Food Journal #8: Wheat intolerance, tips on what to avoid and what to eat

Food intolerances are spreading exponentially, to the point that some studies conducted on the European population have calculated a presence of 13% of children and 10% of adults affected by intolerances. In addition, very often we tend to confuse food intolerance with an allergy, while the two are actually quite distinct. Who is intolerant to wheat can easily find products in the supermarket designed specifically for this need. Here's also a small guide on what to avoid and what to eat in case of wheat intolerance.

Are wheat and gluten intolerance the same thing?

In the specific case of wheat intolerance there is a further clarification to be made, as it is often confused with celiac disease, or intolerance to gluten, a protein found in many cereals including wheat. The subject intolerant to wheat, however, can safely eat foods that contain gluten with the exception of the grain itself. Symptoms of this type of intolerance occur quickly after eating and are usually made up of visible signs on the body such as dermatitis, dandruff, urticaria, itching, swelling of the skin, or cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, inflammatory headache , nasal congestion, difficulty in breathing, itching in the eyes and tearing.

However, the evaluation of an expert physician is always necessary to establish with certainty the connection between these manifestations and the pathology. The allergens that trigger wheat intolerance are present throughout the grain so it is necessary that those who suffer avoid white flour, wheat flour and bran, but also rye, spelled and kamut, which are foods very similar to organic composition of wheat. However, people intolerant to wheat do not necessarily have to deprive themselves of certain specific categories of foods such as bread, pasta or desserts, since they can count on many alternatives that are currently on the market.

Wheat intolerance: what to eat

For those who cannot eat wheat, there are products made from barley, rice, corn, millet, oat, quinoa, chickpea, chestnut or buckwheat flour. These foods are not actually graminace and, from the point of view of the composition, are not linked with wheat. To start the day you can eat rice cakes, or corn flakes with yogurt, then continue with rice or barley salads, but also a nice warm risotto. In the evening, do not ever miss canned vegetables, perhaps accompanied by a steaming velvety potato soup. Those who suffer from this intolerance, therefore, can theoretically eat everything: the important thing is to find in supermarkets or specialized shops the alternative foods to wheat, designed specifically for people intolerant to it.

Wheat intolerance: what to avoid

Then there are foods to be avoided, starting from classic baked goods such as sweets, pizzas and rusks, and continuing with canned products such as soups and legumes, which must be eliminated from the food plan. Keep attention also to desserts: no cakes with pastry or ice cream.

During a dinner, the second course will certainly be the least expensive to avoid but it is important not to eat the vegetables au gratin, the dishes flavored with the nut, canned meat and sausages. Logically, white flour is to be abolished, as well as integral or bran.

Definitely. we must always pay attention to the labels of the products we buy, as wheat can also be present in foods we do not have the slightest suspicions, such as ketchup sauce, pesto, liquorice and even sweets.

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