When you’re first learning about the intricacies of the gluten-free diet and lifestyle, it’s
probably seems like you’re going to have to get rid of and avoid an unbelievable amount
of foods that you might enjoy. When you’re getting ready to make a major dietary
change, the best thing you can do for yourself is to empower yourself with knowledge so
that you can find success by fully experiencing the variety and nuances of food. The
good news is that there are a lot of great ways to confront these issues, so this article
will be primarily focusing on prepackaged ingredients to avoid when you are cutting out
gluten.

1- Condiments

One of the main things that people neglect when looking at a gluten free diet, is that
condiments they love can be loaded with gluten. In recent years, the spread of gluten-
free has become enough of a fad that it’s become relatively common as a marketing
point. Ketchup, mayonnaise, salad dressings, gravy, malt vinegar, marinades, and even
soy sauces may contain gluten. You will need to get used to reading labels to look for
any ingredients that might have gluten. Just be sure to buy the gluten-free certified
versions of your favorite condiments, and you won’t have to worry about it.

2- Beverages

If you’re on the go or in a hurry in the morning, it can be pretty tempting to grab a
flavored coffee for yourself at the gas station on your way to work, but the hidden gluten
in those drinks can derail a strict program. Instant drinks, root beer, wine coolers and
other convenience drinks of similar type tend to include gluten in their list of ingredients.
While having these drinks is a fast way to satisfy some urges, they aren’t usually very
healthy, and many of these types of drinks also tend to have a high level of acidity, or
cause acidity in the gut. It’s always better to have fresh versions when you can. Here is
a list of other names for gluten as it appears on some ingredient labels.

3- Gluten in Disguise:

• Hydrolyzed malt extract
• Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
• Phytosphingosine extract
• Amino peptide complex
• Secale cereale
• Fermented grain extract
• Hordeum distichon
• Hordeum vulgare
• Hydrolysate
• Maltodextrin
• Brown rice syrup
• Modified food starch
• Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
• Hydrolyzed soy protein
• Caramel color

4- Processed Meats

These types of ingredients usually find their way into many lists. Health professionals
have been warning consumers about the dangers of processed foods for years,
particularly with a close eye on the effects of processed meats. These kinds of foods
are well known for their acidic nature, and tend to be behind a lot of the heartburn
around the world. These conditions are ripe for swelling and inflammation, which can
make itself worse over time, so it should be no surprise that many of these packaged,
coagulated meat products also contain a plant protein that a portion of the population
has a difficulty digesting.

If you would like to follow a gluten free diet, I hope that these tips will help you in your journey.

See you soon,

Ludmilla!