Gluten

As I have recently given up eating a lot of bread and felt better and less bloated I thought I would look into Gluten and whether or not it is good or bad for us.

Interestingly an article appeared in a national Sunday paper also posing the question should we all be giving it up?

There certainly seems widely different opinions on this topic but one thing is certain if you have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease (an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation in the small intestine)  then you must avoid gluten altogether.

So what is Gluten?

It’s a protein composite found in foods processed from wheat and relates grain species including Barley & Rye.

It gives elasticity to dough helping it to rise and keep it’s shape and often gives the final product a chewy texture.

Can be added to a whole variety of foods, such as sausages  and salad dressings, to make sauces.

Also used in cosmetics, hair products and other dermatological preparations.

A leading American neurologist, Dr David Perlmutter, has warned, and as he sees it, consumption of gluten , in bread, pasta, cakes etc as well as processed foods could be a link between things like Alzheimer’s, ADAH, numerous intestinal disorders,  to name just a few. He isn’t alone in his thinking, others have also suggested that by going “Gluten Free” that their health has improved and they don’t have that sluggish feeling.

One thing to bear in mind is of course, nutrition is a complex issue and a lot relating to inflammation is still not yet fully understood. Also there isn’t enough evidence available to directly link these conditions.

More & more grocery and health food stores stock gluten free products and many people who reach for these products don’t have Celiac Disease or even sensitivity to wheat and perceive that this diet is healthier, it’s not necessarily the case, as this sort of diet can lack vitamins, minerals & fiber. See an article on this subject at www.performancefq.com as to why we need these.

The good news is there are many healthy foods that are naturally gluten free so you can have plenty of the following :

• Beans, seeds, nuts in their natural unprocessed form,
• Fresh eggs
• Fresh meat, fish and poultry (not the breaded, batter-coated or marinated types)
• Fruit and vegetables
• Most dairy products

I don’t have a full gluten free diet but leaving out certain foods that contain gluten has worked for me, but this is a personal choice and may not be right for you and because there are so many theories relating to this matter,  then maybe just by stopping and reviewing our own diets is enough.