Have you ever spoken to people about food intolerance and thought, “everyone seems to have a gluten intolerance?”. Many people believe that these intolerances were never around 30+ years ago. However, they were. Food intolerances have always been around, however, they have more likely been misdiagnosed or people just lived with their intolerances thinking it was normal for them.

It’s important to understand that there is a difference between gluten intolerance and coeliac disease. While the symptoms may be similar there are a few things to be mindful of…

Coeliac Disease

This is a complete intolerance to gluten. This is an autoimmune condition, where the body attacks healthy tissue. The immune system mistakes some substances and treats them as a threat to the body. The damage to the healthy tissue in the intestines makes it difficult for the body to absorb nutrients from food.

There are many symptoms that relate to Coeliac Disease such as:

• Bloating

• Constipation

• Indigestion

The only way to treat Coeliac Disease is to remove gluten from your diet entirely.

Gluten Intolerance 

If you are Gluten intolerant you may experience some discomfort when you eat foods containing it, however, you are unlikely to experience severe damage compared to Coeliac Disease. You may also find that you are sensitive to gluten, which may mean you have to ensure you do not eat large amounts of food containing it. Cutting it out is still the only way to remove any discomfort you may experience when eating certain foods. 

We’ve spoken about the differences between gluten intolerance and coeliac disease, and the only solution is to avoid it. So, what foods should you be wary of?

Gluten can be found in many different types of foods, and some you may even be surprised to see on the list. 

• Foods that contain: Wheat, barley, and rye

• Bread

• Cookies and biscuits

• Pasta

• Semolina-based products

• Couscous

• Some beers

That's not all, gluten may also be found in products that aren’t cereal-based, foods such as:

• Seasonings

• Sauces

• Soups

• Canned foods

• Spices

When you dig in deep, you can find that gluten is present in a variety of foods. It’s not the end of the food world though, there are many fresh foods that you can have if you suffer from an intolerance or coeliac disease. 

Is a gluten-free diet better for weight loss? 

The answer to that is not necessarily. Just because you cut it out, doesn’t mean you cut out all the other foods which don’t contain it but do contain the components that cause you to gain weight. Of course, increasing the number of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet will help. Not all gluten-free foods are healthier options, so eating a free-from diet isn’t a cure for anything other than relieving the symptoms of coeliac disease and intolerances. 

Preparing food at home is easier since you know exactly what you are putting into your food. When visiting a restaurant, if they don’t use our simple, and easy to read food allergy labelling system, it’s always best to ask them what goes into the foods they prepare. Serving staff and chefs will always be happy to answer any questions, as no one wants to have any adverse reactions to foods prepared on-site.

Are you a restaurant owner and looking for the best way to label your menus for allergies? Contact our team now to discuss our Allergen management software. 

The information provided in this blog is purely informational. Please speak to your GP for further information on any concerns you have regarding allergies. Sources for information are:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/312898#symptoms
https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/celiac-disease/features/gluten-intolerance-against-grain