Are you just starting on a new determination to stick to a gluten free diet? Well, take a big sigh of relief. At first, a gluten free diet can feel
like a very overwhelming and - deprivational! - undertaking. But, learning to eat gluten free in fact is a wonderful culinary adventure, along with
a major milestone in healing your body.
What is a gluten free diet?
Basically, a gluten free diet means you'll refrain from eating certain gluten containing grains and cereals. Of course the most obvious culprit is
wheat. But, besides the obvious wheat, you'll need to stay away from other gluten full grains such as spelt (which many people wrongfully think IS gluten
free), kamut, and barley. There is much debate over whether oats are considered truly gluten free or not, due to the fact that oats can so easily be
cross contaminated during production. (But don't worry - you can find gluten free oats, so you can play it safe and never worry again about whether
your beloved bowl of oatmeal can make you sick.)
These are just the basics of what types of food you'll need to avoid, since many foods you'd never expect to contain wheat actually do! (For instance, most
types of soy sauce contain wheat. Who knew, huh? But again, you can find gluten free varieties, so you can still stir fry to your heart's content.)
Ease into your gluten free diet by eating many naturally gluten free foods, instead of loading up on the very expensive packaged varieties. For instance,
quinoa is a naturally gluten free food that is a nutritional powerhouse! Many nutritionists claim that if you had to live on one food, quinoa would
be it. And of course, fruits and veggies and nuts are gluten free.
Check those Labels
Another good first step on a gluten free diet is to get into a strict habit of checking EVERY label you come across. If you're buying a product, carefully
read that label. If it states gluten free, then you're safe. If it doesn't, you'll need to carefully peruse the entire listing of ingredients to make sure
that treat won't make you sick.
A gluten free diet is a new way of looking at the way you eat. But, take heart -- it's not as intimidating and daunting as you might think. Start with
simple changes, find all the foods you love that are already gluten free (as in - they're made that way by nature) and enjoy getting to learn more about
your food in general. Happy eating!
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