Gluten intolerant individuals are obliged to follow a specific gluten-free diet, including foods which we at Celiac.com refer to as Celiac Disease Foods. The term Celiac, or Coeliac, comes from the Greek word “Koiliakos,” which means either “abdomen” or “hollow.” When an individual with gluten intolerance eats Celiac Disease Foods their abdomen may become visibly distended, especially children, and they may starve, even though they’re eating, because they cannot adequately absorb nutrients. For those with Celiac Disease eating foods that contain gluten will disturb the small intestine causing bloating, muscular and/or joint pain, and diarrhea, and a host of other symptoms, or even no symptoms at all.

Gluten is a sticky, stretchy protein left behind after the starch is washed out of flour. Wheat, found in breads, cakes and cookies, is found everywhere in Western countries. In countries where corn or rice is the mainstay, individuals who posses the DQ2 or DQ8 genetic makeup that underlies the celiac reaction, although measurably present, may not always manifest the debilitating symptoms quite so severely.

Some excellent and widely-consumed Celiac Disease Foods are corn, amaranth, quinoa, buckwheat, and members of the bean family of foods. Celiac Disease Foods also include the potato family, such as well, Russets, but also taro, teff, sweet potatoes and yams. Flour can be made from Potatoes or beans like Soybeans, and Buckwheat; which, despite the name is not a member of the wheat family.

Special caution to those seeking Celiac Disease Foods, however, because although a label does not mention the addition of any wheat flour, it is often "sneaked" into the packaging by the manufacturer either by blending it in on purpose, or because wheat is processed elsewhere during the manufacturing process. Celiac Disease Foods must be 100% Gluten-Free in order to be effective, so look out for foods that contain gluten derivatives. With this in mind you may want to obtain Gluten-Free Food & Drug Lists to help you find safe Celiac Disease Foods.

Finally, try a sample from our Gluten-Free Mall; every one of our products is made with the care and attention you need in Celiac Disease Foods. They're great, we've tried them, and we're adding new gluten-free products regularly.