Gluten-Free Diet

Diet

A gluten-free diet means avoiding all products containing wheat, rye, barley, and contaminated oats *.  Celiacs consuming gluten will provoke an autoimmune response, manifesting in multiple forms depending on the individual.

Though inconvenient, celiacs eventually find alternative products, bringing exotic gastronomical delights to their kitchen and recovering their health.

Even ingestion of a crumb of bread or eating cross-contaminated items will damage a celiac’s villi.  External symptoms may be immediate, delayed, or not even be significant.

For additional tips on how to follow a gluten-free diet, click here.

* Scientific studies show that oats are essentially gluten-free. However, in farming communities where grains are harvested, oats are usually planted either next to fields of wheat, or in fields where wheat was previously grown. Therefore, oats may easily be contaminated with gluten peptides that survive the seasonal cycles, etc. Only certified gluten-free oats are recommended for celiac consumption. In addition, celiacs do better when eating no more than one cup of gluten-free oats per day. Please be aware that despite eating small portions of guaranteed gluten-free oats, a small percentage of celiacs may still react to oats. Certified gluten-free oats do not contain gluten. However, individuals experiencing symptoms may have an additional intolerance to oats.

Central Coast Celiacs provides basic information about Celiac Disease/Dermatitis Herpetiformis. Physician packages are also available upon request. Information shared by this support group does not constitute medical advice. Betty Guthrie and Isabella Porter are not physicians. Central Coast Celiacs does not recommend initiation of a gluten free diet without first consulting a physician familiar with CD/DH.