Gluten-Free Living: Cooking Tips (2024)

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Gluten-Free Living

Gluten-Free Living: Cooking Tips (1)Jun 2, 2023

Are You Gluten Free?

  • Peanuts are a nutrient-rich food and are naturally gluten-free.
  • Gluten-free peanut flour is a nutritious substitute for traditional flours
  • For more resources, jump to the bottom of the page.

Those with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease must maintain a gluten-free diet. More than two million people in the United States have the disease or about one in 133 people (1). Others may choose to go gluten-free in order to manage a sensitivity or in an effort to be healthier. There is no evidence that suggests that gluten is unsafe for anyone who does not suffer from celiac disease or allergy or intolerance.

Living gluten-free can be a challenge. It’s important to know that peanuts, peanut butter, peanut flour and peanut oil are considered naturally gluten-free foods. Gluten is a form of protein found in wheat, barley and rye (2). It causes intestinal damage in those with gluten sensitivity or Celiac disease and is found in wheat, barley and rye – so they and anything made from them must be strictly avoided. This makes enjoying conventionally prepared baked goods, many sauces, and even ice cream a challenge.

Like peanuts and peanut butter, the uses are endless for defatted peanut flour. Whether you’re dredging chicken for a crispy coating or ramping up a smoothie or soup with a protein boost; peanut flour is a great way to add flavor, texture and nutrients to any recipe. Plus, when mixed with rice or tapioca flour, peanut flour can be a perfect solution for baking cookies, breads, waffles or even dumplings.

Peanut flour not only adds flavor to a dish, it also adds important nutrients that people on a gluten-free diet need. “Grains are an important part of a healthy diet. They are a good source of complex carbohydrates, various vitamins and minerals and are naturally low in fat. Because people with celiac disease must avoid gluten… it can be a challenge to get enough grains.2”

Peanut products like defatted peanut flour offer a variety of nutrients also found in grains. Peanut flour is very low in saturated fat and cholesterol. It is also a good source of folate, magnesium, copper and phosphorus, and an excellent source of niacin, and manganese. Regardless of how you incorporate peanut flour, it is a nutrient-dense food that is a great addition to a nutritious diet.

Gluten-free Cooking Tips

With wheat flour in so many foods – from the obvious baked goods and pasta to the not-so-obvious soup stocks, condiments and even alcoholic beverages – maintaining a gluten-free diet can become time-consuming. Here are some quick tips for managing a gluten-free lifestyle:

  • Become an avid label reader. Many foods contain gluten that you wouldn’t expect to find so make sure you always read the ingredient label.
  • Focus on naturally gluten-free foods: eat fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes like peanuts. Many packaged goods contain a plethora of complex ingredients, making it hard to determine if the product is gluten-free.
  • Wheat-free is not gluten free. Wheat-free doesn’t mean the product doesn’t contain rye or barley so be sure to read labels.
  • When in doubt, go without. If you are unsure of the ingredients in a product then don’t eat it.

Additional Resources:

References

  1. “Celiac Disease.” Sept. 2008. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC). MedlinePlus. 13 Apr. 2009 http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/
  2. “Celiac Disease Defined.” 5 Jan. 2009. Celiac Spruce Association. MedlinePlus. 13 Apr. 2009 http://www.csaceliacs.org/celiac_defined.php.
  3. “Celiac disease diet: How do I get enough grains?” 31 May 2008. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). MedlinePlus. 13 Apr. 2009 http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/celiac-disease/AN00303/METHOD=print#.
Gluten-Free Living: Cooking Tips (2024)

FAQs

What is the hardest thing to make gluten-free? ›

“Properly balancing the starches, proteins and hydrocolloids is essential.” Aaron Reed, senior food technologist, Cargill, echoed that bread is the hardest product to replicate when developing a gluten-free product.

What are the first signs of being gluten intolerant? ›

Here are some of the symptoms of gluten sensitivity:
  • "Brain fog." This is the most common characteristic of gluten sensitivity. ...
  • Headaches or migraines. ...
  • Dizziness.
  • Acne or rashes. ...
  • Joint pain or numbness. ...
  • Diarrhea, gas or constipation.
  • Distended stomach or bloating.
Apr 12, 2016

What is the GFCF diet? ›

Gluten-free casein-free [GFCF] diet is an elimination diet that involves the removal of certain proteins from the normal diet, such as gluten and casein. However, studies that demonstrate the beneficial effects of the GFCF diet on ASD patients and explain its mechanism is limited, which supports the opioid theory.

