What Is Gluten Free? What Isn’t?
And Many Other Questions I Get Asked

What is gluten free? Are oats gluten free? What is Celiac Disease? Can you get gluten free food in restaurants?

These and so many other questions have come up for me over the years. I get them from my friends too, either out of curiosity, or they want to share a meal, or they know someone else on a gluten free diet.

So I decided to put the answers all in one place.

1. What is Gluten? Gluten is a protein complex that triggers health problems in many people, including Celiac Disease and other types of sensitivities and allergies. It is contained in wheat, rye and barley and is the part of the grain that makes it possible for yeast bread to rise. Read more about gluten...
2. What is Gluten Free? Many foods from around the world are gluten free, and have been for a long time. There are almond cakes and cookies, corn tortillas and tamales, rice noodles and wraps, and hundreds of others. Click here for a master list of gluten free foods you won’t find anywhere else!...
3. What are the sources of gluten? Gluten is found in any food that contains or is made from wheat, rye, or barley, (and possibly oats), or any of their relatives. And in anything containing an ingredient derived from those grains, such as barley malt. Read more about sources of gluten...
4. What is Gliadin? Gliadin is the specific protein in wheat that triggers the health problems I mentioned above. There are similar proteins in rye (hordein), barley (secalin), and oats (avenin). Read more about gliadin...



5. Are Oats Gluten Free? Oats have a protein similar to the gliadin I mentioned above. Although many gluten intolerant people are OK with oats, it’s estimated that up to 10% of people sensitive to gluten also have a reaction to oats. Read more about oats...
6. What is Celiac Disease? Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disease that is triggered by gluten in the diet. You have to inherit certain genes that make it possible to get Celiac Disease, but having the genes doesn’t mean you have it, or that you’ll get it. Read more about Celiac Disease...
7. What are the Celiac Disease Symptoms? Celiac Disease has the classic symptoms of diarrhea and weight loss that are easily recognized and may lead to a diagnosis relatively quickly. But now it is known that someone with Celiac Disease may have other symptoms–and they are different from person to person. Read more...
8. What is gluten free in restaurants? Many restaurants now have gluten free menus. And there are even some restaurants that serve only gluten free food. But if you know what to look for, you can find tons of gluten free ethnic foods in restaurants. Find out more about restaurants serving gluten free food...
9. What is gluten free in grocery stores? More and more gfree products are becoming available in grocery stores. Even General Mills has changed their Rice Chex and Corn Chex cereals to remove gluten. Be sure to read labels carefully to look for hidden glutens.
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