Celiac disease and gluten free diets seem very common place these days. Going gluten free is one of the trendy health fads. You can to any grocery store and many restaurants in the city and find a variety of gluten free items including health care products and desserts. It is estimated that 1 in 133 canadians have celiac disease, which is where gluten damages the microvilli of the small intestine and causes malabsorption and nutrient deficiencies. This destruction and inflammation causes many health problems which can even lead to death and other chronic disease.
      Celiac disease may be partly genetic, from gluten overexposure or from wheat containing higher amounts of gluten due to advances in farming techniques. Overuse of antibiotics which kill off good gut bacteria may also be a culprit over time. Even seniors can develop celiac disease.
        You can get tested at your doctor for celiac disease. There are many symptoms that can indicate celiac disease including weight loss, general pain, exhaustion, being prone to infection, among other things. These symptoms can also be signs of other nutritional deficiencies or health problems, so don't jump to conclusions. See your doctor!
       My fiancé has celiac disease and let me tell you, it can be complicated and a pain in the neck to find out what foods are safe to eat, there is no way I would go gluten free unless forced too. It is tough. Enjoy the freedom of eating a wide variety of foods if you can.
        While I hear a lot of people claiming "gluten intolerance" or "gluten sensitivity" there is much controversy over this condition. Having IBS myself, I try to limit the amount of processed foods in my diet, which means my gluten consumption is also limited. I believe that as  a Western Population we consume too much processed wheat, which will leave us eating too many processed carbs and not consuming enough of the vegetable, nutrient dense carbohydrates that reduce inflammation. If you find gluten makes you feel unwell, try limiting it to one serving a day (ie slice of bread, 1/2 cup orzo, 3/4 cup cereal, 1 cookie) and see if your body tolerates this. It is when we start to have an English muffin at breakfast, pasta salad at lunch, and a pizza at dinner that we may sluggish and tired. This is poor eating habits, not just gluten.

Here are the names that you need to look for which means gluten is in the product:

• hydrolyzed wheat protein
• wheat flour
• wheat starch
• oats (are usually contaminated with gluten)
• wheat germ
• malt
• barley
• rye
• semolina
• teff
• faro/spelt
• seitan
• couscous
• orzo
• bulgar
• brewers yeasts

Heres a list of food products that may contain gluten so be sure to check the label every time, with every different variety and brand (I've gotten complacent only to come home and find out that I nearly glutened the better half).

The CCA uses third parties to certify that common products are gluten free!