A Gluten Free Diet

If you are trying to lose weight and need a gluten free diet, here are some tips. You may be on a gluten free diet because you have celiac disease, which can be quite serious if ignored. You also may be on a gluten free diet because you have an intolerance or allergy to wheat and other gluten products. In any case, it is still possible to lose weight and be on a gluten free diet.

What is Gluten?

Gluten is the protein in grains, and some of these proteins have amino acids that are not tolerable to people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. Celiac disease can be tested in the blood, and consultation with your doctor is essential.

What Foods have Gluten?

Most of the grains that come from grasses have gluten. These include Wheat (the greatest offender), Barley, Bulgur Wheat, (including wheat berry, wheat germ, etc), Spelt, Rye and Triticale. Some people include Oats on this list, and others do not. However, if you are just beginning your gluten free diet, it is best to leave oats out.Other grains include processed versions of the above, such as couscous, durum wheat, farina, graham flour, kamut, matzah, and .. Some more exotic foods include wheat gluten, or seitan, commonly found in Asian and vegetarian food as a meat substitute. Malt is often made from barley, and would not be good as well. Watch out for root beer. Soy Sauce and Teriyaki sauce often have wheat; read the label.

What Is Good to Eat on a Gluten Free Diet?

The primary grain for a gluten free diet is rice. However, if you are attempting to lose weight, you might want to do without rice for a while. If you do include rice, brown rice is probably better for you. A wonderful grain to include in your diet is Quinoa. It is easy to cook, has a lovely flavor, and also contains a good amount of protein, considering that it is a grain. Soy is good as are sunflower seeds. If you want bread, find breads that are made from rice flour. Again, bread is not the best for weight loss. You can include cereals from corn meal or rice. Fresh fruits and other fresh foods are best so that you know that there have been no unwanted additives. Use good oils for your cooking such as olive oil. If you are a baker, or looking for baked goods, there are many types of flours that work, such as potato flour, soy flour, chickpea flour, and others.

Gluten Free Snack Food

When you are on a diet to lose weight, snacks are important. Of course, vegetables such as carrots and celery are perfect for any diet, including a gluten free diet. Another good snack, even for gluten intolerance, is popcorn. If you are looking to lose weight, just skip the oils and butter, and season with salt and other flavorings.

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