Is Gluten an unspeakable or terrifying word?
Gluten has been in the news quite a bit lately. I think the reason is that people are now becoming much more aware of what it is and what type of damage it may do to your body. Some person can have celiac disease, have gluten intolerance, or would just feel healthier without having any gluten in their diets.
For those of you who are not aware, gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and malts. Some people have celiac disease, which is a condition that damages the lining of the small intestine and prevents it from absorbing parts of food (nutrients) that are important for staying healthy. The damage is due to a reaction to eating gluten.
People who have gone on a gluten free diet usually feel that they are healthier, but that is a choice each individual makes for themselves.
If people have gluten intolerance, or sensitivity, what usually happens after they eat something containing gluten is they start to feel ill with some type digestive problem.
If people have celiac disease, it is important to make sure they do not take in any gluten. Besides making them feel intolerably ill, it can be a very dangerous disease in the long term.
What many people don’t realize is that gluten is in many unexpected places. It is sometimes used as a thickening agent in some foods, such as ice cream and ketchup. It is in most soy sauces, and the most unexpected place is the glue on an envelope.
There is no cure for celiac disease—the best and only way to treat it is by diet. There is no medication at this time, though I am told it is in development and has been for some time. In the past, celiac disease was mostly associated with children, but it is now acknowledged that people of any age, at any time in their life, can suddenly find out they have celiac disease, because it lies dormant until something triggers it. It is not contagious, but a person would be mostly at risk if someone in their family has it.
Although it may feel devastating at first, it is not very hard to deal with. There are gluten-free breads, cakes, pizza, and most other foods that can be made without gluten. There are gluten-free flour, pancake mix, etc., so all is not lost. There are many restaurants now serving gluten-free food on their menu. Cherry Grove Pizzeria just started serving gluten-free pizza. Restaurants like PF Changs, The Original Pancake House, Applebee’s, Panera Bread, Carrabas, and many others are very aware of clientele that now prefer or need gluten-free food.
I have tried the gluten-free pizza at Cherry Grove Pizzeria, and it is the best I have ever had at a restaurant. I was there with friends that tried it, and they found almost no difference in the taste, other than the crust was a little different. I feel that now, besides it being the best pizza you can get, it is also the best gluten-free pizza you can get. If you get a chance you should try it.
This article is just touching the surface of what gluten entails, because there is so much more to learn. If gluten is something you want or need to avoid, be aware to ask every server in every restaurant if gluten-free food is available, and if the server doesn’t know, ask to speak to the chef. Read every label in the grocery store where you shop, because some of the items containing gluten might surprise you.
Some of the foods not containing gluten are rice, all fresh vegetables, most candy, and nuts, as well as many other products. If you really want to investigate, there is always the Internet, or you can use the services of a dietician, as I did, when I first found out I had celiac disease. Just remember celiac is one of the few diseases that is treatable by simply watching your diet.