Going gluten free to help endometriosis

Going gluten free to help endometriosis

What is gluten

Gluten is the general name for one of the proteins found in wheat, rye, and barley. It is the substance in flour that forms the structure of dough, the “glue” that holds the product together and is also the leavening ingredient.

 

Women who have endometriosis tend to have a lot of inflammation which in turn heightens pain, so the aim is to reduce the inflammation through diet.


Gluten is one of those food substances that can increase inflammation and can also cause digestive issues including bloating and constipation, which many with endometriosis suffer from.  So going gluten free can help to reduce this inflammatory reaction in the body and help to reduce the symptoms of endometriosis

 

In one endometriosis study 75% of participants reported a significant improvement in their symptoms after going gluten free for 12 months


Where is gluten found?


Food/grains:

The grains containing gluten include wheat, rye, barley, and all their derivatives (see Table 1 for a listing of grains to be avoided). These grains are used in such items as breads, cereals, pasta, pizza, cakes, pies, and cookies and as added ingredients to many processed food items.


Gluten containing grains to avoid

  • Barley
  • Barley malt/extract
  • Bran
  • Bulgur
  • Couscous
  • Durum  
  • Faro
  • Graham flour
  • Kamut
  • Matzo flour/meal  
  • Rye
  • Semolina
  • Spelt
  • Wheat
  • Wheat bran
  • Wheat germ
  • Wheat starch



Overlooked Sources of Gluten

In order to completely remove gluten from your diet, less obvious sources of gluten must also be identified and avoided.

  • Ales Beer and Lagers
  • Brown Rice Syrup
  • Coating Mix
  • Croutons
  • Candy
  • Luncheon Meats
  • Pasta
  • Sauces
  • Soup Base
  • Stuffing
  • Self-basting Poultry
  • Imitation Bacon/seafood
  • Soy Sauce
  • Marinades & Thickeners
  • Herbal Supplements, vitamin and mineral supplements


Be sure to read all labels carefully. If a product has questionable ingredients, avoid it.  Remember wheat free, does not mean gluten free.  Look for words "wheat, barley, rye, malt" on labels to identify if there is gluten present


Find out more about hidden sources of gluten HERE


What can you eat?

Gluten free grains including:

  • Amaranth
  • Arrowroot
  • Buckwheat
  • Corn
  • Flours made from nuts, beans and seeds
  • Millet
  • Potato starch
  • Potato flour
  • Quinoa
  • Rice
  • rice bran  
  • Sorghum  
  • Tapioca
  • Teff

Buying GF foods

As the demand for GF products increases, many grocery stores will begin to stock more products that are specifically gluten-free. Look in the Asian section for rice noodles and crackers. Check out the “organic” or “health food” section for GF pastas, flours, and baking products.

Speciality health food stores typically have GF foods in the frozen food section. One can select GF bagels, breads, or brown rice pizza crusts to defrost and warm at home.


Tips for going gluten free

~ Swop out your current gluten containing ingredients and change them for gluten free options but be sure not to buy alternatives that are laden with additives, preservatives and especially watch out for soy

~ One of the hardest things to swop is gluten free bread as they are not always that tasty.  However, you do not always have to use bread to make sandwiches.  You can use gluten free pitta bread, tortilla wraps and rice crackers.

~ Many food producers now make gluten free pastas and you can use rice noodles instead of wheat based noodles

~ Aim for simple meals which are obviously gluten free, like white meats, fish, vegetables, fruits, pulses, nuts.

~ Check out the GF sections at your supermarket and local health store to see what they have to offer

~Always check your labels to ensure you are not getting any hidden gluten

~ Swop your Soy sauce for Tamari of Coconut Aminos (an alternative to soy)

~ Many supplement and vitamin manufacturers are aware of gluten and allergy issues so check you are buying from reliable sources

~ If you are going to eat out at a restaurant give them a ring first to check the do have gluten free options

 

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Reference:

https://integrativewomenshealthinstitute.com/gluten-and-endometriosis/

Marziali M, Capozzolo T. (2015) Role of gluten-free diet in the management of chronic pelvic pain of deep infiltrating endometriosis. J Minim Invasive Gynecol

 Marziali M, Venza M, Lazzaro S, Lazzaro A, Micossi C, Stolfi VM. (2012) Gluten-free diet: a new strategy for management of painful endometriosis related symptoms? Minerva Chir

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23334113 - endometriosis and gluten study

 


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