Health Information

Treatments and Procedures A-Z

Gluten-Free Diet

(Gluten-Restricted Diet)

What Is Gluten?

Gluten is a type of protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and numerous other foods containing or made from these ingredients. Gluten can also be found in many non-food items, such as medicines, lipstick, and stamp adhesives.

Why Should I Follow a Gluten-Free Diet?

If you have gluten intolerance or celiac disease, your body is unable to digest gluten. Consuming gluten may result in symptoms such as cramping, bloating, gas, and diarrhea. The only treatment is to eliminate gluten from your diet. Following a gluten-free diet can reverse any intestinal damage and nutrient deficiencies that may have occurred as a result of consuming gluten.

Gluten-Free Diet Basics

On this diet, gluten must be completely avoided, as any amount of gluten can cause damage to the small intestine. Learning how to eat gluten-free can be challenging, since gluten is found in many so-called “staple foods,” such as cereals, breads, and pasta.

Moreover, gluten is often found in unsuspecting foods, such as frozen yogurt, soy sauce, and beer. Fortunately, there are many gluten-free alternatives, making it possible—with a little practice and help from a registered dietitian—to still eat a well-balanced, satisfying diet.

Gluten-Free Eating Guide

The following guide lists foods that are recommended, foods that should be questioned because they may contain gluten, and foods that should be avoided. While this guide is fairly comprehensive, it is not a complete list of all the foods that should or should not be avoided. It is important to work with a registered dietitian who specializes in gluten intolerance to learn which foods can safely be a part of your diet.

Food Category	Foods Recommended	Foods to Question *	Foods to Avoid
Grains and Starchy Vegetables	Amaranth Arrowroot Buckwheat Bean flours (garbanzo, fava, romano) Cassava Corn Flax Kasha Hominy Indian rice grass Job’s tears Mesquite flour Millet Montina Nut flours and meals Pea flour Potatoes, potato flour/starch Quinoa All forms of rice (eg, white, brown, jasmine, wild) Sago Sorghum Soy flour Tapioca (manioc, cassava, yucca) Teff Uncontaminated oats ** Yucca	Baked products made with buckwheat (Buckwheat is sometimes blended with wheat flour in baking mixes.) Cereals (may contain barley malt flavoring or barley malt extract) Communion wafer French fries Matzo Rice mixes, rice pilaf	Barley Bulgur Chapatti flour Couscous Cracked wheat Dinkel Durum Einkorn Emmer Farina Faro Fu Gluten, gluten flour Graham flour Hydrolyzed wheat protein Kamut Malt Matzo flour/meal Oats (most commercial brands) ** Orzo Panko Rye Seitan Semolina Spelt Triticale Udon Wheat (wheat flour, wheat bran, wheat germ, other wheat products)
Vegetables	All plain fresh, frozen, and canned vegetables	Vegetables in sauce	Breaded vegetables
Fruits	All plain fresh, frozen, and canned fruits	Dried fruits (may be dusted with flour)	Thickened fruits
Milk	Milk, buttermilk, and cream Plain cheese, cream cheese, cottage cheese	Yogurt Cheese sauces and spreads Flavored cheese	Malted milk
Meats and Beans	All plain, fresh meat, poultry, and fish Eggs Legumes Nuts, nut butters (eg, peanut butter) Seeds Tofu	Cold cuts, hot dogs, salami, sausage Imitation seafood Flavored tofu Meat marinades and flavorings Seasoned nuts Poultry basted or injected with broth	Breaded meat, poultry, or fish
Oils	Vegetable oils (eg, canola and olive) Margarine (choose trans-free margarines)	Mayonnaise
Sweets and Snack Foods	Cakes, cookies, and pastries made from gluten-free flours Corn and rice tortillas Egg custards Gelatin desserts Plain popcorn Plain rice cakes or rice crackers Plain corn chips or corn crackers Whipped toppings	Candy Ice cream, sherbet, sorbet, and popsicles Potato chips Seasoned or flavored snack chips	Chocolate bars and candy that contain barley malt flavoring or wheat flour Ice cream made with gluten-containing ingredients (eg, cookie dough, brownies) Ice cream cones Icing and frosting
Beverages	Distilled alcoholic beverages (eg, rum, gin, whiskey, vodka, wine, and pure liqueurs) Coffee Juices Soft drinks Tea	Cocoa drinks Flavored alcoholic beverages (eg, ciders and coolers) Flavored teas and coffees Non-dairy soy, rice, potato, and nut beverages	Undistilled alcoholic beverages (eg, beer, ale, lager)
Other (Condiments, Baking Ingredients, Soups, Sauces, and Gravies)	Aspartame Baking soda Butter, lard, and shortening Carob chips and carob powder Corn syrup, maple syrup, and sugar (brown, white, and confectioner’s) Cream of tartar Homemade broths Honey Jams, jellies, marmalade Ketchup Mustard Pure cocoa, baking chocolate, and chocolate chips Plain pickles and relish Pure herbs and spices Pure black pepper Salt Vanilla Vinegars (eg, apple, balsamic, cider, distilled white, grape, wine, spirit) Yeast	Baking powder Bouillon cubes Brown rice syrup Gravy and sauces Soups and broths Salad dressings Worcestershire sauce	Malt vinegar Soy sauce Teriyaki sauce

