Gluten is a protein that is found in wheat, rye and barley. In people suffering from celiac disease, it causes inflammation in the small intestines. Therefore, they need to switch to a gluten-free diet to control the signs and symptoms caused by gluten.

Gluten is found in a large variety food items and drinks that you consume every day. It is therefore very difficult to isolate those items that contain gluten unless you know what to look for. If you are just beginning on a gluten-free diet, you could find the process quite frustrating. But as time goes by, you will gain experience and become familiar with what foods to avoid.

There are many alternatives to foods that contain gluten. Manufacturers of processed foods also come up with gluten-free versions. Therefore, you need not miss much in the variety of foods that you eat. You just need to be careful that you don’t accidentally consume food that contains gluten. In case you do, you might have symptoms like abdominal pain or diarrhea. In some people with celiac disease, the symptoms do not manifest outwardly even when they eat foods containing gluten. However, their small intestines could still undergo damage as a result of gluten ingestion.

For a strict gluten-free diet, you need to avoid food items containing barley, wheat, rye, graham flour, semolina, bulgur, farina, durham, triticale, kamut, Matzo meal and spelt, which is a form of wheat.

Other processed foods that can contain gluten are breads, beers, cookies, cereals, cakes, pies, candies, pastas, crackers, oats, croutons, salad dressings, gravies, soups, processed luncheon meats, sauces (even soy sauce), self-basting poultry and imitation meats or seafood. You need to avoid all these foods unless they are labeled “gluten-free”. Some of these foods may be made with rice, soy, corn or any other grain that is free of gluten. You may consume these foods when the label clearly indicates so.

Another factor that you need to be aware of is that various food items can be processed in the same food processing plant or factory. If gluten-free foods are made in a place where other food products containing gluten are also made, there can be cross contamination. So you need to check the label to see if the facility is free of wheat and other gluten related products.

You should also be careful about other non-edible products that come in contact with your mouth like lipsticks, lip balms, and certain toothpastes which may contain gluten.

However, you can consume foods that are gluten-free like fish, fresh meats and poultry which are not marinated, batter-coated or breaded, fruits, vegetables, most dairy products, rice, potatoes, wine, ciders and spirits.

You can contact many celiac support groups online and offline to find gluten-free products and substitutes that are becoming available to celiac sufferers.

Common Foods Containing Gluten

For some people, having the knowledge about common foods containing gluten is extremely important. This is because gluten is a product that does not appeal to some people that have allergies to wheat and some other problems. Basically, gluten is a protein composite that is found in foods processed from wheat and its variants. Gluten is responsible for giving the right elasticity to dough, and it is also important for giving it a rise and proper shape. Gluten gives the chewy texture to the products and this is why it is considered to be an active ingredient in wheat based products. However, gluten might not go well with some people and you would find that people having allergies to wheat, celiac disease and gluten intolerance should not take foods containing gluten.

Gluten Containing Foods

As per the information given above, you might be thinking that gluten is present only in those foods that have been processed from wheat, rye, barley etc. However, you would find that there are some popular foods which contain gluten, and are not that easy to spot. Here is a list of some common foods containing gluten, mainly to assist you in keeping away from gluten. The most common way through which gluten enters your body is through the different types of breads that you tend to have. Bread rolls, pie crusts, biscuits etc. are some popular foods containing gluten that would create a problem for your body. Even though pastries and cakes might look harmless to you, you would find that these are gluten containing foods as wheat products have been used in making the base of these products. Pasta is another surprising food that contains gluten, and tends to be harmful for people looking for gluten free foods.

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Harmful Foods with Gluten

The harmful foods with gluten can be troublesome for people who are looking to avoid foods containing gluten. Basically, gluten is a substance that can lead to problems in people having allergies to this substance. People who suffer from wheat allergies, celiac disease and gluten intolerance should not go for foods containing gluten. An intake of gluten in their diet would make them susceptible to different kind of problems arising from such allergies. In order to ensure that you do not suffer from such problems, you would have to make a list of gluten free foods that would keep you safe from such problems.

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