The Proctitis Pages
The Importance of Reading Labels
The importance of reading & checking food labels on tinned foods, on packets, jars, & containers for wheat or gluten cannot be stressed enough. Its possible to avoid much pain, discomfort & grief by checking foods don't contain gluten or wheat. Its important to say here that this is a vast subject in its own right, so I'm only touching the surface of this whole area. I want to keep the discussion specific to helping people with colitis, ulcerative colitis, proctitis. Here are some general points to look out for.
1) A common problem with eating convenience foods is that its often very un-clear indeed what the item really contains. Unless you actually take the time to read the label you wont know for sure but even if you do read a label. The words or terms used can be very deceptive, indeed in some cases it's almost designed to deceive of confuse. Many labels use ambiguously named ingredients like Aqua when they really mean just water or plain H2o,etc.
2) Often processed foods or fast foods contain preservatives, various chemical additives such as stabilizers, additional sugars not called sugar as such (like glucose or syrup or starch), anti-caking agents, anti-fungal agents and all manner of E - numbers, colorants.
3) You may think you are eating a gluten free product (eating healthily) when in reality you actually might NOT be at all. And your symptoms may continue or just get worse!!.
4)Many of these additives ARE not gluten free or might be gluten free but will still make you sick (your digestive system will have a bad response to eating them!).
5) Fast foods & processed foods are often eaten to save time, as many of us are cash rich but time poor yet this is crazy as we paying the ultimate price by getting sick. So are we really saving time?
6) Be aware that the vast majority of convenience foods contain wheat (gluten) or some form of wheat to a greater or lesser degree.
7) Its a complete myth that its not possible to make or create foods that are highly convenient and delicious, as well as also 100% gluten free. You might have to make them yourself but it is possible.
8) To cook & eat convenient gluten free foods does require a little more planning or fore thought, & preparation but the rewards are great.
9) Make foods that you can prepare the day before or night before, take them to work in your lunch box (for example potato latkes or lentil & buckwheat slice which can be eaten cold).
10) Reading food labels is always a very enlightening experience, & I suggest that you do it as often as possible. In order to avoid eating foods that will make you poorly or badly upset your digestive system (both short term & long term).
11) I have not even touched on the subject of E numbers (but will do so in the near future I plan to add a page about them).