Allergies: Living with a wheat allergy

Foods made with wheat are staples in Western diets. However, many people are allergic to proteins found in wheat, including gluten. If you are allergic to any wheat protein, strictly avoiding wheat and wheat products is the only way to prevent a reaction, which can include stomach upsets, eczema, hayfever, asthma and even anaphylaxis. But it is not always easy to avoid these foods since many unsuspecting products contain wheat.

Always check the label ingredients before you use a product. Many processed foods, including ice cream and tomato ketchup, may contain wheat flour. In addition, check the label each time you use the product. Manufacturers occasionally change recipes, and a trigger food may be added to the new recipe.

Examples of wheat products and foods that may contain wheat include:

Substitutes for wheat include corn, potato, barley, oat, soya and rice flours and arrowroot starch.