Facts You Need to Know about Gluten

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Every now and then you hear of someone who is avoiding gluten for health reasons, usually related to the gut, such as celiac disease or GERD.  What gives? What are the symptoms? Are you be a sufferer of generalized malaise and could benefit from a gluten-free diet?

This post will examine gluten and its effect on health.


What is gluten?


Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. And, there are an estimated 3 million Americans that are hypersensitive to this protein and suffer from celiac disease which causes damage to the lining of the digestive tract, vomiting and severe abdominal pain.


What can you do?


Try eating healthy whole foods and eliminating junk foods which are said to be high in gluten. Avoid wheat, rye and barley for about two weeks and then slowly re-introduce it into the diet and then see how you feel.


If you find that you are sensitive to it, take these steps to avoid gluten in the diet.

1. Eat more fruits, vegetables, beans, meats, seafood, nuts and seeds.
2. Be aware that gluten can be labeled as semolina, durum or enriched flour.
3. Experiment with new grains such as quinoa and brown rice.

source:

"The Truth about Gluten" AARP Magazine