It can be very hard for the newly-diagnosed celiac patient-having to make a somewhat dramatic change in your diet. Because you cannot consume anything with gluten-containing grains-wheat, barley and rye, of course, you might think that living on this diet will always be stressful and completely unsatisfying from a convenience and taste standpoint.
The Celiac disease, because glutens are insoluble and indigestible, is a disease afflicting millions of people. Barley, wheat, and rye can be very harmful to anyone with the disease, as well as a large number of products that are derived from the former. Typical symptoms are irritable or inflamed bowels; chronic weakness; mental/behavior problems; very dry skin; bone density loss and a prolonged, increased appetite. While that is not an exhaustive list, it contains most of the more-common symptoms.
Many people are even unaware that they have Celiac for many years, and they-unknowingly-continue to dump toxic proteins into their small intestine. With enough time, it becomes more and more inflamed and can lead to a significant loss in the quality of their lives-not to mention a host of complications that commonly arise from it.
The rule of thumb is to stay away from highly-processed, highly-unnatural foods and go towards things like gluten free flour and other organic foods. For obvious reasons, don’t even let “fast food” enter your mind-as that can be a one-way ticket to a very unpleasant life, to put it mildly. Think of it like this: you not only improve your chances of your intestines becoming inflamed, you also get to lose weight (if you happen to be overweight, that is).
Gluten free flour is one of the most important things to consider whilst cooking. Never use any flour that contains barley or rye; instead, things like gluten free flour, potato and/or corn starch, organic fruits and vegetables, and fresh meat (given that it’s not marinated, breaded or coated in batter). Even wine and liquor is usually acceptable (beer is not, because it is not distilled).
It’s very important to note that substituting wheat-based flour with a gluten free flour alternative is going to affect the taste of what you are probably accustomed to. Therefore, when using gluten free flour, you it’s a great idea to know a few tips to spice-up what will otherwise be rather tasteless, bland flour.
It’s also worth mentioning that you have to keep your nutrient-intake up. Since legacy wheat-based products are often enriched with many vitamins, if you are on a gluten-free diet-you may not be compensating enough for the lack of those nutrients. A few of them include niacin, foliate, iron and B12; and can be easily-obtained through the rights foods or a multi-vitamin supplement pill.
Here’s a good recipe for rising-flour that you can even make right in your kitchen. Gather a half-teaspoon cream of tartar, a half-teaspoon of bicarbonate soft drink, two tablespoons potato flour + the difference left of a cup of rice flour (1 cup rice flour MINUS the 2 tablespoons potato flour it takes to fill it to the top), and finally-a teaspoon xanthan gum. As far as meats are concerned, you’re covered! Pot roast, Peppercorn-flavored beef (that’s 100% fresh, with all meat products), fresh turkey, fresh-unflavored pork and lightly-seasoned steak that has no marinades are usually good. Stay away from any breaded or fried foods though, stay far away.
There is a lot of hope for those suffering from Celiac disease. New procedures are being adopted, like capsule endoscopy (for early diagnosis), and the NIDDKD organization is constantly researching and learning more about the disease to help people live a better life. There are also prescription drugs that are in the testing-phase, and promising studies of detoxifying enzymes before glutens even come in contact with the small intestine.
Marisca DeJolie is a normal housewife and mother who decided years ago to become a food expert for the sake of her health and that of her family. She has recently found The Gluten Free Family site and it excited about all the health benefits that a gluten free diet can have and invites you to learn more as well.
