Not so fast. Don’t make this mistake when going gluten free! 25. September 2014 Lisa G (0) Beginning last month, the Food and Drug Administration began implementing its definition of “gluten-free” on packaged food labels. The FDA determined that packaged food labeled gluten free (or similar claims such as "free of gluten") cannot contain more than 20 parts per million of gluten.It has been years in the making for the FDA to define what “gluten free” means and hold food manufactures accountable, with respect to food labeling. However, the story does not end there.Yes, finding gluten-free food, that is now properly labeled, has become easier. So much so the market for gluten-free foods tops $6 billion last year. However, finding truly healthy, commercially prepared, grain-free foods is still challenging. A very common mistake made when jumping into the gluten-free lifestyle is piling everything labeled gluten-free in the shopping cart. We don’t want to replace a problem: wheat, with another problem: gluten free products.Typically gluten free products are made with rice flour (and brown rice flour), tapioca starch, cornstarch, and potato flour. Of the few foods that raise blood sugar higher than wheat, these dried, powdered starches top the list. They provide a large surface area for digestion, thereby leading to sky-high blood sugar and all the consequences such as diabetes, hypertension, cataracts, arthritis, and heart disease. These products should be consumed very rarely consumed, if at all. As Dr. Davis has stated, “100% gluten-free usually means 100% awful!”There is an ugly side to the gluten-free boom taking place. The Cureality approach to wellness recommends selecting gluten-free products wisely. Do not making this misguided mistake and instead aim for elimination of ALL grains, as all seeds of grasses are related to wheat and therefore overlap in many effects. Lisa Grudzielanek MS, RDN, CD, CDECureality Health & Nutrition Coach