What is Gluten?
Gluten is a protein substance that is found in cereal grains like wheat, kamut, spelt, rye, barley and most oats. Is has a glue-like quality that helps baked goods stick together and gives bread a fluffy texture. Commercial producers of bread, pasta, and other bakery products like to use grains that contain gluten in their baked goods because it is the most well known. Gluten can also be found in other products hidden in the ingredients list with names such as:
- Glucose (which is a sugar that can be derived from gluten.)
- Vitamin E (which can be derived from gluten grains.)
- Modified food starch (which usually comes from wheat.)
- Natural Flavorings (especially caramel which usually comes from barley.)
- Maltodextrin (which usually comes from wheat.)
Why Does It Cause Problems For Some?
Gluten can cause a whole host of problems such as Keratosis Pilaris, digestive upset, nutrient deficiencies, autoimmune disorders, mood disorders, dark circles under your eyes, brain fog, migraines and headaches, Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, as well as painful swollen joints.
Gluten can also increase the amount of inflammation in your body, along with other foods. If gluten is not tolerated well by your digestive system it will cause damage to your intestines, and then the proteins can leak out into your bloodstream where they are not supposed to be. These rogue proteins cause inflammation and worsen pain.
Conventional crops that contain gluten are often sprayed with chemicals that can also irritate the intestines and are bad for our bodies. These chemicals can also create inflammation in the body since they are hard for the body to eliminate and detoxify from. Eating organic foods will eliminate this factor. If you are sensitive to gluten, then eating organic and gluten-free is even better for you.
What Can You Eat Instead?