Whenever you drop by a grocery store, you are likely to come across many gluten free products. Currently, most food products have the gluten-free alternative available for their clients. But exactly what are they? It is a common misconception that the diet is exclusively for people that have problems with celiac disease (damage to the lining of small intestines). Health buffs will advise you, however, that gluten free products could also be great for the health of those who do not have the disorder.
What is Gluten?
It is a protein that is generally found in grains like wheat, rye, and barley. It is an elastic protein, meaning it is sticky. It is usually referred to as the dough-forming component in wheat and holds most baked goods together. The chewy, fluffy, or doughy texture of bread is a result of the protein binding with other ingredients.
Some persons literally can't stomach the stuff. These people are folks that have been diagnosed with celiac disease. There's an estimated three million with this disorder. Sensitivity, however, isn't tied to those with celiac disease. Research indicates that there are a large number of those who are afflicted by some sort of intolerance to the protein. This intolerance has been given the name non celiac gluten sensitivity. On a global level, almost fifteen percent of the population suffers from symptoms of non celiac sensitivity. This fact has started the increase of gluten free products sold in the market.
What is Gluten?
It is a protein that is generally found in grains like wheat, rye, and barley. It is an elastic protein, meaning it is sticky. It is usually referred to as the dough-forming component in wheat and holds most baked goods together. The chewy, fluffy, or doughy texture of bread is a result of the protein binding with other ingredients.
Some persons literally can't stomach the stuff. These people are folks that have been diagnosed with celiac disease. There's an estimated three million with this disorder. Sensitivity, however, isn't tied to those with celiac disease. Research indicates that there are a large number of those who are afflicted by some sort of intolerance to the protein. This intolerance has been given the name non celiac gluten sensitivity. On a global level, almost fifteen percent of the population suffers from symptoms of non celiac sensitivity. This fact has started the increase of gluten free products sold in the market.
What are its effects on my health?
For some, consumption may have an ill effect. The issue is it is no easy task to point out whether or not the symptoms point to signs of intolerance or not. It is because most symptoms could also be related to other conditions. In the long run, intolerance to the substance can result in the development of an autoimmune disease. Many of the symptoms are as follows:
- Elevated body temperature (fever)
- Skin rashes
- Canker sores (ulcers inside the mouth)
- Aches, pains, and inflammation of muscles, bones, and joints
- Chronic fatigue
In some cases, excessive consumption or intolerance may even cause arthritis, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, and diabetes. Just the same, neurological problems like anxiety, depression, and irritability may also arise.
Why would I go gluten free?
Using this diet has lots of benefits. Studies show that almost one in one hundred people encounter intolerance. The protein doesn't actually add much to your overall wellness so its removal from your diet won't have significant effects. If that is too much to ask, start off by eating gluten free snacks. These are baby steps you could take to ease yourself into the diet.
One more reason why you should take up the diet is because we people don't thoroughly digest wheat. The undigested parts generate gas and could induce irritable bowel syndrome. An excessive amount of the protein might also lead to leaky gut syndrome. This malady is the term for when toxins and chemicals from your stomach leak into the bloodstream. In most cases, they're things that really should not be there.
If you get the benefits of putting this diet into practice, gluten free products are a great way to start. You will come to learn that the diet has lots of merits that promote overall health and well-being.
