“New year, new me”, as some people like to say! Indeed, the start of each year usually brings us back to reality and makes us think more about ourselves, about our goals and our dreams. So now is probably the best time to talk about something that definitely has a potential to turn our lives
upside down. That’s gluten!
In fact, I think we’re going to start a whole new sequence of articles about this protein as it
really is important. Let’s start with the basic questions and see how this goes, shall we?
- What is gluten?
Many people today tend to hate and avoid gluten consumption without even knowing what it actually is. So, here’s what science says. Gluten is a group of proteins that are found in cereal grains (wheat, barley, rye, triticale) and it consists of two proteins:
glutenin and
gliadin. An interesting fact is that its name comes from the Latin word
‘glue’ because it’s gluten that gives this sticky texture when combining flour and water.
- Is gluten really dangerous?
Yes and no. Although we believe that gluten isn’t
this harmful as many claim it to be, we wouldn’t argue that there are people who should avoid it. The main problem here is that products that contain gluten are harder to absorb. When this situation escalates, one can develop the so called
gluten intolerance. Probably the most unpleasant consequences would be the
coeliac disease, a long-term autoimmune disorder. This is why you should always consult with a specialist about your health condition and further diet. However, remember not to believe everything you read and hear right away as there are many myths. Check out
this article to learn more about gluten delusions!
- How do I know whether to avoid gluten, or not?
Well, as Buddha says
“No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.” This means you have to look for the signs, you have to be conscious about yourself! First of all, you can start with a
food diary. The simplest way to do it is to take a notebook and draw two columns. In the first one note what you eat and across it, in the second column, write down how this food makes you feel. After a couple of weeks you’ll be able to analyze the data. Secondly, try observing your body and notice how you feel most of the time. Are you often exhausted, with low mood and have severe headaches? Do you feel bloated or have a stomachache? These might be a sign so
be careful!
- Which foods contain gluten?
As we said in the beginning, it’s cereal grains like wheat, rye and barley. Be aware, though, that there are products which contain gluten without it being a main component. For example, many manufactured sauces are known to have gluten. Of course, there are others as well, but we won’t get into details here.
What is your experience with gluten? Drop us some comments, guys!
In the meantime, check out our
gluten-free snacks and chips as you click
here!
