If you have celiac disease, the smallest trace of gluten can trigger abdominal bloating and pain, diarrhea and other symptoms associated with ongoing damage to the intestinal lining. Beyond giving up cereal for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, and rolls for dinner, it’s important to look for products labeled gluten-free.
“But avoid the urge to place a health halo over all gluten-free foods,” says Brigid Titgemeier, MS, RDN, LD, a Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine dietitian. “Gluten-free processed foods are often high in sugar and are just as unhealthy as processed foods that contain gluten. The best way to promote healing in your body is to eat real food that grows naturally and is already gluten-free.”