Introduction
If you have celiac disease, a condition that causes the immune system to react poorly to gluten (a common protein found in wheat), you know how difficult it can be to manage your allergy. Gluten is everywhere! Even something as simple as putting your hair into a ponytail can expose you to dangerous amounts of gluten if your hair products contain gluten. This post will walk you through some tips and tricks for managing your allergy safely so that you can stay healthy and happy.
Educate yourself on food labels.
Food labels can be tricky. You may not even realize how much information is printed on them, and you may be wondering what it all means. Here’s a quick rundown of the different types of food labels and why they’re important to read:
- Nutritional facts are mandatory elements found on all packaged food products including canned goods, frozen foods, and processed meats (like hot dogs). They tell you about the general nutritional value of your product such as calories per serving size.
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- Ingredients lists are also required on most products sold in grocery stores—they list everything that goes into making your product from scratch (whether fresh or from a factory). If there’s an allergy risk associated with any ingredient listed here like peanuts or milk powder then that would also appear as part of this list too.
- Other information included on some food packages includes nutrition facts tables which list out specific nutrients like vitamins A&D for cereal boxes; calorie content for snack foods; fat content for frozen dinners; sodium content for soups; cholesterol levels if present within certain types of cheeses–and so on!
Know what foods have gluten and which don’t.
To manage your gluten allergy, you need to know what foods contain gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and oats. It can also be found in foods that don’t appear to contain any of these grains—some examples include:
- Processed meats like sausage and hot dogs (which may use flour as a binder)
- Salad dressings (may have wheat-based thickeners)
- Ice cream (might have added flavoring made from wheat)
Knowing the hidden sources of gluten will help you prepare for potential risks.
Look for gluten-free options at grocery stores and restaurants.
You can find gluten-free products at any grocery store or supermarket. Look for products that are labeled “gluten free,” “made in a dedicated gluten-free facility,” or “certified gluten-free.” These terms indicate that there’s less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten in the product.
Companies that use these certification marks are required to test their foods regularly, which is important because people with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity may react differently from each other and from one day to another.
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Some companies will also label their products as “made without gluten containing ingredients” instead of certified as gluten-free. If you want to be extra cautious about this, stick with foods labeled as such since they don’t contain wheat flour or barley malt—two common sources of hidden gluten in food—and have been tested to confirm they’re safe for someone with a sensitivity or allergy.
Double check your medications.
It’s important to double check whether your medications contain gluten, but you may also need to talk with your doctor about how to manage symptoms. If the drug isn’t right for you, ask if there is an alternative that doesn’t contain gluten.
For example:
- A person with celiac disease who suffers from chronic asthma might be prescribed a medication containing an ingredient derived from wheat and therefore contains gluten.
- If this is the case, they could ask their doctor if there are any alternative treatments available that don’t include this ingredient.
Use makeup, skincare and personal care products that are free of gluten.
When it comes to makeup, skincare and personal care products, you’re on your own. These products are not required to be labeled gluten free. The best way to find out if a product is safe for you is through the company’s website or by contacting them directly.
If you haven’t been able to reach a company (and they still haven’t responded), then keep looking elsewhere until you find one that has an answer for you.
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Replace ingredients with gluten free alternatives.
If you have a gluten allergy, it’s important to educate yourself on the ingredients that contain gluten. Gluten is a protein found in grains such as wheat, rye and barley. In addition to using these grains in their products, companies often use derivatives made from these grains as well.
If you’re unsure about the ingredients listed on an ingredient label, contact them directly for more information or call your local health department for help finding out if your item contains any traces of gluten.
For instance:
- Use gluten free flour instead of regular flour when baking cakes or cookies at home.
- Substitute regular oats with certified gluten free oats when preparing oatmeal or granola bars at home (make sure they are certified).
- Use rice pasta instead of traditional wheat pasta when making meals like spaghetti or macaroni and cheese at home (most rice pastas are made with cornstarch which makes them safe for those who cannot eat gluten-containing products).
It’s important to use a variety of strategies to manage your gluten allergy.
It’s important to use a variety of strategies to manage your gluten allergy. Gluten is in many foods, including pasta, bread and beer.
Truthfully, it’s shocking how many foods contain gluten. You should check the labels on everything you eat or drink to ensure that it doesn’t contain any hidden sources of gluten.
Gluten allergy can be serious health condition that causes digestive and overall gastrointestinal symptoms like stomach pain and diarrhea; respiratory issues like coughing and wheezing; skin issues such as rashes; headaches; chronic fatigue; behavioral changes like depression or irritability; neurologic problems like seizures – the list goes on!
Conclusion
When you’re managing a gluten allergy, it’s important to be vigilant about your food choices. Always read the label before you buy anything new and make sure that it doesn’t contain any traces of gluten. It’s also helpful to become familiar with the ingredients in common foods like breads, baked goods and cereals so that you know which ones are safe for those with this condition.
However, even if you take these precautions there may still be some risk involved when eating out at restaurants or ordering takeout meals from unknown places because they could have been prepared using shared equipment which could have come into contact with wheat products prior without anyone knowing about it beforehand due to lack of proper labeling requirements by government agencies.”