Need To Follow A Wheat Free Diet?

Wheat Free Foods To Eat and Avoid

Unlike common belief, a wheat-free diet is not similar to a gluten-free diet. Gluten-free diet is created mainly as a treatment for a disease called Celiac disease, although it has been known to treat other conditions like psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or hermatitis herpetiformis. Just like a wheat free diet, grains and starches are allowed.

Whose Diet Is It For?

Wheat Free diet is often recommended for individuals that have been diagnosed to have a wheat allergy or simply those who are intolerant to wheat. But for those individuals wishing to eliminate wheat from their diet, then this is a suitable diet method to apply.

In terms of individuals with a wheat allergy, wheat is an allergen that is capable of triggering different reactions regardless of how the product is ingested. This is identified as one of the most common food allergies that is prevalent among individuals of varying age groups. Depending on the extent of the allergy, it could potentially produce severe reaction in the body. Sadly though, wheat allergy is hereditary. Therefore, when one of your family member has it, then chances are they are not the only one. Hence, it becomes more important to adapt a wheat free diet for the entire family and reduce severe effects or reaction as a result of the intake of wheat products.

Wheat Free Foods That Are Allowed

If you're on a wheat free diet, it can be difficult to come up with a meal plan given that there are several food products that contain wheat. Here are some of the food products that are allowed with this type of diet:

Grains or starches are allowed such as the following:

• millet
• potatoes
• rice
• rye
• oats
• buckwheat

Foods to Avoid

The list of foods that contain wheat or wheat products are far more extensive. Therefore, you need to look into making a significant change in your diet plan as most of the food items listed below are some of the elements you are used to.

• wheat bran
• wheat starch
• wheat germ
• couscous
• hydrolyzed vegetable protein
• semolina
• flour
• almond
• legume flours
• hazelnut
• chestnut
• cassava
• white sweet potato
• tapioca

The following do not directly contain wheat but some of the food substances used to create them might. So, you need to take them with extra caution or when combining them in your food preparation:

• baking powder
• breaded foods
• bread crumbs
• biscuits
• crackers
• malted milk or drinks
• cheese sauce or spread
• mustard powder
• pudding
• sauce and gravy mixes
• tomato sauce
• soy sauce
• luncheon meats, etc

Potential Risks of A Wheat-Free Diet

Some of the approved food products to take when using the Wheat Free Diet can contain gluten, particularly barley, oats, or rye. Most individuals that are allergic to wheat are also gluten intolerant, or known in medical term as Celiac disease. Therefore, an individual could still suffer from severe allergic reaction in the process. So, when you come up with a Wheat Free Diet meal plan, it is best to have it verified by your physician to ensure that no other complications would arise.

Return To: Health Diet Foods 

Return from Wheat Free Diet Page To Lose Weight For Free Home