*These are foods that may contain gluten. Many of these products are available in gluten-free versions. But, it is important to carefully read the ingredient list.

**Uncontaminated oats may be consumed in limited amounts with approval and follow-up by a doctor.

Shopping for Gluten-Free Foods

When shopping for foods, it is easy to become overwhelmed by all the available food products and figuring out which are gluten-free. It helps to begin with loading up on fresh foods that are naturally gluten-free, such as fruits and vegetables, milk, unprocessed cheese, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, legumes, nuts, and tofu. Then, add gluten-free sources of grain, such as rice, corn tortillas, and grits. These foods should be the staple of your diet. You can then supplement with snack foods, sweets, condiments, and special gluten-free items.

When choosing food products, be sure to read the labels carefully. In the US and Canada, food manufacturers must list whether a product has any of the most common allergens, including wheat.

What About Oats?

Until recently, people with gluten intolerance were advised to avoid oats. But recent research shows that uncontaminated oats are generally well-tolerated when consumed in moderation. Regular, commercial oats are often contaminated with gluten-containing grains. Pure, uncontaminated oats, though, can be specially ordered from certain companies. Before adding oats to your diet, be sure to discuss it with your doctor.

Suggestions on Eating a Gluten-Free Diet

Focus on foods that are naturally gluten-free, such as fresh produce, fresh meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, milk, nuts, and cooking oils.
Always read the ingredient list to make sure the food does not contain gluten.
When eating out, ask about ingredients and food preparation.
Avoid cross-contamination with gluten-containing products when preparing foods.
Work with a registered dietitian to create a well-balanced gluten-free diet.

RESOURCES:

American Dietetic Association

http://www.eatright.org/

Celiac Disease Foundation

http://www.celiac.org/

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Celiac Association

http://www.celiac.ca/

Canadian Dietetic Association

http://www.dietitians.ca/

References:

Celiac disease. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease website. Available at: . Accessed January 3, 2010.

The gluten-free diet. Canadian Celiac Association website. Available at: . Accessed January 3, 2010.

Gluten-free diet guide for families. Children’s Digestive Health and Disease Foundation website. Available at: . Accessed January 3, 2010.

Raymond N, Heap J, Case S. The gluten-free diet: an update for health professionals. University of Virginia Health System website. Available at: . Published September 2006. Accessed January 3, 2010.

Last reviewed March 2013 by Dianne Scheinberg Rishikof MS, RD, LDN

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Treatments and Procedures

Find A Physician

Please select a provider or service & enter your location below.

Search By Physician