The modern diet may seem so complex because there are so many varieties and kinds of foods to choose from. Although the first world countries are into the fast food culture, there are people that are being more conscious about their health and are going organic. For example, in the United States, when they shifted from natural foods to processed foods in the late 60s and early 70s the rate of obesity, cancer, diabetes and other food related disease has risen. At present. Although going organic is a bit expensive, many Americans are shifting to the healthier option buying and eating organic foods. Organic foods have many proven benefits, but it also has some side effects. One side effect may be celiac disease.

What Is Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease is an immune reaction to ingesting or eating gluten, a type of protein that are found in wheat, barley and rye. People suffering from celiac disease will trigger an immune response in the small intestine whenever they eat foods that contain gluten. Over time, this process will result to inflammation that can damage the small intestine’s lining  that will prevent it from absorbing the essential nutrients needed by the body. The damage to the intestine will cause bloating, weight loss and in some cases, diarrhea. Because of these, the brain, bones, liver, the nervous system will be deprived of proper nourishment. As of now there is no cure  for the disease, but following a healthy and gluten-free diet can help in improving and managing the symptoms  plus enhances the healing of the intestines. Statistics show that there is an estimated that 1 in 133 (about 3 million) Americans are suffering from celiac disease and most of them are not diagnosed. According to Melissa McLean, a master nutritionist therapist and yoga instructor, people  with gluten sensitivity don’t have the long-term and ongoing damage to the small intestine as compared to people with celiac disease.  The symptoms will go away once they removed gluten from their diet.

Gluten intolerance is also linked to many ailments such as thyroid problems, seizures, swelling, low immune system, intestinal problems, adrenal exhaustion, depression, anxiety and schizophrenia. Most people who adhere to the gluten-free diet either a personal preference or out of necessity may not be difficult. The modern food industry is exploding with gluten-free food items as compared to a few years ago.

What Is A Gluten-Free Diet?

 A gluten-free diet or GF diet is a diet that excludes food containing high levels of gluten. A GF diet at present, is the only diet that is medically accepted treatment for gluten intolerance and celiac disease. A person who is gluten intolerant may also be wheat intolerant and can suffer from  dermatitis herpetiformis. This diet may also include oats, although some medical practitioners are divided whether oats are acceptable to people suffering from celiac disease or whether they become cross-contaminated in the milling process by other gluten containing grains. There is also a possibility that oats may be contaminated when produced in rotation with wheat seeds from a previous harvest. Experts have not found the exact gluten level that is harmless to people with celiac disease. As of 2008 a study was made and found that consuming less than 10 milligrams of gluten daily may not cause abnormalities, although a few studies have been proved that otherwise.

Going For A Healthy And Gluten-Free Eating Habit

We all know that adjusting to a gluten-free diet either by choice or necessity is not easy, although are some to make the switch easier.

1. Focus on real, unprocessed foods. One of the healthiest and easiest way of  having a gluten-free diet is to go for organic, fresh and whole foods. Farm grown fruits and vegetables are no brainers and can be easily found and purchased.
2. Read the food labels. This can be frustrating and time-consuming for people new to the diet. If you don’t see the words, barley, rye, malt, oats and wheat, then it is likely that the food item does not include ingredient with gluten, unless the label says gluten-free.
3. You have to be patient. Anyone can be overwhelmed by switching  to a gluten-free diet. At first, it may seem that it eliminates all the food that you love to have. For some, it may take up to 6 months to fully adjust and felt comfortable with the diet and get used to the right food choices. It will be normal to feel grief in giving up certain foods and make mistakes and eat food that contains gluten. Time will be on your side and the lifestyle change will get easier as you learn more and build confidence about your choices.
4. You have to be positive. You need to concentrate on what you eat. You have to remember that most of the nutritious foods that you need to eat are gluten-free. These foods include lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans, fruits, vegetables, nuts, rice, soy, corn and legumes. Milk, tea, coffee, wine and plain fruit juices are also gluten-free. Although not all gluten free-foods are healthy. Junk food will still be junk food, whether its gluten-free or not.
5. Do not cheat. At some point, you will be tempted to cheat and think that diet is not worth the effort. You may think there is simply too many gluten around you so you might as well eat them, but once you develop and learn about the ingredients, you will know that you can successfully avoid and stop eating foods containing gluten and be happy about it. You have nothing to gain by cheating, but you have a lot to lose with your health.
6. Get the right information. You can also start by learning everything about a gluten-free diet. This will involve time and effort, but eventually, it will mean sifting through conflicting information and separate the accurate and the inaccurate ones.
7. Buy a cookbook. Purchase at least one gluten-free cookbook. It can provide basic ideas and details about the gluten-free baking and cooking. If you have old cookbooks, don’t throw them out. As you become more aware and well informed, you will know if a certain recipe is safe to eat  or use substitutes to make the original recipe gluten-free.
8. Shop around. You can check your local supermarkets, farmers’ markets and health food stores. Gluten-free food items are getting more attention and are getting more shelf space every day. You will probably go through different store searching or looking with the most gluten-free food items until you hit one that offers adequate supply. Yu can also check the internet for other alternative sources. At present, you can find a gluten-free variety of almost anything that is edible.
9. Be a savvy navigator. You have to learn to navigate the supermarket. At first, you will spend a long time to shop, but eventually, once you know your way around the supermarket with the items that you need, everything will be easy as pie
10. Look for a gluten-free certification seal. A seal of approval from any group or  health institution that certify gluten-free food can give anyone an increase of confidence regarding the food item’s safety. It will  help the consumer to know that the food item  is guaranteed that there is no cross-contamination from all sources that includes, growing, harvesting, processing and transportation of the food product.

The diet can be achieved with the right mindset and the perseverance to change. You will be able to get to a point where you will be able to follow a strict but unwavering gluten-free diet as if it is the most normal thing that you have done.