If you are new to Gluten-free living, this page is a good starting point.

Gluterra is here to help because we know first hand it can be a maze of decisions and options, especially at first. Once you get the hang of it, you'll be able to navigate the crazy and difficult world of eating gluten-free with only slight bumps in the road. We hope this helps...

Here are some of the more important bits of information you need if you are new to gluten free:

1. What is gluten? What are the symptoms of an intolerance? What is Celiac?
   Check out our Gluten-free Primer for the answers
2. What foods can I eat?
   Check out our list of good and bad foods
3. Where can I buy food so that I won't starve?
   First off, you can't go wrong buying fresh veggies, fruits, and lean non-processed fish, poultry and other meats, available in most any grocery store in the US. Lots of places now sell gluten-free processed foods, including Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Kroger, Publix, Safeway, Ingles and more. If you can't find a place near you or prefer the convenience of online, then Gluterra's Product Search can get almost any packaged goods delivered to your door. Ordering through Gluterra costs you nothing extra.
4. Will I have to eat this way my entire life?
   It's possible. If you have Celiac, then most likely you will have to eat a gluten-free diet your entire life. If you are gluten intolerant, it's possible you may have a condition known as "leaky gut" and there's a good chance that you "may" be able to introduce a small amount of gluten back into your diet at some time in the future. It all depends, and there's really no way of knowing for sure.
5. Is there anything I can do to help myself get over some of the problems?
   It sounds simple, but you have to be very careful of what you eat; Be an avid label reader; Speak up at restaurants and speak to the chef if you need to be certain of the content of foods and especially sauces which seem to always have some sort of gluten in them; Bring your own food to family gatherings or parties; Eat ahead of time if possible; Discuss your problem openly with friends and family, who will try and help, but you must always ask questions of them since they are bound to slip up or forget things on occasion.
   
   Also, don't forget about Gluterra's Recipe Search that lets you search thousands and thousands of recipes, and you can filter all the gluten-free recipes by allergy, cuisine, etc.
   
   In addition, if you are going out, Gluterra's Restaurant Search can help you find a restaurant that has a gluten-free menu or gluten-free options. And our site is mobile phone friendly for your convenience.
6. Suggestions for the newly diagnosed
   Check out Suggestions for the newly diagnosed in our Forums section.

   We also encourage you to post questions and engage in other areas of the Gluterra Forums where you will be able to connect with other like-minded people that have gone through what you are going through. And it's all free!

7. Substitutions list
   We've finally finished our43 page Gluterra Gluten-free Substitution Guide that will help you find Gluten-free products for the types of foods you love. Sign-up on our site with your email address to get your FREE guide!