Wheat or Not To Wheat...that is the question.
Bite This: According to the Celiac Disease foundation, Celiac disease affects 1 out of 133 men and women, yet 97% of these people go undiagnosed.
There are all sorts of fad diets out there and some people are willing to try anything. Some people try to become vegetarian, eat only raw foods, avoid dairy or the latest and most popular is to avoid gluten. Avoiding gluten not only induces weight loss due to eliminating foods (and calories) from the diet, but some people swear that avoiding gluten gives them more energy and makes them feel better overall. If you think about how 97% of people with Celiac Disease go undiagnosed, then you can believe why so many people may feel better with a gluten-free diet. Though for many, avoiding gluten is a necessity, not just a fad.
A friend asked me the other day about following a gluten-free diet and exactly how difficult it is to follow. She has been experiencing GI distress recently and very well may benefit from such a restricted diet. But this kind of diet restriction is not for the timid. If there is a support group for it (which there is), you know it takes guts (no pun intended). In fact I tried a gluten-free diet once in order to relieve my stomach discomfort and I failed miserably. I lasted two days. If you read ingredient labels you will find that most foods contain some form of gluten.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. Because of the way it is manufactured, some oats may also contain gluten. If a person with Celiac disease consumes gluten, an immune response is triggered and what follows is damage to the lining of the small intestine, which decreases the ability to absorb nutrients. This leads to not so pleasant side effects of weight loss, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, excess gas and bloating, malnutrition and bone disease. But what's worse is that undiagnosed long-term, it may lead to lymphoma and osteoporosis.
This illustrates how the body can malfunction given the wrong nutrients and how each body is different. It is important to take into account that following a gluten-free diet without being diagnosed with gluten intolerance may not only eliminate many foods from the diet, but also pointlessly eliminate a lot of nutrients from the diet as well. This has also been too much of a fad - people trying to go gluten-free that do not have a true allergy to gluten. That is a whole other topic for another day.
Research continues on gluten-free diets and avoiding gluten may not only provide relief for stomach issues, but also a number of other conditions. These conditions include acne, joint pain/inflammation, fertility issues and even behavioral issues and autism in children, which can all be related to undiagnosed Celiac disease.
So, to wheat or not to wheat? It does not hurt to try to go gluten-free and it may even help symptoms...but it's the planning and dedication to stick with it that is not for the faint- hearted.
Sound bite: One day this week, read your food labels. If they contain wheat, rye, barely or oats or do not say "gluten-free" you may assume it contains gluten. Take note of how common gluten is in your diet.
Think its tough to make a breakfast favorite Gluten-free? Here's how (or just eat eggs):
Gluten-Free Pancakes
1 cup rice flour
3 tablespoons tapioca flour
1/3 cup potato starch
4 tbs dry buttermilk powder
1 tbs sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp xanthan gum (can use Guar gum or Ground Flaxseed instead - gluten substitute)
2 eggs
3 tbsp applesauce (or canola oil)
2 cups water or almond milk (or less depending on consistency)
1. In a bowl, mix the first 9 ingredients together (dry ingredients) and then add eggs, applesauce and milk until blended (may leave a few lumps).
2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook until large bubbles appear, then flip and cook until desired doneness. Then enjoy!
There are all sorts of fad diets out there and some people are willing to try anything. Some people try to become vegetarian, eat only raw foods, avoid dairy or the latest and most popular is to avoid gluten. Avoiding gluten not only induces weight loss due to eliminating foods (and calories) from the diet, but some people swear that avoiding gluten gives them more energy and makes them feel better overall. If you think about how 97% of people with Celiac Disease go undiagnosed, then you can believe why so many people may feel better with a gluten-free diet. Though for many, avoiding gluten is a necessity, not just a fad.
A friend asked me the other day about following a gluten-free diet and exactly how difficult it is to follow. She has been experiencing GI distress recently and very well may benefit from such a restricted diet. But this kind of diet restriction is not for the timid. If there is a support group for it (which there is), you know it takes guts (no pun intended). In fact I tried a gluten-free diet once in order to relieve my stomach discomfort and I failed miserably. I lasted two days. If you read ingredient labels you will find that most foods contain some form of gluten.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. Because of the way it is manufactured, some oats may also contain gluten. If a person with Celiac disease consumes gluten, an immune response is triggered and what follows is damage to the lining of the small intestine, which decreases the ability to absorb nutrients. This leads to not so pleasant side effects of weight loss, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, excess gas and bloating, malnutrition and bone disease. But what's worse is that undiagnosed long-term, it may lead to lymphoma and osteoporosis.
This illustrates how the body can malfunction given the wrong nutrients and how each body is different. It is important to take into account that following a gluten-free diet without being diagnosed with gluten intolerance may not only eliminate many foods from the diet, but also pointlessly eliminate a lot of nutrients from the diet as well. This has also been too much of a fad - people trying to go gluten-free that do not have a true allergy to gluten. That is a whole other topic for another day.
Research continues on gluten-free diets and avoiding gluten may not only provide relief for stomach issues, but also a number of other conditions. These conditions include acne, joint pain/inflammation, fertility issues and even behavioral issues and autism in children, which can all be related to undiagnosed Celiac disease.
So, to wheat or not to wheat? It does not hurt to try to go gluten-free and it may even help symptoms...but it's the planning and dedication to stick with it that is not for the faint- hearted.
Sound bite: One day this week, read your food labels. If they contain wheat, rye, barely or oats or do not say "gluten-free" you may assume it contains gluten. Take note of how common gluten is in your diet.
Think its tough to make a breakfast favorite Gluten-free? Here's how (or just eat eggs):
Gluten-Free Pancakes
1 cup rice flour
3 tablespoons tapioca flour
1/3 cup potato starch
4 tbs dry buttermilk powder
1 tbs sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp xanthan gum (can use Guar gum or Ground Flaxseed instead - gluten substitute)
2 eggs
3 tbsp applesauce (or canola oil)
2 cups water or almond milk (or less depending on consistency)
1. In a bowl, mix the first 9 ingredients together (dry ingredients) and then add eggs, applesauce and milk until blended (may leave a few lumps).
2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook until large bubbles appear, then flip and cook until desired doneness. Then enjoy!
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