Gluten-Free Food

What is Ciliac Disease

Celiac disease, also known as coeliac disease, gluten-sensitive enteropathy, non-tropical sprue, celiac sprue, and gluten intolerant enteropathy, is a chronic digestive disorder found in individuals who experience a toxic immune response when they ingest gluten. Dermatitis herpetiformis is a related skin condition experienced by some celiacs. There is no cure for celiac disease. The only known treatment is lifelong adherence to a gluten-free diet. Ingesting gluten affects the function of the small intestine of celiacs by damaging and/or destroying the absorptive villi. The body then becomes unable to properly absorb nutrients, resulting in potentially life-threatening nutritional deficiencies and even intestinal lymphoma.

A gluten-free diet involves the complete avoidance of all foods made from or containing wheat, rye, barley and usually, oats. Some doctors say oats may be permitted, although The Coeliac Society advise against the inclusion of oats in a gluten-free diet.

On a personal note -- I eat oatmeal at least once a week and it has not impacted how I feel.

Guten-free eating is not as disruptive as you may think.  Yeah, you give up bread, beer and pasta, but you can still eat bread beer and pasta -- you just have to spend about 10x as much time and money on less tastey versions.

You can also focus on what you can eat -- meat, potatoes, rice, most vegitables.  Breakfast is a pain in th arse becauae you can't just woof down a bagel or a muffin or a bown of Lucky Charms (I miss them!).  Breakfast = eggs and for the lucky ones oatmeal.

Lunch can be difficult -- no sandwiches, no pizza, no, no, no 

Dinner is easy as long as you like asian and mexican food.  Rice and corn tortillas are teh stables of those two -- thow some meat on them and your solid.