| Everyone gets an achy gut once and awhile, but if | | | | jams, lintels, margarine, olives, peanuts, popcorn, |
| you get an achy or bloated stomach when eating | | | | potatoes, most seafood, sweet potatoes, |
| crackers, pasta, breads, bagels, beer, pizza, flour | | | | tomatoes, tofu, tea, vodka, whiskey and yogurt. |
| tortillas or anything else similar to these, then you | | | | This is not a complete list, but just touches upon |
| may be gluten intolerant. | | | | some ideas of what is gluten free. What makes |
| Gluten is a protein found in wheat that gives | | | | many of these bad is if they contain flouring, |
| dough its sticky and elastic qualities. It can also | | | | seasoning, stuffing or garnishes. Go online and |
| exist in barley and rye. Gluten acts as a poison in | | | | search for other gluten free foods and print out |
| the small intestine. The body reacts to this poison | | | | the list. You can also find a complete list of items |
| by generating and auto-immune response to the | | | | you should absolutely stay away from. Always |
| gluten. During this process, nutrient absorbing hairs | | | | read the labels! |
| called villi are damaged and your body can't | | | | Probably the biggest change for most is a change |
| absorb the nutrients properly. It is this | | | | in beer and alcohol. You don't have to give up |
| malabsorbation that can cause the different | | | | beer, wine, liquor and cocktails, but you have to |
| reactions in the body like bloating, diarrhea, | | | | pay attention to the contents. Traditionally, beer is |
| constipation, nausea, abdominal pain. | | | | made from barley, but there are beers made |
| There is even a more serious side to being gluten | | | | from rice, sorghum and buckwheat. You don't |
| intolerant. One percent of the population suffer | | | | have to go to a special store to pick these items |
| from a disease called Celiac disease. It is a | | | | up either. As an example, Corona is made from |
| genetic, autoimmune disease in which the body | | | | rice and is therefore gluten free. Most Budweiser |
| reacts to gluten proteins and severely damages | | | | beers are gluten reduced and some are gluten |
| the villi. There are many other diseases that have | | | | free. The more you search on the internet, the |
| the same symptoms so, ensure you are tested | | | | easier you will find it to take gluten out of your |
| before you decide to take corrective action. You | | | | diet. Just be careful with cocktails as some mixes |
| can still be gluten sensitive but not have Celiac | | | | may contain gluten, but your vodka won't! |
| disease. | | | | People can shy away from restaurants because |
| When we think of going gluten free, we should be | | | | of the fear of not knowing what is in the food, |
| thinking of wheat, barley, oats and rye and | | | | but most restaurants can be very |
| anything that can contain those base items. This | | | | accommodating if they are asked to. Sushi |
| includes breads to flour tortillas, frozen dinners to | | | | restaurants are a fantastic place as long as you |
| teriyaki sauce. Read the labels and recognize the | | | | don't use soy sauce. Mexican restaurants are also |
| sources of gluten. Even modified foods like | | | | a good place to go as long as you ask for corn |
| starches can come from wheat. The hardest | | | | tortillas. Steak and potato restaurants are also a |
| places to look are in your prescriptions and | | | | good place to go, just pass on the bread. Just |
| cosmetics. Ask your pharmacist for gluten free | | | | remember to ask that your salad comes with no |
| products. | | | | croutons! |
| Items that you should include in your gluten free | | | | Most people feel better when on a gluten reduced |
| diet are foods such as arrowroot cookies, apples, | | | | diet. If you think it that gluten is really causing you |
| beans, beef, berries, brown, jasmine and basmati | | | | a problem, see a doctor before you remove |
| rice, brown sugar, cashews, chickpeas, chicken, | | | | gluten from your diet. There are only some |
| citrus fruits, coconut, coffee, some corn products, | | | | limitations to the variety of food you can eat and |
| eggs, flaxseed, gin, vegetables, honey, jellies and | | | | drink, so have fun and feel better! |