subject: Gluten Free Diet: Hidden Dangers You Don't Always Suspect [print this page] Learning to adjust to a gluten free diet predominantly means one new thing, how to read and safely understand the ingredient label on all pre-packaged food products. Without this knowledge you may as well be a fish out of water.Every time you open your mouth and insert any food, you are greatly increasing the odds of damaging your health.
Some ingredient labels easily identify products which do contain gluten. These do state barley flour, wheat flour or wheat starch etc.. Or even easier is when the label states "this product contains gluten and dairy ingredients."
But many times, deciphering the ingredient label can be more difficult. Below is a list of items and some ingredients which many people do not realize are red flags because of them being a source of gluten. Avoid these at all times unless you have contacted the manufactured to verify its source of ingredients.
Rice or soy beverages do contain barley enzymes which are added during the production process
Avoid any store selling bulk flours, grains and seeds. Often these scoops get switched around which results in cross-contamination.
Wine, rum and tequila should be considered safe alcohols. Yet many people do state they have a reaction to these items after drinking them. Double-check with the manufacturer to verify their products safety plus the cleanliness of the equipment it is manufactured on. Cross-contamination is probably the culprit here from the machinery.
Tread slowly on man-made artificial sweeteners in the beginning. Many times these companies will change the source of their inactive ingredients and yet the manufacturer is not responsible for checking or changing its ingredient label.
Soaps, shampoos and hand and body lotions often contain gluten. Although you do not ingest these products, if you use your hands to wipe your face, lick your fingers etc. you can accidentally ingest this.
Check carefully with any kind of condiments such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, soy sauce, bouillons, ground spices, gravy mixes and all boxed dried soup mixes. Almost every one of these do contain gluten.
Any deep fryer which is used at home, out dining, fairs and carnivals etc. almost always share their deep fryer with multiple items for cooking. This often leads to contaminated oil.
A contaminated grill for cooking is the same problem. Cleaning can easily be done but often this is not done until the end of a day. Therefore contaminated products share the same grill every day.
Medications, both over-the-counter and prescription drugs do contain gluten as one of the inactive ingredients. Get in the habit of working with a pharmacist that knows your limitations and is capable of compounding their own mixture of ingredients. Check and be sure all of your records are marked and you must mention it every time you get another prescription filled. Ask for the pharmacist's guidance also whenever purchasing over-the-counter medications.
Because adhering to a gluten free diet can be difficult after first diagnosis since gluten often hides in very many unsuspecting places, question everything at first until you become a little more knowledgeable and comfortable with your new diet.
Gluten Free Diet: Hidden Dangers You Don't Always Suspect
By: Kathi Robinson
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