Buzz
Gluten intolerance (related to Celiac disease) is an immune response to a protein found in wheat and other grains. The condition can cause various symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, rashes, and joint pain after consuming gluten-containing foods. Many patients find that eliminating gluten from their diet helps alleviate symptoms. While there is no cure for gluten intolerance, avoiding gluten-containing foods and receiving proper diagnosis and treatment can reduce discomfort and other conditions caused by gluten intolerance.
Steps
Seek Medical Treatment
Visit a doctor. If you experience discomfort after eating gluten-containing foods, you should see a doctor. The doctor will conduct tests to determine if you have Celiac disease or another condition that may worsen your symptoms. They will then recommend a treatment plan to help manage your symptoms. Remember, gluten intolerance cannot be cured but can only be managed.
- The doctor may perform tests such as blood tests, endoscopy, or capsule endoscopy to confirm whether you have Celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
- The doctor may also test for other health issues related to Celiac disease or gluten intolerance, such as anxiety, depression, migraines, thyroid disease, intestinal cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, dermatitis herpetiformis, neuropathy, and arthritis.
Confirm diagnosis and treatment. After undergoing tests, you will receive a diagnosis from your doctor. Based on the results, the doctor will recommend the best treatment plan for you.
- The doctor will determine if you have Celiac disease or gluten intolerance. If so, avoiding gluten is the most effective treatment.
- The doctor may prescribe additional medications or vitamin supplements to help alleviate other symptoms of Celiac disease and gluten intolerance.
Take supplements and medications. Many individuals with gluten intolerance may experience nutritional deficiencies, intestinal inflammation, or even skin blisters. Taking nutritional supplements and medications can help manage the external symptoms of gluten intolerance and Celiac disease.
- A gluten-free diet is crucial for managing gluten intolerance.
- You may need supplements such as calcium, folate, iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D, vitamin K, and zinc.
- The doctor may prescribe steroids to control intestinal inflammation.
- If you have dermatitis herpetiformis, which causes itchy rashes and blisters, the doctor may prescribe Dapsone to reduce the rash.
Consult a nutritionist. If you find it challenging to adhere to a gluten-free diet, consider consulting a nutritionist. They can help you identify gluten-containing foods, make better food choices, and create a gluten-free meal plan.
- A nutritionist specializing in gluten intolerance can provide comprehensive information about gluten-free foods, hidden sources of gluten, and alternatives when dining out.
- You can ask your doctor for a referral to a reputable nutritionist, search online, or join support groups for individuals with gluten intolerance.
Eliminate Gluten from Your Diet
Remove gluten-containing foods from your kitchen. Gluten-containing foods trigger gluten intolerance, so it’s essential to eliminate them from your diet. This will help reduce symptoms and prevent accidentally consuming foods that may worsen your condition. Common gluten-containing foods include:
- Barley, including malt and malt vinegar
- Rye
- Triticale, a hybrid of wheat and rye
- Wheat and wheat flour, such as semolina, durum, spelt, Graham flour, Kamut, and refined flour.
Identify gluten-containing foods. Since wheat and wheat flour are common in many diets, you’ll need to identify foods that contain wheat flour and/or gluten. You may also need to avoid some of your favorite dishes to manage gluten intolerance. Common gluten-containing foods include:
- Beer
- Bread
- Cakes
- Cereals
- Pastries (made from wheat flour)
- Croutons
- Fried foods
- Gravies, sauces, salad dressings, and condiments
- Imitation meats and seafood
- Pasta
- Processed foods
- Soy sauce
- Snacks with additives
- Soups
- If unsure, it’s best to avoid these foods. You can search online for a list of gluten-containing foods to eliminate from your diet.
Purchase gluten-free foods. When managing gluten intolerance and eliminating many foods from your diet, you can enjoy gluten-free alternatives. Avoiding gluten-containing products helps prevent accidentally consuming foods that may trigger symptoms.
- If others in your household still consume gluten, keep your food separate to avoid cross-contamination.
- You can freely enjoy naturally gluten-free foods like beans, nuts, fresh eggs, unprocessed meats, fish, poultry, fruits, vegetables, and most dairy products.
- Most grocery stores offer a variety of gluten-free products, but some may still contain gluten. Ask store staff if they have a dedicated gluten-free section that meets your needs.
Most grocery stores sell a variety of gluten-free foods, but some may still contain gluten. Therefore, ask store staff if they have a dedicated gluten-free section that suits your needs.
- Some naturally gluten-free foods you can include in your diet are amaranth, arrowroot, buckwheat, corn and cornmeal, flax, gluten-free flour, millet, quinoa, rice, soy, tapioca, and teff.
- Common terms on food labels indicating gluten include hydrolyzed vegetable protein, vegetable protein, MSG, malt, malt flavoring, modified food starch, wheat flour, cereals, soy sauce, and thickeners.
- Avoid processed foods or those not explicitly labeled “gluten-free,” including condiments.
- Always double-check food when dining out, eating at someone else’s home, or trying a new dish.
Plan meals as often as possible. Preparing your own food is the safest way to ensure you avoid gluten. Meal planning helps you steer clear of gluten-containing foods, prevents abdominal discomfort, and ensures proper nutrition.
- Plan meals for each day of the week, especially for meals eaten outside the home, like lunch or dinner. In such cases, pack your own food or carefully review restaurant menus for gluten-free options.
- For example, at the start of the week, you might have a vegetable omelet with cheese, gluten-free toast with butter, and fruit. For lunch, enjoy a salmon salad with olive oil and vinegar dressing. For dinner, try beef with broccoli and baked potatoes.
Order carefully when dining out. It can be challenging to order gluten-free meals at restaurants. Many restaurants use ingredients with hidden gluten, increasing the risk of cross-contamination. Always ask detailed questions about the menu and avoid dishes with gluten-containing ingredients to prevent accidental consumption.
- Many restaurants clearly mark gluten-free options on their menus. If not, ask the staff or chef about potential hidden gluten in dishes.
- Research online or ask for recommendations for restaurants with reliable gluten-free options.
- Dishes to avoid when dining out include croutons, dumplings, fried onions, crispy noodles in salads, soups with wheat or barley, dishes marinated in soy or teriyaki sauce, breaded and fried foods, shared frying oil, mashed potatoes, and bread.
- Safe options include steamed vegetables, roasted meats, fruit desserts, or ice cream.
- Always have a backup plan in case the restaurant doesn’t offer gluten-free options.
Avoid gluten cross-contamination. Exposure to gluten through cross-contaminated foods is common. Avoiding such situations helps reduce symptoms and improves treatment outcomes.
- When dining out, ask if gluten-free and gluten-containing foods are prepared on the same surfaces. If you’re highly sensitive to gluten, it’s best to avoid such restaurants.
- Cross-contamination can also occur at home. Use separate cutting boards and prepare food in different areas to prevent contamination.
- Avoid sharing kitchen appliances like toasters, bread makers, or pans.
Tips
- Gluten intolerance shares symptoms with gluten sensitivity. However, gluten sensitivity does not trigger an immune response or cause intestinal damage.
Warnings
- Consult a doctor immediately if symptoms persist or worsen even after eliminating gluten from your diet.
