Cereals and Legumes in Nutrition of People with Celiac Disease

Cereals and legumes rank among the most important group of crop plant production. The aim of this paper was to point out the suitability of cereals and legumes in the diet of people living with an autoimmune disease of the small intestine, the celiac disease. Cereals match the best current ideas of healthy and balanced diet and provide decisive part of the energy intake from food in human nutrition and no small share from the total protein intake. Some cereals contain celiac active polypeptides and in susceptible individuals cause allergic reactions. Celiac active ingredients are found in the prolamin fraction. If the content of prolamine is in an amount of 4-8%, the products can be considered appropriate for the celiac diet. Wheat, barley, rye and oat should be excluded from the diet, if a person has confirmed celiac disease. On a worldwide basis, legumes contribute to about one-third of humankind's direct protein intake. Legumes also accumulate natural products (secondary metabolites) such as isoflavonoids that are considered beneficial to human health through anticancer and other health-promoting activities. The biggest advantage of legumes is that they are gluten-free and are suitable for gluten-free diet.