Gluten-free diet
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Be aware: this is only the goal of this diet, not necessarily its outcome. Results vary from person to person. Consult your doctor or dietician before starting this (or any other) diet.
The gluten-free diet is a medical diet for people with Celiac Disease (about 1% of the population has this disease) and for people who are hypersensitive to gluten. It is difficult to follow this diet, as there is gluten in many products. Nowadays, there are many gluten-free alternatives to many of these products.
You can compare a gluten-free diet with other diets on the homepage.
Gluten is the name for a group of proteins which are found in wheat, rye, barley or crosses of these grains (such as spelt, triticale and durum). The American FDA applies the rule that there must be less than 20 parts per million of gluten in a product before it is "gluten-free". On the lists allowed/not allow lists, you will find examples of products that you can/can't eat on a gluten-free diet. You should check carefully whether a product contains gluten.
Some products which are normally gluten-free may have come into contact with gluten. They can also be mixed with gluten. It is important to pay attention to this, for example by looking at the list of ingredients.
If you think you are over-sensitive to gluten, or if you think you have celiac disease, contact your doctor.
Consult your doctor or dietician before starting this (or any) diet, especially if you have type 2 diabetes or heart disease.
There are several books that are written about a gluten-free diet, for instance the Dutch book "Gelukkig glutenvrij" (Happily gluten-free).
This page has been checked, and warnings have been added by, Jolande, dietician. Read more here.
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As you see fit
The gluten-free diet is only suitable for people with proven celiac disease or glutensitivity. So don't just start omitting gluten-containing products such as bread, muesli, crackers and pasta because you want to lose weight or have intestinal problems, there is a high risk that you will miss out on important nutrients such as dietary fibre, iron, and b vitamins. In addition, gluten-free substitutes are not always healthy. If you think you are getting symptoms from gluten, discuss this thoroughly with your (GP) doctor first and do not experiment yourself.
A gluten-free diet only applies to people who have a proven gluten intolerance or celiac disease. For others, it makes little sense.
Gluten-free diet is a diet for people with Celiac disease. Nowadays, it is claimed to also help with weight loss, but this is not true. Gluten-free products often contain more sugars and saturated fat than their normal variants. Some people with irritable bowel may experience a positive effect from a gluten-free diet.
With the professional help of a dietitian it should be easier to reach your goals. Please contact a dietician in your area or talk to a doctor before starting any diet.
Please take note that most diets do not have a scientific basis.
Consult your doctor or dietician before starting a diet, especially if you have a chronic condition like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, lung disease or kidney disease.
If you think you might have an eating disorder (like anorexia or bulimia), it is important to look for professional help. Contact your (house) doctor or find help elsewhere. Here you can find a list of several websites that can provide (online) help. These sites also provide information for people that know someone with an eating disorder.