What is the trick to baking with gluten-free flour? ›

Gluten-free flours often contain fine starches, so they absorb more liquid than conventional flour. To address this, gluten-free recipes usually call for more liquid and produce looser batters. They may also call for a larger quantity of leavening, like baking powder, to help add volume and lighten the texture.

What is surprisingly not gluten-free? ›

20 foods you think are gluten-free but aren't
  • Stock cubes. Some brands of stock cubes contain wheat – check the label or make your own stock at home to be sure it's free from gluten.
  • Buckwheat flour. Buckwheat is naturally gluten-free. ...
  • Dry roasted nuts. ...
  • Couscous. ...
  • Chocolate. ...
  • Taramasalata. ...
  • Some soft, spreadable cheeses. ...
  • Chips.
Apr 3, 2023

What are 3 common problems associated with gluten-free? ›

Long-Term Cardiovascular Risks of Gluten Free Diets

Hyperglycemia and an increase in insulin resistance and obesity has been reported as well. These diets are also not recommended for a pregnant woman.

What does a gluten belly look like? ›

FAQs about gluten intolerance symptoms

The intestines make up most of the middle and lower abdomen, so “gluten belly” will look like any other type of lower digestive tract bloating. However, if bloating seems to be a regular or constant problem, that's a possible sign that it may be due to gluten intolerance.

How to get rid of a gluten belly? ›

The best remedy for gluten belly is time. However, hydrating, resting, consuming peppermint or ginger, or using a heating pad can help you find momentary relief.

How to reverse gluten intolerance? ›

There's no cure for gluten intolerance. But most people find relief from symptoms by following a gluten-free diet. You should work with your healthcare provider and a dietitian to plan your diet. You can also ask your healthcare provider about adding probiotics to your diet.

What foods are high in magnesium gluten-free? ›

Some good sources of magnesium include:
  • leafy green vegetables, such as spinach.
  • legumes.
  • nuts and seeds.
  • whole grains.

What nutrient deficiency is gluten-free diet? ›

Vitamin D, iron, B vitamins, calcium, zinc, copper, and vitamins A, E, and K. are often low on a gluten-free diet. But, many healthcare providers do not test for vitamin deficiencies. Because of this, people are taking it upon themselves to prevent the possibility of low vitamin levels.

Why gluten is avoided for autism? ›

Children with autism, according to the theory, process peptides and proteins in foods containing gluten and casein differently than other people do. Hypothetically, this difference in processing may exacerbate autistic symptoms. Some believe that the brain treats these proteins like false opiate-like chemicals.

What is the closest gluten free flour to all-purpose flour? ›

Brown rice flour is about as close to a 1:1 substitute for all-purpose flour as it gets since it provides structure and a “wheat-like” flavor.

What is the best flour for gluten-free recipes? ›

Best Overall: Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour

The cookies themselves were buttery, crisp and delicious, and held together perfectly (some brands yielded cookies so fragile that they shattered with one bite). Pancake batter poured easily and cooked up into light, fluffy flapjacks.

Is sourdough bread gluten-free? ›

Sourdough is not gluten free, but we know that many people with IBS, gluten intolerance, or gluten sensitivity can tolerate sourdough bread. This is because the methods used to make sourdough break down some of the gluten in the flour so it is easier to digest. Think of sourdough as low-gluten rather than gluten-free.

What is the hardest part of being gluten-free? ›

Jeanne Marie Spicuzza: "Since very few people are gluten intolerant, or even gluten sensitive, I would say that the hardest / worst part of going gluten-free can be that doing so does not address a more likely source problem, which is digestive, possibly due to vitamin deficiency, improper food combining, too many ...

What cannot be made gluten-free? ›

What Kinds of Foods Are NOT in a Gluten-Free Diet?
  • hot dogs.
  • certain alcoholic beverages like beer.
  • malt beverages.
  • processed fruits.
  • certain canned fruits.
  • meat substitutes like seitan (which are made from gluten)
  • Triticale.
  • gluten containing wheat-like flour or spelt.

Why is gluten free baking so difficult? ›

Gluten-Free Flours Require Special Measuring Techniques

Most home bakers use the dip-and-sweep method when measuring flour, but this doesn't work well with gluten-free flours and starches. These flours and starches are finer than wheat flours, making them hard to pack evenly and consistently into a measuring cup.

What is the biggest challenge of making gluten-free bread? ›

However, these alternative flours do not have the same properties as wheat flour, which can make baking gluten-free bread a challenge. One of the main challenges in making gluten-free bread is achieving the same texture and rise as traditional wheat bread.

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