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What is Gluten Free and What if Any Are The Health Benefits?

By Lee Larossier


Gluten is a protein found in many foods. Gluten based foods include pizza crust, cookies, bread and foods containing rye, wheat and barley.

When gluten is consumed, an immune reaction is triggered in the small intestines. The inner surface of the small intestine is damaged and certain nutrients are no longer able to be absorbed.

Overall colon health can also be affected. Diarrhea and abdominal pain are two gluten allergy symptoms. Other signs you have this allergy include malnutrition, fatigue and vomiting. When this is the case, your doctor may recommend a gluten free diet.

What is gluten free? It is a diet, a menu and a lifestyle that includes avoiding gluten-based foods such as wheat, barley, spelt, durum and rye, bulgur, triticale, semolina, farina and graham flour. This list is by far incomplete and many other foods may be unexpected sources of gluten. It is important when following a gluten-free regimen that you be sure you check food labels to ensure specified gluten-free status.

It is also important to note that gluten can find its way into supposedly gluten-free products when those products are processed in a facility that also makes gluten-based foods such as beer, cereals, salad dressings and soups.

Food to eat when following a gluten free diet include tapioca, buckwheat, arrowroot, cornmeal and pure corn tortillas. Fresh fish, meats and poultry don't contain gluten, although breaded, marinated or batter-coated versions often do. Fruits, vegetables, rice, potatoes and most dairy products are also gluten free.

Fulfilling the promise of "what is gluten free" means you must examine carefully the contents of every item you consume.

The gluten allergy manifests itself in your small intestine. Specifically, when you are allergic to gluten, consuming the gluten protein has a negative impact on the many minuscule hair-like projections (known as vili) that form along the inner wall of the small intestine. The villi are specialized structures that help the body absorb certain vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

The effect of gluten, in the case of gluten allergy, is to damage the villi so that the body is compromised in its ability to perform normally the function of absorbing necessary nutritive elements.

Don't take any chances if you believe you might be suffering the effects of a gluten allergy. A doctor and some medical tests are required to confirm the diagnosis and prescribe the proper course of gluten-free treatment. Once that is accomplished, and you eradicate gluten from your diet, your health will improve dramatically.




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