Are you Gluten-Sensitive?
If you live in Los Angeles one of the common phrases you may hear is “I’m gluten-free.” Many go on gluten-free diets thinking it will help them lose weight or solve a health issue.
What does gluten-free really mean?
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye products. Most cereals and breads contain gluten. Gluten-containing grains include wheat, barley, bulgur, couscous, matzo, spelt and rye. Some oat products have questionable amounts of gluten.
Examples of gluten-free grains include brown or wild rice, quinoa, millet, buckwheat, sorghum, teff, and amaranth.
Eating gluten-free is a must for those with celiac disease, who face real risks from ingesting gluten. For those with gluten sensitivity, the restriction may not be as critical, but is a way to help control adverse reactions such as headaches or fatigue.
Those with gluten sensitivity may also feel bloated when eating gluten containing products or other diverse symptoms. This is now referred to as non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
There are limited tests that show gluten sensitivity but the best one is your own experiment.
Try going gluten-free for 30 days – if your symptoms go away and you feel a better or have an improved sense of well being you are probably in the gluten sensitive category. If not, there is other reason for your symptoms.
Limiting your intake of gluten means you are cutting out many starchy, refined carbohydrates, which can help your weight and health.
However, eating gluten-free is not carbohydrate-free as many would think. It can be easy to increase your carbohydrates by eating many gluten-free products. If you’re trying to lower your carbohydrate intake, you’ll have to try a different method.
Pros: Essential for a system that does not tolerate gluten and helps reduce health concerns of those who are sensitive
Cons: Requires restricting all gluten-containing products, as well as diligent label reading and education. For example, frozen French fries are frequently coated with a dusting of flour.
If you suspect you are gluten sensitive I’m compiled a list of foods and additives that contain or can contain gluten. If is extensive but worth exploring is you suspect sensitivity and/or experiencing health issues and can’t come up with a cause.
List
Acacia, annatto and caramel coloring
Alcohol made from wheat ? beer, ale and some hard liquor
Anything fried/breaded
Barley
Binders
Bouillon cubes
Bulgur
Cellulose gum
Cereals made from gluten-containing grains
Chewing gum
Communion wafers
Couscous
Distilled vinegar
Emulsifiers
Fillers
Flour, self-rising, enriched or wheat
Garlic salt
Hydrolyzed Vegetable protein (HVP)
Hydrolyzed plant protein (HPP)
Imitation crabmeat
Imitation bacon
Instant coffee (Postum)
Kamut
Ketchup
Laxatives
Licorice
Malt or cereal extracts
Malt flavoring
Malt vinegar
Modified Food Starch
MSG
Wheat, wheat products
Oats
Prescription meds that contain fillers
Rye
Soy sauce
Spelt
Stabilizers
Teriyaki sauce
Vegetable broth