Gluten Free
I know, I know gluten seems to be a big "fad" in the health and nutrition industry, and there are many people out there who think its just that. I also know how I personally feel when I eat gluten free. No I don’t have celiac, (well I have never been tested) but for as long as I can remember when I would eat a bagel I would almost immediately feel out of breath. So for me there has to be a correlation. P.S. I cannot tell you the last time I had a bagel. I am asking you to read this and at least take it into consideration.
Why People Eat Gluten-Free?
CELIAC
It is estimated that 1 in 100 average healthy people suffer from Celiac worldwide. If you don’t know what Celiac is, here is the gist - it’s an autoimmune disorder that occurs in genetically predisposed people. When these individuals ingest gluten it leads to damage in the small intestine. People with Celiac who do not eat a gluten free diet can ultimately end up with Type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, anemia, infertility, epilepsy, and more.
GLUTEN SENSITIVITY
Other people experience gluten intolerance or gluten sensitivity. For them, the symptoms after eating gluten can be just as bad as it is for individuals with Celiac disease, however they will not experience the serious, long-term affects. These individuals choose to eat gluten-free because every time they consume gluten they get abdominal pain, bloating, headaches, depression, shortness of breath, and other uncomfortable reactions. By eating gluten-free, they feel better and live a healthier life.
FOODS THAT CONTAIN GLUTEN
The biggest and easiest way to avoid is to steer clear of anything packaged!
Wheat: All forms of wheat including spelt, kamut, triticale, durum, einkorn, farina, semolina, faro, cake flour, matzo, gliadin, emmer and couscous. (many cakes, breads, cereal, cookies, crackers, pastas, and pizzas)
Barley and Malt: This also includes malt syrup, malt extract, malt flavoring, and malt vinegar.
Rye: Most often found in bread products.
Fried Foods: You typically need to avoid any foods fried in oil, as those are not considered gluten free
Seitan
Oats – are often processed factories that process gluten. This is easy to find Gluten Free!
Soy Sauce
The biggest and easiest way to avoid gluten is to steer clear of anything packaged!
