Many of us have heard about the latest trend of eating a gluten-free diet. But before we consider making this drastic change, let’s first learn exactly what it is. Gluten is a very specific kind of protein that is usually found in wheat, barley, and rye rather than in the more traditional sources of protein like meat or eggs.
When we go “gluten-free”, we avoid eating these types of whole-grain foods. People who are allergic to gluten can find this type of diet particularly beneficial. Our Beverly Hills colonoscopy doctor has a few tips for going gluten-free.
How to spot gluten in the foods that we eat.
Reading the labels at the grocery store becomes even more essential if we want to maintain a gluten-free diet. Basic gluten foods people generally know to stay away from include barley, wheat, and rye. You should also steer clear of less obvious ingredients like “malt” (made from barley) or “hydrolyzed vegetable protein” (made from wheat). Another red flag is the ingredient “oats,” which is actually gluten-free, but can also increase the chances of bloating and abdominal pain.
Is bread completely off limits?
Since most bread contains wheat, rye, or barley, this means that you have to pay careful attention to the products that you place in our grocery carts. You have to avoid eating bagels, croissants, hotdog and hamburger buns, cakes, cookies, muffins, donuts, and even pizza. However, many grocery stores now carry gluten-free bread options where wheat products are replaced with flour made from potatoes or rice instead.
Be careful of breakfast cereals.
This means no more Cream of Wheat, Cheerios, or even Frosted Flakes which contains high levels of malt. Our Beverly Hills colonoscopy doctor suggests you reach for a box of puffed rice or corn cereals. Again, read the labels very carefully, looking for any sign of “malt” in the ingredient list. Most supermarkets have a special section for gluten-free products where customers can complete the majority of their shopping for these special foods.
About GI Doctor
Dr. Berookim is a double board-certified Beverly Hills colonoscopy doctor who has been serving patients for years. For more information, visit his main website here or follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
