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Gluten is the protein found in wheat. Similar proteins which are toxic to coeliacs are present in rye, barley and oats. Therefore, wheat, rye, barley and oats are all excluded in a gluten-free diet. What is naturally gluten-free?Many foods are naturally gluten-free, for example, all fresh meat, fish, cheese, eggs, milk, fruit and vegetables. However, once such foods are processed or used as ingredients in other foods, great care must be taken to ensure that wheat or other gluten-containing cereals have not been added in the manufacture. Corn (maize) is gluten free so sauces and gravies thickened with corn flour will be gluten free provided the sauce or gravy contains no other gluten containing ingredients Other flours that are gluten free are gram flour (from chickpeas), rice flour, cassava and buckwheat flour. Obvious sources of gluten in the diet.Wheat is usually made into flour and any food such as bread, biscuits, crackers, cakes, pasta, pastries, puddings and pies made from flour will contain gluten. Bulgar wheat and couscous also contain gluten. Hidden sources of gluten.This is possibly the most difficult part of the diet to understand. Gluten is contained in manufactured and processed foods where wheat flour is commonly used as a processing aid, a binder, a filler or as a carrier for flavorings and spices. Contamination with wheat or wheat flour can also occur during cereal production, storage, processing or manufacture. |
