Are you following a gluten free diet? If so, you are not alone. The bookstore shelves are quickly filling with more gluten free cookbooks than any cook can keep up with as more people become aware of how the gluten in the food they eat may be causing medical issues. To help make candy shopping easier for you, we have created a special section for all the gluten free sweets and treats we offer. And don’t worry – these aren’t candies you’ve never heard of that were created specifically to be gluten free. They’re candies you already know and love that happen to also be gluten free. Pretty sweet, huh?!

But before we dive into the deliciousness, let’s take a quick look at a few facts…

What foods is gluten found in? Common places you’ll find gluten include wheat, rye and barley – grains popularly found filling just about any box of cereal you might grab – as well as flour, pasta and beer, just to name a few popular foods and drinks. Because these ingredients are found in so many foods, people following a gluten free diet have to be mindful when food shopping or enjoying a meal or snack outside of the home. We created our Gluten Free Candy section to help make shopping for candy as easy and enjoyable as possible!

Who follows a gluten free diet? While gluten is not a necessary element of our diets, most of us are not negatively affected by it in any way. And because gluten is found in so many of the foods we eat every day, those who make an intentional attempt to avoid gluten in their diet are predominantly those for whom it presents an issue. A gluten free diet is necessary for people living with the hereditary autoimmune disorder Celiac disease. While Celiac disease, which affects the small intestine, cannot be cured, it can be treated with a gluten free diet.

Another autoimmune disease requiring a gluten free diet is the skin disease Dermatitis Herpetiformis, which also currently has no known cure.  Eating a gluten free diet brings relief to approximately 80% of people living with this disease.

A gluten free diet is also often recommended for those diagnosed with Autism or ADHD, though the effect the diet will have on the conditions is controversial. Many argue that there is no effect, while others have reported significant improvement. In the case of ADHD, there are also arguments that in ADHD-affected children for whom the gluten free diet was prescribed, the positive effect the diet brought on was the result of an improper diagnosis of ADHD initially, when the child was actually acting out because of the discomfort brought on by undiagnosed Celiac disease.

At BlairCandy.com, we do not claim to be medical experts in any way, and we recommend that you consult your physician with any questions regarding a gluten free diet. We provide the above information simply as a reference, and hope it answers any general questions you may have about gluten free living.

And now for the candy, which is our specialty! We have a mouth-watering selection of Gluten Free Candy in stock and ready to be enjoyed. From Gluten Free Candy Bars to Gluten Free Gummies, we have something for everyone.

Are you or someone you love following a gluten free diet? We’d love to hear your story and tips! Please leave whatever information and advice you’d like to share in the comments so all our readers can benefit. Thanks in advance! 🙂