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Foods made with wheat are staples of the American diet;
however, many people are allergic to proteins found
in wheat, called gluten. If you are allergic to gluten
strictly avoiding wheat and wheat products containing
gluten is the only way to prevent a reaction, which
can include stomach upset, eczema, hay fever, asthma,
and even anaphylaxis. But, it is not always easy to
avoid these foods since many unsuspecting products contain
gluten.
Always
check the label ingredients before you use a product.
Many processed foods, including ice cream and catsup,
may contain wheat flour. In addition, check the label
each time you use the product. Manufacturers occasionally
change recipes, and a trigger food may be added to the
new recipe. Many wheat products are now available "gluten
free" and will say so on the label.
Reviewed
by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Department of
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine.
Edited
by Charlotte E. Grayson, MD, Feb. 2004, WebMD.
Portions
of this page © The Cleveland Clinic 2000-2004
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