading and what to look for in your packaged foods.

Individuals on a Gluten free diet face another social challenge: Can I still have a cocktail with friends? Sure! Most wine made from grape, corn mash whiskey and potato vodka are considered safe for those with Celiac disease, and of course they do make beer without gluten, however it's a special order and isn't available everywhere, so you may wish to be safe when out with friends by having a simple glass of red or white wine. You can also choose to do without any alcohol-to some people it really doesn't matter.

Living with Celiac Disease and maintaining a gluten free diet shouldn't be difficult, just different. Use this information as a guide to find the resources you need to live a simple, gluten free life.