If you or someone you love has been recently diagnosed with coeliac disease, you could be eligible to receive gluten free foods on prescription. Simply select your country of residence, and, if you live in England, fill in your postcode to check if your area is prescribing.
Your country is prescribing gluten free foods*. Request your Glutafin Taster Box by clicking the button below to sign up.
* Please note: local policies are constantly updated, and issuing a prescription is at the discretion of your GP.
If you have been diagnosed with coeliac disease, then the only treatment available is to follow a gluten-free diet. But where do you start, what foods should you avoid, and how do you find alternative foods and recipes that fit your gluten-free diet?
We spoke to Katie Kennedy, the in-house dietitian for Glutafin, for some expert advice on how to start a gluten-free diet…
KK: If you have a diagnosis of coeliac disease, it’s essential to follow a gluten free diet to help alleviate your symptoms, but also reduce the risk of both short- and long-term medical complications. By removing gluten from your diet, you halt the autoimmune response that is responsible for your symptoms, and over time your gut will heal and you will start to feel better.
KK: A gluten free diet is one that removes traces of gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley, from your diet.
KK: Yes, if you have a diagnosis of coeliac disease it’s essential that you remove all traces of gluten from your diet. Even small amounts of gluten will cause damage to the gut and cause symptoms to return.
KK: You need to remove any food containing wheat, including bread, pasta, pastry, cakes, biscuits, crackers, many types of breakfast cereals and processed meats. You also need to check the labels carefully of foods such as soups, sauces and ready meals as gluten or grains that contain gluten are often used as a thickening agents.
KK: Yes, there are lots of specially manufactured gluten free alternatives to the foods that typically contain gluten, for example gluten free breads, rolls, flour mixes, crackers and biscuits. In addition to these specialist foods, there are many naturally gluten free foods that you can still enjoy; for example, fruit and veg, potatoes, unprocessed meats and dairy foods. There are also many types of naturally gluten free grains that can be used to replace wheat, such as rice, maize (corn), millet, quinoa and buckwheat.
KK: In Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and some parts of England, gluten free foods are available on prescription for people who have a confirmed diagnosis of coeliac disease. You can request a prescription for gluten free foods from your GP and your gluten free foods will be dispensed by your local pharmacy, just like other medical prescription products. If you live in Scotland, your gluten free prescription can be managed solely by your pharmacist.
KK: You can also purchase gluten free foods in supermarkets, look out for the ‘free from’ aisle in your local store and make sure you are clued up on how to read food labels to check for gluten-containing ingredients.
KK: Some gluten free products will declare their gluten free status on pack, perhaps with a bold coloured logo/ stamp, or with a crossed-out grain symbol. Manufacturers that make a specific gluten free claim must show that they have strict allergen management processes in place to avoid gluten contamination.
However, many other foods will be free from gluten-containing ingredients without making an obvious ‘gluten free’ claim on pack and these are also suitable for a gluten free diet.
KK: The first thing to do is check the ingredients list. By law, any food that contains a gluten-containing grain, in any amount, must declare this within the ingredients list and highlight the ingredient in bold, highlighted or italic font. Look out for wheat, rye, barley and oats within ingredients lists. (Note: It is possible to buy certified gluten free oats, which are suitable for most coeliacs on a gluten free diet, however standard oats and oat products are likely to be contaminated with gluten during growing or processing).
If you’ve checked the ingredients list of your chosen food and it doesn’t have any gluten-containing grains, the next thing to do is check for a ‘may contain’ warning. Foods that ‘may contain’ gluten (or wheat, rye, barley, oats) are likely to be unsuitable and should be avoided. If you’ve done all of your checks and can see no evidence of gluten-containing ingredients in the food, then the product is suitable for your gluten free diet.
KK: Most drinks that could be classed as a beer contain gluten. This includes lagers, stouts and ales, although gluten free beers and lagers are becoming more widely available. The good news is that all wine, whisky, port, sherry, cider, liqueurs, spirits and Champagne are suitable for a gluten free diet.
KK: Over the last decade there have been huge improvements in the availability and variety of gluten free foods, with most supermarkets stocking a good range of gluten free alternatives for favourite gluten-containing foods. Many people will also be able to obtain gluten free foods on prescription – including gluten free flour mixes, which are very versatile and can be used to make gluten free breads, cakes, biscuits, pastries and sauces in a similar way to conventional wheat flour.
KK: We all make mistakes from time to time. Try to be as vigilant as you can about your gluten free diet and be particularly mindful of checking food labels and asking questions about how your food has been prepared and cooked if you’re eating away from home. If you do accidentally consume gluten, don’t panic and try to learn from the experience. Take time to rest and drink plenty of fluid while you wait for any symptoms to pass. If your symptoms are very severe or do not improve, speak to your GP.
KK: When you are diagnosed with coeliac disease, your GP or consultant should refer you to a dietitian who will support you with adopting a gluten free diet. Further support is available from Coeliac UK (the patient charity for coeliac disease) and also gluten free manufacturers like Glutafin. The Glutafin website has lots of helpful information and advice for living gluten free, including recipes and healthy eating tips from me.
If you or someone you love has been recently diagnosed with coeliac disease, you could be eligible to receive gluten free foods on prescription. Simply select your country of residence, and, if you live in England, fill in your postcode to check if your area is prescribing.
Your country is prescribing gluten free foods*. Request your Glutafin Taster Box by clicking the button below to sign up.
* Please note: local policies are constantly updated, and issuing a prescription is at the discretion of your GP.
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