What is gluten-free bread and where can I find it?

The prevalence of gluten in our diet has become a hot topic, but what makes a bread or other foods gluten free?

Gluten is a protein composite found in grains such as wheat, barley and rye.

• It can cause severe problems for people who have celiac disease or who have an allergy to gluten.
• But switching to a gluten-free diet doesn't necessarily mean swearing off bread entirely.

Most large grocery stores and health-food stores will have a section of gluten-free bread.

• It's usually made with a grain that is naturally free of gluten such as rice, corn, quinoa, buckwheat or sorghum.
• These breads are denser than loaves made with wheat flour, as gluten affects the elasticity of the dough and the fluffiness of the loaf.

One thing you may notice when switching to a gluten-free diet is that the texture of a gluten-free loaf, muffin or cake is noticeably different than its wheat flour counterpart.

• It’s important to look for recipes that are adapted to gluten-free flours.
• Swapping out wheat flour for a gluten-free alternative can give pretty ghastly results, as these flours react differently with other ingredients and when baked.
• Using xanthan gum, guar gum or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose can help increase the fluffiness of gluten-free baked goods.

Just because something is made with rice flour or corn flour doesn’t mean it is gluten free.

• Many processed foods can have gluten additives, so make sure to take a look at the list of ingredients before purchasing.
• For example, wheat can be found in the seasoning of a seemingly innocuous bag of corn chips, or in the ingredients list of something as basic as fish sauce.

It’s a good idea to double-check the ingredients in the following items, which can contain gluten:

• Beer
• Bread & certain tortillas
• Broth & bases
• Cakes, muffins, cupcakes & pastries
• Cereal
• Chips & other snack foods
• Chocolate & candy bars
• Cookies & crackers
• Fried foods
• Imitation bacon & imitation seafood
• Matzo
• Medications
• Modified food starches
• Oats
• Pasta
• Specialty teas and coffees
• Sausages & deli meats
• Sauces, marinades & salad dressing
• Seasonings
• Soy sauce & fish sauce

This list is by no means exhaustive, so check with trustworthy local resources for good advice, whether you need to prepare a gluten-free dinner for a friend or are trying the gluten-free diet yourself.

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