For most people, wheat is an important staple food and a great source of fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals. However, people with coeliac (pronounced seal-iac) disease can’t digest a wheat protein called gluten, and they have to follow a strict, no-wheat diet for life. In our segment, Rosemary Stanton looked at foods suitable for people with coeliac disease, but warned against the current trend of following a wheat-free diet just as a fad.
People with coeliac disease should avoid:
bread or toast of any kind (except as discussed below)
many breakfast cereals, pasta, biscuits, cakes and crackers
most gravies and sauces (even soy sauce contains wheat)
hamburgers and sausages
anything crumbed, battered, floured or stuffed
all kinds of pies, pastries and pizza
They should also avoid rye, barley, triticale (a cross between rye and wheat) and possibly oats. Products (eg some cornflours) that you’d expect to be wheat-free are actually made from wheat, so people with coelaic disease must check all labels and also check carefully when eating out.
Coeliac sufferers can still eat:
fruits and vegetables
most dairy products
fresh meat, chicken and fish (as long as they don’t have flour added to them)
rice, corn, soy and buckwheat – supermarkets stock lots of products made from these grains including cereals, crackers, snack foods and pastas
gluten-free bread or bread mixes (although breads made without gluten can be very heavy)
Further information
If you suspect you have coeliac disease consult your doctor for referral to a gastroenterologist. As we have only scratched the surface of this important subject, we suggest that anyone with coeliac disease should contact their gastroenterologist and/or the coeliac society for more detailed information.
NSW, ACT
Coeliac Society of NSW Inc: phone (02) 9411 4100
QLD
Queensland Coeliac Society: phone (07) 3854 0123
SA, NT
The Coeliac Society of SA Inc: phone (08) 8365 1488
TAS
The Coeliac Society of Tasmania Inc: phone (03) 6427 2844
VIC
Coeliac Society of Victoria Inc: phone (03) 9808 5566
WA
Coeliac Society of WA Inc: phone (08) 9444 9200 or 1800 449 200