Who is a Gluten Free Diet good for?
About one in a hundred people in the UK suffer from coeliac disease which is caused by an intolerance to gluten. After eating foods containing gluten, people with this condition will suffer symptoms including bloating, nausea, headaches and constipation Extreme cases can result in infertility, osteoporosis and gut cancer. That's why a gluten free diet is essential.
Coeliac disease is permanent so sufferers should aim to cut out gluten from their diet for life. Once they've stopped eating gluten, many people with coeliac disease will feel better within a few weeks but it may take up to two years for some people's gut to recover.
What are the drawbacks?
Gluten is found in a surprising number of foods so it can be hard to completely cut it out. But if you've got coeliac disease, it really is the best way to become and stay healthy.
What do you do?
You will need to cut out most processed food including bread, cakes, ready meals, pasta and some man-made meat products like sausages. If in doubt, check the label before you buy. The list of ingredients might include wheat, barley or rye - all things to look out for, or it might actually state gluten.
The good news is that in recent years hundreds of gluten-free foods have been created. It's now possible to buy gluten-free bread and pasta along with many other products. Most large supermarkets stock a gluten-free range and some foods are even available on prescription. Instead of regular flour, coeliacs can use other types of flour that don't contain gluten including potato flour, soya flour and buckwheat flour.
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