The latest diet "bad boy" is gluten. Could you be sensitive to gluten and not know it? If you have belly fat that won't budge or bloating it might be from the gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, spelt and oats. Gluten shows up surprisingly in foods you wouldn't think had gluten in them such as licorice and soy sauce. Most beers have gluten since they are made from malt and malt is generally made from barley. Gluten can often appear on labels as "starch". You will find it in yogurts, ketchup, and all manner of products you never expected.
What are the most common symptoms of Gluten intolerance?
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Gas
- Belly Fat That Won't Budge
- Bloating
- Fatigue
- Joint Pain
- Rashes
- Headaches, Migraines
- Asthma
Doctors believe that gluten my play some role in many medical conditions. Some doctors are recommending a gluten free diet for patients suffering from Multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and Autism.
The most severe reaction to gluten occurs in people who have Celiac Disease- an autoimmune disease that affects the small intestines. What happens is the proteins in gluten trigger the immune system to overreact with strong and unusual antibodies. This inflammation flattens the lining of the small intestine and thus impedes the small intestine's ability to absorb nutrients. When you don't absorb nutrients you wind up with increasingly serious health problems.
Gluten intolerance symptoms in adults, however, are still somewhat nebulous as they often dovetail with conditions such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, lactose intolerance and yeast intolerance. Often adults grow accustomed to some of the discomforts of gluten intolerance since they are not overtly sick. The result is gluten intolerance often gets misdiagnosed or undiagnosed.
It is important to recognize that clinical tests (a blood test and/or an intestinal biopsy) can determine to some certainty that you have Celiac disease, but inconclusive or negative results in these tests do not necessarily mean you're free from gluten intolerance. In fact, most people experiencing legitimate and significant gluten intolerance symptoms have officially tested negative for Celiac Disease.
The most accurate way to identify gluten sensitivity is to completely eliminate gluten from your diet for 2-3 weeks. Then very slowly and carefully bring it back comparing the symptoms before the gluten free period to your symptoms after the gluten free period.
The benefits of a gluten free diet for someone who is sensitive will include:
- Better nutrient absorption of your food so you look and feel better
- Better gut function and bowl movement
- Reduction in overall inflammation
- Better use of oxygen resulting in more energy
I gave up eating gluten a few years ago to see if it made a difference in how I felt. Once I gave it up I had more energy and less aches in my joints. I realized I do have gluten sensitivity. I do eat gluten once in awhile but for the most part I leave it out of my diet. I choose my gluten very carefully so I get the most amount of satisfaction. This prevents me from feeling deprived. I like warm, soft and crusty sourdough bread dipped in olive oil which I enjoy once in a while when eating out at a great restaurant.
Tennis star Novak Djokovic the winner of Wimbledon in July recently switched to a gluten free diet to reduce leg cramps and improve his game. Since his gluten free diet change he has 47 wins and 1 loss, pretty cool!
Now that gluten free has become so main stream you can find many gluten free foods in supermarkets, mall restaurants and even baseball stadiums. A word of caution, just because it is gluten free does not necessarily mean it is a healthy food. Many gluten free products contain preservatives, food colorings and partially hydrogenated oils which you always want to avoid. So be sure to read your labels.
Bob's Red Mill has been selling gluten free products for 20 years. They have been well tested for quality. I especially like the All Purpose Baking flour for making Gluten Free Blueberry Cobbler
There are many gluten free pastas on the market. Kelp noodles are good if you want go raw. Brown rice or quinoa pasta are great alternatives for those who can't tolerate gluten but love their pasta.
