Gluten-Free Casein-Free Foods

Individuals on a gluten-free, casein-free diet cannot eat common foods such as bread, milk, cheese, ice cream and pizza. Following this type of diet requires a comprehensive knowledge of various foods and ingredients, time to shop for and prepare special foods, and the avoidance of most convenience foods, but many people feel the benefits of this diet outweigh the sacrifice it requires. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Function

The gluten-free, casein-free diet is most often used for children on the autistic spectrum. Many parents feel that this way of eating helps their children to function on a higher level and avoid the digestive problems that are commonly associated with this disorder. While this diet has not been officially proven to help autistic children, many parents feel there is enough evidence of its effectiveness to give it a try. Some parents have even claimed that their children have experienced miraculous improvements in their symptoms thanks to the elimination of gluten and casein.

Features

Gluten is a protein found in grains such as wheat, barley, rye, kamut and spelt and in products made from these grains. Casein is a protein found in milk and milk products such as butter, cream and whey. Gluten-free, casein-free foods must not contain either of these proteins in any form or any amount. Some foods, such as oats, may not naturally contain gluten or casein, but may become contaminated with these ingredients when they are processed on the same equipment or in the same factory as other foods.

Identification

Gluten-free and casein-free foods are not always labeled as such and both gluten and casein can be disguised when listed on ingredient labels by other names. Some of the common ingredients that indicate a food contains casein are lactic acid, whey, nougat, curds and magnesium caseinate. Semolina, glutamic acid, malt and vegetable protein are some of the ingredients that indicate a food contains gluten. Print out a list of ingredients to avoid and take it with you when you shop for gluten-free, casein-free foods. (See Resources.)

Safe Foods

The bulk of a gluten-free, casein-free diet should consist of natural, unprocessed foods to improve the health of the individual and avoid the risk of exposure to these substances. Serve fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, meat, poultry, eggs and nuts, if tolerated. Corn and rice are both gluten-free grains and can be used to make breads, pastas, flours and other processed foods. You can find gluten-free, casein-free specialty products such as breads, cereals, cheese substitutes and snack foods at health food stores or order them online.

Considerations

You may want to work with a nutritionist to ensure that this diet provides all the required vitamins and minerals necessary to good health. It may be difficult to get enough calcium while avoiding all milk products, so you may need to supplement this important mineral.