What is Gluten and what is all the buzz about?

Like most people, I’m sure you are hearing and seeing the word “gluten” more often these days, unless you live in a bubble.  Products on the supermarket shelves are being labeled as, “gluten free”, but being a health coach, I have to wonder and/or consider whether this is another ploy for some to make huge profits, a fad, or a real problem.  Many are still confused or don’t quite understand what all the hype is about or even how they may be affected by products that have “gluten”.  Some, who have been diagnosed with celiac disease fully, understand the dangers associated with consuming gluten.  Others are trying to make sense of it all and decide if they should eliminate gluten from their diet or not.  I wrote this article in an attempt to demystify the word gluten and shed some light on why avoiding it may be beneficial.  Let’s start by defining the word “gluten”...

According to Wikipedia, gluten is a protein composite found in foods processed from wheat and related grain species, including barley and rye.  Gluten gives elasticity to dough, helping it rise and keep its shape and often gives the final product a chewy texture.  Gluten may also be found in some cosmetics, hair products, and other dermatological preparations.

Here are the top five things you need to know about “gluten”:

• 1.       It's a protein that can cause problems.  Gluten is the major protein found in some grains. It is present in all forms of wheat as well as in barley and rye.  Gluten is different from protein in other grains (such as rice) and in meat (such as steak) in that it is difficult for humans to digest completely. It can make some people very sick. But not everyone.  Our guts are simply not adapted to digest gluten and break it down into individual amino acids.

• 2.       It can trigger chronic disease.  For some people gluten can be a matter of life or death. These people have a condition known as celiac disease.  Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation throughout the body making it insulin resistant.  Because gluten damages the lining of the small intestine in those with celiac disease, it can lead to a host of health problems ranging from chronic diarrhea and abdominal cramping to osteoporosis and even the risk of some cancers.

• 3.       You may need to cut back.  As a society, we are in a state of "gluten overload," and millions of people of all ages and all walks of life are suffering as a result of a condition that was recognized only a few years ago, called gluten sensitivity.  When people with gluten sensitivity eat foods containing gluten, it triggers unpleasant symptoms: stomach pains, bloat, heartburn, joint pains, headache, skin rashes, fatigue, insomnia and brain fog, to name some of the most common. Although many of these symptoms are similar to those experienced by celiac sufferers, if you turn out to be gluten-sensitive, it probably won't require giving up gluten entirely.

• 4.       Living gluten-free can make you fat.  Some people who go off gluten to lose weight end up gaining weight instead. That's because they consume gluten-free packaged products that are often just as high in saturated fat, sugar and sodium as other junk food, and these products often contain high-glycemic refined ingredients like white rice flour or fillers like potato starch that can affect your blood sugar and trigger cravings.  Just because its gluten free doesn’t mean it’s healthy.  Don't feast on gluten-free snacks. Instead, treat them as you would any other guilty-pleasure: a once-in-a-while treat. If you suffer from low energy and a myriad of health problems and tend to eat a lot of wheat and baked goods, consider going on a gluten-free diet.

• 5.       Gluten is not something to fear.  Be gluten-aware, not gluten-phobic.  It’s about discovering your own level of gluten tolerance, especially since it’s in almost everything we consume to some degree!

This article only provides some very general information.  Keep in mind, wheat is one of America’s most manufactured GMO (genetically modified organism) products.  China recently announced that it will no longer import wheat from the United States!  Anything genetically modified, is full of toxins, chemicals and artificial ingredients.  There are ways to determine if you are gluten intolerant.  Visit my website at www.purpleroseholistichealth.com to schedule your complimentary health assessment!