Gluten Free – the trend that everyone seems to be getting into these days! But for many people around the world, a gluten free lifestyle is essential to living a healthy, comfortable life. The biggest culprit of people having to go gluten free is Celiac (coeliac) Disease. With no cure, Celiac is an autoimmune disease where your body’s immune system reacts to the protein gluten (found in foods made with wheat, barley or rye) with varying symptoms. The main symptom is damage to the lining of your small intestine which helps to absorb the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from the things you eat. When consumed, the gluten proteins begin to damage the lining of your small intestine until you are unable to absorb nutrients from the foods you eat, leading to malnutrition. Other potential side effects of Celiac Disease are infertility, cancer, lactose intolerance and anemia (iron deficiency) if left untreated.

What’s worse is that there is no known precise cause of celiac/gluten intolerance. While it is widely accepted that the gene for Celiac Disease can be inherited, other possible factors can be gastrointestinal infections, pregnancy/childbirth, viral infections or even severe emotional distress. You are also more susceptible to becoming celiac/gluten-intolerant if you have: an autoimmune thyroid disease, Type 1 Diabetes, Turner or Down Syndrome, Microscopic Colitis or Addison’s Disease.

Below are some tips/tricks to help you follow a gluten free lifestyle:

• Avoid all foods containing wheat, barely or rye ingredients.

• If there are ingredients listed on foods that you are unsure of, it is best to do your research before consuming that product to determine if it is made with any gluten containing foods.

• Keep your cooking stations as clean as possible. If you live in a home with non-gluten free individuals and have a shared cooking space, designate certain items (such as a cutting board, frying pan, bowl…etc.) as “Gluten Free” and be sure to store them apart from the rest of the items. Cross contamination can occur, and it is best to be as safe as possible.

• Be sure to try and incorporate other carbs to your diet. Having to cut out bread/breaded items can severely decrease your daily carbohydrate intake. Be sure you are getting as much of your recommended daily carb intake with such gluten free foods as rice, potatoes and quinoa.

• Be wary of alcohol. Many adults enjoy drinking, but many alcoholic drinks can cause trouble for those following a gluten free diet. Beer, whiskeys and most brands of vodka are made with gluten containing ingredients and are best avoided. Drinks such as wines, ciders, most tequilas, rum, and vodka brands such as Tito’s or Smirnoff are safe to drink as they are made with non-gluten containing ingredients, such as corn. However, it is still best to do some research before consuming anything you are unfamiliar with.