Celiac Disease Diet And Nutrition

Celiac disease is a digestive disorder where in the body is allergic to gluten found in wheat, rye and barley and damages the small intestines. Diarrhea is the most common symptom associated with this disease and leaches vital nutrients from the body depriving other organs of the required nutrition to function well. Timely detection of this disease is a must since even small amounts of gluten can cause substantial damage to the intestines and subsequently all other organs.

Gluten is typically associated with wheat rye and barley. However medicines, vitamins, processed foods and certain meats also contain gluten, which can aggravate intestinal damage unknowingly. It is very important that people suffering from this disease be aware of what they are consuming and are advised to steer away from edible food items whose ingredients they are not aware of.

The most effective way to combat this disease is eating a gluten free diet. Below is the list of foods that can be had and those that must be avoided.

Diet For Celiac Disease And Celiac Disease Foods To Avoid

Food Groups:

Grains, Cereals, Legumes & Flours

Allowed:
Arrowroot, corn, peas, carob, tapioca starch, organic brown rice, wild rice, enriched rice and their flours and noodles. Rice crispies, sugar pops, rice cakes.
Dried peas, beans, lentils, soy, tofu.
To Be Avoided:
Wheat and its types such as durum, buckwheat or graham, wheat germ, bulgur, rye, barley, millet and oats. Processed foods such as crackers, waffle, pancake, muffin and bread mixes, pastas made from refined flour and cereals containing the above grains.

Dairy

Allowed:
All types of milk including condensed milk and evaporated milk, yogurt, aged cheeses such as parmesan, cheddar, Swiss cheese.
To Be Avoided:
Malted drinks, processed milk drinks, cereal beverages such as Ovaltine. Processed cheeses and spreads.

Fruits & Vegetables

Allowed:
All fruits and vegetables, frozen or canned.
To Be Avoided:
Fruit and vegetable preparation which use thickeners and sauces, breaded vegetables, pies.

Meats

Allowed:
All meats, fish, shellfish & poultry.
To Be Avoided:
Breaded meats, cold cuts, sauces, pies, meats substitute containing fillers, meat preparation using gluten stabilizers ex: frankfurters

Fats

Allowed:
Butter, margarine, all oils (preferably not refined)
To Be Avoided:
Packaged mayonnaise, and salad dressings.

Beverages

Allowed:
Tea, Coffee (made by brewing grounded coffee beans), sodas, unfortified wines, cognac, rum.
To Be Avoided:
Instant coffee, root beer, alcoholic beverages made from cereal grains, malt drinks, fortified drinks.

Additionally all pickled food items, meat sauces, catsup, soy sauce, distilled white vinegar, pickles, and bouillon. Foods containing hydrolyzed vegetable protein and starches must be avoided as well, unless they are made from ingredients, which are fit for consumption as mentioned above.