If you have been contemplating going gluten free for the rest of your life then this article will be of immense use to you. Here you will find a few questions pertaining to gluten and answers to them. As most of us already know, gluten is widely present across all kinds of wheat and therefore if you have been suffering from unexplained stomach ailments then it is time you stop consuming foods that are made of wheat in one form or another.

1] So what is gluten?

Gluten is among prominent ingredients present in wheat and other foods that give them stretchy consistency. In fact, gluten is largely responsible for holding together other ingredients in foods like muffins and cookies.

2] Which are the food stuffs that contain gluten?

It is not just the wheat, good items like barley, triticale, rye, spelt and many others contain gluten in different portions.

3] I eat oats regularly. Does it contain gluten?

The presence of gluten in oats depends largely on the way it is processed. Natural and unprocessed do not contain gluten in them. However, oats that are processed in the same machines as wheat may contain some portions of gluten due to cross contamination. Therefore, before eating oats make sure you check the label and there is a clear mention of ‘gluten-free’ in it.

4] Semolina is a prominent ingredient in the pasta that I eat regularly. Is that Ok?

No! There are many food stuffs out there that do not mention wheat directly. Some other ingredients that may contain gluten in them are ? Farina, Durum, Kamut, Bulgur, Spelt and Semolina. So any food stuffs that contain these ingredients are not worthy eating.

5] Which are the foods that may contain gluten in them but are hard to trace out?

Some of the food stuffs you need to be wary of are gravies, salad dressings, French fries, glazes on meat, soy sauce and many more. If you are having any of these foods in restaurants, just make sure to tell your waiter that you need the gluten-free versions of them. Most restaurants these days serve foods that are totally gluten-free.

6] My food does not contain substances that can contain gluten. So is it totally free from gluten?

Foods that are processed extensively may contain gluten owing to different stages in manufacturing process. And most of these foods do not mention it in their labels. However, just to be certain of this, you can watch out for certain terms, like artificial flavor, starch, natural flavor, maltodextrin, dextrin and many others. It is better to contact the manufacturer directly to be certain on these issues.

7] I do not suffer from celiac disease or other forms of disorder. Is it ok for if my foods contain gluten?

No. Symptoms that individuals suffer due to gluten are diverse and complex and you can never be sure if you are suffering from one disorder or another. Ok, you may not be suffering from celiac disease but there are other conditions you may be suffering from and you may not even be aware of it!

8] I have been on gluten-free diet for a while now. When will I notice the difference?

To see the desired changes in you, you need take into many factors, like amount of exposure, general health, sensitivity and so on. Ideally, you need to give yourself at least 3-4 months to see appreciable changes in you.