Is tomato paste safe for people who suffer from coeliac (celiac) disorder? People who have an autoimmune disorder such as coeliac disease are asking what type of foods to eat and to avoid and tomato paste is one of the staples that are being looked into.
There are brands of tomato paste and tomato ketchup that contain pure cornstarch as a thickener. The starch derived from corn kernels is considered pure and is gluten-free. People with the coeliac disorder can safely indulge in tomato-based dishes without triggering the autoimmune defences.
What is Coeliac Disorder?
Coeliac disease occurs when ingestion of gluten found in wheat, barley, rye and other grains can trigger our body’s immune system. Our body’s defences attack the finger-like projections called “villi” in the small intestines’ wall. These tiny protrusions are responsible for the absorption of nutrients. When the villi are destroyed, the essential vitamins and mineral are not absorbed by the body resulting in nutrient deficiency and weight loss. The disorder may eventually lead to serious medical complications.
Gluten is the assortment of proteins found in wheat, barley, rye, and other related grains. Gluten is a binding component that gives the dough its chewy and elastic characteristic and helps the dough to rise.
Autoimmune disorders are genetic, you can be sure that if any of your parent or both of them suffer from one type of debilitating disease, you are predisposed to suffer the same.
People who suffer from coeliac disorder must avoid gluten for life. It is a common disease among Caucasian race and approximately affects one in one hundred people all over the world. Some patients do not manifest serious symptoms other than the inability to gain weight and anaemia. Even the smallest amount of gluten ingestion can trigger the immune system and attack the small intestines.
Prevention and Treatment
A coeliac disorder is hereditary and a strict gluten-free diet is the only way to prevent its complications. More serious illnesses such as Diabetes, multiple sclerosis, intestinal cancers and other autoimmune disorders may develop over time if gluten is not removed from the diet.
Foods rich in antioxidants help inhibit the effects of the disease. The tomato paste and other heat-processed tomato products are known to subdue the bombastic damage of free radicals that are harmful to the body. It is important to keep a healthy lifestyle when you have this type of disorder and equally important to know the kind of diet you need to adhere to.
Delta Food Industries FZC is committed to delivering healthy food on every table. Coeliac disease awareness is very much our concern. For more information regarding gluten-free tomato products, email us here.