September 13th of every year marks National Celiac Disease Awareness Day. Celiac disease is a disease in which body’s immune system attacks its own cells. This response is triggered by gluten- a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. There are no drugs to treat or cure celiac disease. The only effective treatment is a 100% gluten-free diet.

❎Foods you need to restrict-

✅Foods you need to include-

1. Flours -rice flour, corn/maize flour, potato flour, soya flour, arrowroot, buckwheat, sago, besan flour, urad flour, lentil flour.

2. Bread-rice cakes, corn cakes, biscuits/cakes/ pastries from allowed cereal flours.

3. Cereals-rice and corn breakfast cereal (should not contain malt/malt extract)

4. Fruit-all fruits

5. Vegetable-all vegetables

6. Meat fish poultry-any form, just avoid the frozen one with sauces

7. Dairy products-low fat dairy products

8. Beverages-tea, coffee, cocoa, milk, soft drinks, soda water

9. Miscellaneous-honey, jam, peanut butter, vinegar, tomato sauce, quinoa

Gluten free flour-

Add this flour in your daily life to make chapatis for complete nourishment

Rice-1 kg

Besan-250 g

Corn flour-250 g

Dry peas flour-250 g

A few handy tips-

• Use iron vessels for cooking
• Use liberal amounts of green leafy vegetables 
• Add lemon juice/tamarind pulp to foods to increase the absorption of iron
• Prefer gur/shakkar over sugar
• Read the food labels carefully 

The final word

Let us together take a pledge to raise awareness about celiac disease!