Many people are able to eat all the foods they want without experiencing a bad reaction. Unfortunately, some people have food allergies that make it difficult to eat foods they enjoy. Allergies can range in severity from mild reactions with hives and itching to life-threatening reactions that involve swelling and constriction of the airways. Some people are allergic to wheat, which means their bodies do not react properly to the protein that is found in this popular ingredient. People with severe weight allergies need to be vigilant about the foods they eat to ensure that they are not ingesting wheat by accident. This means that they need to be on a wheat free diet to protect themselves from harmful allergic reactions.

Wheat Free Diet: Foods to Avoid
Unfortunately for those who need to be on a wheat free diet, there are many foods that must be avoided in order to avoid the reaction associated with a wheat allergy. These foods to avoid on a wheat free diet can be broken down into groups. The first group of foods to avoid on a wheat free diet is certain types of beverages. Even though you may not think wheat is an ingredient in most beverages, it is actually a popular component of some instant drink mixes and wheat-based alcoholic beverages. People on a wheat free diet should avoid drinks like root beer, ale, beer, coffee substitutes, and most drink mixes. These mixes often contain wheat or wheat protein, which can trigger a severe reaction in some people.

The next group of foods to avoid is in the bread and cereal category. This is one of the most restricted categories, since most cereals and breads contain some sort of wheat. Individuals on a wheat free diet should avoid breads, donuts, muffins, waffles, cornbread, pretzels, and crackers. Any desserts typically containing some form of wheat should also be avoided. Those with a sweet tooth will be disappointed to find out that many desserts are also excluded from a wheat free diet. Cakes, cookies, graham crackers, donuts, and any dessert made from a mix should be avoided. Eggs can be eaten in moderation, but people on a wheat free diet should avoid eating any egg dish that has been prepared using a mix containing a wheat product.

If you’re not sure if a food is allowed on the wheat free diet, check the ingredients list. If the food contains bread crumbs, enriched flower, cracker meal, farina, gluten, wheat bran, wheat germ, or similar ingredients, the food should be avoided as part of a wheat free diet.

Wheat Free Diet: Allowable Foods
While there are many foods excluded from a wheat free diet, there are some that are allowed, provided they are not mixed with ingredients containing wheat protein. Someone on a wheat free diet can drink beverages such as coffee, fruit juices, tea, milk, and carbonated beverages. Breads and cereals made with corn and rye, and without wheat protein included, can be used to substitute for the breads and cereals that cannot be eaten on a wheat free diet. Some desserts can be eaten, as long as they do not have wheat protein as an ingredient. Good examples of desserts allowed on a wheat free diet include custard, fruit ices, and meringues. These foods can be combined with wheat-free dairy products and meats to create a balanced diet.

Benefits of the Wheat Free Diet
The main benefit to participating in a wheat free diet is that it can prevent allergic reactions that can cause serious health complications. Staying on a wheat free diet can also prevent minor complications such as digestive difficulties and the development of hives after ingesting wheat. Another benefit to the wheat free diet is that it can be used as a tool to prevent weight gain and keep the body in health condition.

Drawbacks of the Wheat Free Diet
The major drawback of the wheat free diet is that many foods must be avoided. Those that are substituted for those foods may not be as tasty or as filling.