Many people today are suffering from Celiac's Disease, Crohn's Disease, etc. When diagnosed with a disease of this sort, you are forced to completely alter your eating habits.
So, what is Gluten? Why can some people not eat it?
-Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and malts. It is used in order to thicken foods.
-In people with Celiac's disease or other digestive diseases, their body does not contain enough of an enzyme in order to break down gluten. It is the same concept as those who are lactose-intolerant.
Should we all avoid Gluten? Or just those with Celiac's disease?
-We hear so much news about going gluten-free to lose weight and feel better, but is it really necessary? Whole wheat grains are good for us..so why go gluten free unless we need to? For most people, a gluten free diet is completely unnecessary and will offer little to no benefits regarding weight loss or health. So many people think that if they go gluten free they'll lose weight. Ultimately, the only reason that gluten is taken out of a person's diet (medically recommended) is if their body is having trouble digesting it -- (Celiac's disease, Crohn's Disease). Otherwise, doctors do not recommend getting rid of gluten from your body.
How to avoid gluten?
-If someone in your family is on a gluten free diet for medical reasons, sometimes it helps if you go gluten-free with them. It will make their life a lot easier if they eat the same things as the people they are around. So, how do you do that? We are all so used to eat breads, pastas, pizzas, etc. Now, we have to change? Is it possible? Yes, fortunately there are tons of gluten free grains available!
-In place of pasta/rice -- try Quinoa. Although the texture will take some getting used to, in the end you will be happy you have it. It soaks up flavors of whatever you mix it with. Try it in place of your pasta for the next time you want to make some mac and cheese OR in place of rice when you make a stir-fry!
-In place of cereal -- try Chex! Chex cereals are all gluten-free. There are so many fun flavors (my favorites are Honey Nut and Cinnamon). These can be enjoyed as a snack too!
-As for breads, I've never tried any of the gluten free options. The only thing I've heard is that they take some getting used to, which makes sense considering they don't contain one of the main ingredients that is used in bread.
-Pizza! Try Godfather's! They offer a gluten free crust that I have heard is great (I have a friend with Celiac's disease).
Do you or someone you know suffer from a disease that has to avoid gluten? How do they deal with it?
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