Foods for Celiac Diet

Glutens are proteins found in grains, including barley, rye and wheat, that are used as ingredients in a wide array of popular food products, ranging from breads and cereals to pizza and pasta. Most people can eat these foods with no ill effects, but for a person with Celiac disease, the body undergoes a strong reaction when it detects the presence of gluten. It's important suffers of Celiac disease avoid gluten in any form---food or otherwise---to prevent serious damage to the small intestine.

Mechanisms of the Disease

• The consumption of gluten-containing foods can set off an unwelcome immune system reaction for those with Celiac disease, also known as celiac sprue and gluten-sensitive enteropathy. Symptoms can be relatively mild, limited to gastrointestinal upset, or quite severe, spreading beyond the gastrointestinal tract to include extreme irritability and depression. This allergic-type reaction to gluten is genetic in nature, meaning a person is more likely to have this adverse reaction to gluten if other members of the family have it. For reasons not completely understood, the immune system launches an attack on the villi that line the small intestine. These microscopic hair-like projections play an important role in absorbing nutrients from the foods passing through the small intestine. To protect the villi and avoid nutritional deficits, gluten must be eliminated from the diet.

Gluten-Free Products

• If you can't imagine a life without bread, take heart. According to the Celiac Sprue Association, there are gluten-free breads made with flour produced from brown or white rice or from starches, such as potato, tapioca and arrowroot. There's even a gluten-free beer on the market. However, be forewarned that many additives in processed foods do contain gluten, making such products forbidden. Although both corn and rice contain a gluten-like substance, it does not trigger the allergic reactions characteristic of Celiac disease, so they're safe to eat providing they're not mixed with additives containing gluten.

Safe Foods

• The following foods can be safely eaten: flours, breads and bread products that are derived in their entirety from allowable grains, such as rice and corn, or starches; hot and cold cereals made entirely from allowable grains; potatoes; rice noodles; pastas made from allowable grains; potato chips; corn chips, tortillas and tacos. According to Children's Hospital Boston, other safe foods include crackers made from allowable grains, milk, aged cheeses, plain yogurt, beef, pork, poultry, eggs, tuna, plain nuts and legumes. When it comes to fruits and vegetables, stick to the fresh variety. If you must buy canned or frozen, check labels to ensure there are no gluten-containing additives. Consume most fats and oils, including butter; vegetable, olive and canola oils; and shortening. Check processed fats and oils such as mayonnaise and salad dressings, for possible gluten-containing additives. Allowable beverages include tea, coffee, pure fruit juices, cider and alcoholic beverages that are not derived from grain products.