JEN’S QUICK N’ EASY Q N’ A GLUTEN FREE GUIDE

WHAT IS A GLUTEN-FREE DIET?

Celiac disease sufferers must maintain a gluten-free diet in order for the small intestine to repair itself.What does this mean? All food items containing wheat, rye, barley or any of their derivatives must be eliminated and only gluten-free products consumed.

Wheat

Rye

Barley

WHAT PRODUCTS CONTAIN GLUTEN?

The most popular products that must be avoided on a gluten-free diet are the following:

cereals	Breads	Breads
Cakes	Cookes	Crackers

ARE THERE OTHER PRODUCTS I SHOULD BE CAREFUL OF?

Absolutely. A gluten-free diet means avoiding the obvious products listed above. But, beware, foods often contain fillers which are made from products containing gluten. Unless a company has listed the product you are purchasing as one of their gluten-free products, the only way to be sure is to read the product label carefully.

Below is a beginner’s list of products that may not be gluten-free:

Ketchup	Mustard	Canned Soup
Candy Bars	Store-bought Salad Dressing	Instant Coffee
Processed Meats	Beer	Yogurt-Ice Cream

HOW CAN I TELL THAT I AM PURCHASHING A GLUTEN-FREE PRODUCT?

There are a number of ways to check out the content for gluten-free products:

1. Read your label carefully to see if it contains any wheat, rye, barley or their derivatives.

   WARNING:Manufacturers change their ingredients all the time. Don’t rely on what you read in the past. For your safety, each time you make a purchase, check the ingredients to ensure that you are keeping to your gluten-free diet.

2. Contact the manufacturer to see if his product contains gluten. The address and phone number can usually be found on the label.
3. Consult your dietician or look up a celiac disease organization for lists of gluten-free products.

Check out (or put a link of our own listing all this) the sites below for:

A very comprehensive list of safe and unsafe products:

http://www.childrenshospital.org/clinicalservices/Site2166/mainpageS2166P12sublevel50Flevel70.html

A very comprehensive list of safe and unsafe grains and flours:

http://www.childrenshospital.org/clinicalservices/Site2166/mainpageS2166P12sublevel50Flevel39.html

A very comprehensive list of safe and unsafe additives and ingredients:

http://www.childrenshospital.org/clinicalservices/Site2166/mainpageS2166P12sublevel50Flevel30.html

WHAT CAN I EAT?

A partial list of gluten-free products can be found listed below:

Fish	Fresh Meets	Chicken & Other Poultry	Fruits
Vegetables	Corns	Rice	Potatos
Soybeans	Wines	Whiskey & Brandy

ARE ALL GLUTEN INTOLERANT PEOPLE THE SAME?

No. Some patients are more sensitive than others. Some patients cannot tolerate lactose (found in milk products) while others cannot tolerate oats or peanuts.