What are Glutens and how to start a Gluten-Free Lifestyle

It’s important to understand what glutens are and where to look for in order to establish a gluten-free lifestyle. As more people are diagnosed gluten intolerant more pre-made products will become available making choices much easier. I plan to write a number of post on the Gluten-Free lifestyle in the coming months. Below is a short list of items and ingredients you can eat. The Information is taken from Gluten Freedom by Alessio Fasano, MD. Founder and Director of the Center for Celiac Research at Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School.  Melinda

Gluten is found in common foods such as breads, cereals, baked goods, and pasta. Because it’s used in processed foods as an additive or preservative, gluten is also found in a wide variety of foods and nonfood items from prescription medications to Play-Doh. If you are the food shopper in the family, you must learn to read labels very carefully to comply with gluten-free diet.

Things you can eat on the Gluten-Free Diet

Gluten-Free Grains, Flours, Seeds and Starches

• Amaranth
• Arrowroot
• Buckwheat
• Cassava
• Corn
• Flaxseed
• Nut Flours
• Millet
• Montina
• Gluten-Free Oats
• Quinoa
• Rice
• Sago
• Sorghum
• Tapioca
• Teff
• Wild rice

Safe Ingredients List 

• Vinegar except malt vinegar 
• Distilled alcohol
• Carmel color
• Citric acid
• Spices
• Monosodium glutamate
• Maltodextrin
• Mono- and diglycerides
• Artificial flavor and color
• Natural flavor and color