Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, spelt, kamut and rye.
Most breads contain gluten. It’s responsible for the elasticity of dough, helps it rise and maintain its shape. Gluten makes bread chewy.
- Gluten can also be found in the following products:
- Cosmetics – lipstick, chapstick, lip gloss and toothpaste
- Hair care products
- Almost all processed foods
- Grain based alcohol – beer
- Oats – these are often contaminated with wheat
- Medications may use gluten fillers – prescription and over-the-counter
- Vitamins
- Abdominal discomfort
- Bloating
- Diarrhea
- Fluid buildup within the body/edema
- Headaches
- Tiredness
- Hyperactivity
- Muscle, bone and joint issues
Gluten Sensitivity/Gluten Intolerance
These are umbrella terms that are used in cases where gluten has a negative effect on a person’s health – celiac disease is the most severe form.
Gluten sensitivity can affect the intestines and various other aspects of your health.
- Symptoms include:
You can see how these symptoms are very general. This can make pinpointing gluten as the source of your problem an issue!
Celiac Disease
A person with celiac disease can’t tolerate gluten. It’s an autoimmune disease where eating gluten causes the small intestine to become damaged and inflamed. Nutrients are not absorbed as well, leading to weight loss and malnutrition. Stomach issues such as bloating and diarrhea also occur.
Is Gluten OK For Anyone?
There are people who claim gluten is bad for everyone and we should all maintain a gluten free diet. This is a controversial subject and you will have to experiment to see if gluten works well with YOUR body.
The best way to do this is to remove all the gluten from your diet for a month while keeping a diary of how you’re feeling. Next, you slowly introduce gluten back into your routine over the next month while continuing with the diary. At the end of the two months look back through the diary and see which diet you felt better on – stick with that.
Consider giving a gluten free diet a try and see if it positively influences your health!
Do you include gluten in your diet?
To your health!
Jesse
