Saturday, December 27, 2014

By Claudine Hodges


Food allergies have become a big issue and sometimes it seems like they are just a trend or a lifestyle choice. However, that is not the case, allergies are potentially lethal and can cause long term damage to a person's health. In the quest for sufferers to be healthy gluten free consulting can offer a range of services to improve lifestyle. It is also useful for those in the food industry who want to train their staff in gluten issues.

Wheat intolerance has been linked with a plethora of health issues including osteopirosis, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, depression, migraines and more. For those who are sensitive to it gluten causes inflammation throughout the body and results in both short and long term problems. Research has linked this problem with increased risk of cancer and heart disease.

Understanding how food is produced and why industrial food producers use ingredients in ways we cannot imagine is essential when living wheat free. Most people who are diagnosed with an intolerance or celiacs disease have to spend a lot of time doing research and getting to grips with what gluten free actually means. This is because even a tiny amount of gluten can make them very sick.

It is a protein contained in wheat, it is what makes bread chewy. Therefore any product which contains wheat is out of the question. These days is is used in a surprising number of manufactured food products as it is a cheap and effective thickening agent. It is no longer just in baked products ice cream, chocolate and sausages and many more products often contain wheat. Other cereals such as oats are often contaminated whilst being prepared and packaged so there are now separate gluten free versions.

Manufacturers of food often contaminate other products such as oats in the production and packaging process. Contamination also happens in restaurant kitchens. For this reason it is a good idea to have a specialist analyse kitchen practices and design safe procedures. Separate chopping boards, utensils, oils, storage and perhaps even a totally separate preparation area may be necessary.

As wheat intolerance rises it is becoming easier to get the information and products necessary to live without wheat and be healthy. One way is to use a consultant. They offer services for sufferers and those who need to learn about the issue for professional reasons. For sufferers they offer services such as guided trips to the supermarket to learn to read food labels. They can make dietary plans and teach about cross contamination.

Professionals in the food industry can benefit from the knowledge of consultants to make their premises safe for people who need to avoid gluten. Staff training is essential, not just for the cooks but also the waiting staff so that they can provide assurance to customers. They need to know the history of the problem, which foods and ingredients contain gluten and how to avoid contamination.

Gluten intolerance is not a fad that is going away. It is a serious and growing health issue. People who are incapable of eating gluten are looking for the food industry to step up and cater for them. If the problem keeps increasing at the current rate, soon a large proportion of the population will be avoiding this food. Industry professionals can utilize the knowledge of consultants to make their businesses safe for those with food allergies.




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