Adapting to a Wheat-Free or Gluten-Free Diet

Adapting to a Wheat-Free or Gluten-Free Diet
by Sarah Patrick

Intolerance Is Serious

Celiac disease may sometimes manifest itself in a subtle manner. Thus it can be
challenging to fully appreciate how serious this disease can be in the long term. Many
people go years without diagnosing it because reactions aren't always immediate or
highly evident.

Whether you determine you're experiencing a wheat allergy or a gluten sensitivity, it
is important that you be proactive in adjusting your lifestyle and diet to an approach
that is gluten-free.

Allergic to Wheat or Intolerant to Gluten?

Before you change your diet or lifestyle, you need to determine if your body is
intolerant to gluten or if you're allergic to wheat. These are not one and the same. If
you don't recognize an immediate response to the food you ate but you have
persistent gastrointestinal distress, you are probably gluten intolerant. But if you
experience an immediate response and it is evident with elements like sneezing or
itchy, watery eyes, then you are probably allergic to wheat.

Once you determine that you suffer from being allergic to wheat but that you do not
have celiac disease, then you must avoid all foods with wheat as ingredient. You are
safe to eat foods labeled wheat-free.

But if you determine that you suffer from gluten intolerance or that you have celiac
disease, then you will also need to eliminate any and all foods containing gluten,
including rye, barley and spelt in additional to wheat.

Opportunity Not Limitation

At this point, don't despair. Not only is it easier than ever to find and enjoy foods free
of wheat or gluten, but you should see this change as an opportunity to eat healthy
and expand your food horizon. Sure there will be some sadness at losing some of
the old textures and flavors, but you will also enjoy greater health while exploring
interesting new variations of all your favorites.

So keep your chin up and understand that gluten and wheat are overused by the
modern diet of the western world. You now have the chance to enjoy and explore
greater health and greater variety as a result of your diagnosis. Enjoy your healthy,
flavorful new world.

About The Author

Sarah Patrick

Learn what you must understand about wheat allergies and gluten intolerance as well
as clever at Sarah Patrick's excellent and detailed
website:

Creating a new gluten-free lifestyle
won't be a walk in the park. One
shouldn't expect it to be when cutting
one of the most common food
proteins in our culture's diet. Yet
persist and you will reap the rewards.

It will likely be a challenge to adapt to
a wheat-free life. The modern menu
integrates a disproportionately large
amount of ingredients with gluten
than it should. However, you will find
that after some time and research,
you will be able to make it work.

Even When Subtle, Gluten

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The content on
this website is for educational purposes only. Please consult with your physician before using natural
remedies and before making any drastic changes to your diet or exercise program.