By Gayle Wortz
Is Gluten Bad?
Gluten just is. Is music bad, no but it could be used to promote bad things or good things. Is water bad? Depends on the proportions- good is 8 glasses a day, bad is a Tsunami, both are water. The point is, gluten is a naturally occurring part of a plant that in the right proportions will not harm most people. The problem is, it generally is not being used in the correct proportions any more. So let's take a moment to explore what gluten really is.
What is GLUTEN?
Gluten is a natural part of many different grains including wheat, barley, and rye. It is naturally "gooey" in texture, holds gasses in, and absorbs water, but is not soluble in liquid. Practically speaking, it gives dough and other products a "glue-like" texture when raw, allows the product to rise when cooked, and makes a chewy texture when consumed.
That's great in it's natural state. The problem is, farmers and food manufacturers have found that this natural part of grains, when genetically altered and/or distilled down and put into foods in higher than naturally occurring proportions causes a "feeling of fullness". According to The Natural History of Wheat, "...what is on our table has been selectively bred over time to increase the gluten content for baking or pasta-making. Most are hexaploid, octoploid, double hexaploid, or hexaploid-octoploid hybrids. This means that they have 6, 8, 12, or more sets of chromosomes. Some of this extra DNA is coding for amino acid sequences that human beings cannot break down, including a 33-amino acid sequence named 33-MER." What does that mean to you? Your wheat has been genetically altered to contain more gluten, meaning more of a feeling of satisfied fullness. That's great if you're starving in the Third World, but for most of us, it means trouble.
You see, that 33-MER that cannot be broken down can actually cause an auto-immune reaction. When it's full blown, it's called Celiac Disease, but even if you don't suffer from Celiac, ingesting things on a regular basis that your body cannot break down is not a good way to live. This 33-MER causes your immune system to hype up and can be part of the package that can lead to auto-immune or gut inflaming conditions.
Where Is GLUTEN?
Gluten has crept into areas you may not expect. The highest gluten foods are things you would assume, like breads, pastas, crackers, cereals, etc... But did you know there's gluten in all malted beverages, most condiments (like catsup), any kind of cream based soup or sauce (that's not made gluten free), most frozen meals, and even candy like gummy bears.
Fresh meats, fruits and veggies, and most dairy products generally do not naturally contain gluten. If they have been canned, breaded, creamed, or otherwise altered, they probably do. Another surprise: oats grown in the USA contain at least trace amounts of gluten (especially the rolled oats). Only Steel Cut Irish Oats contain no gluten.
What to Do With GLUTEN?
First of all, be aware of what you are consuming. This week, as you eat foods that are processed or browse the grocery isles, I challenge you to read the label. You'll be amazed where you find gluten popping up as an ingredient!
Second, try and stick to the outside of the grocery store. If you stay on the outside edges of your grocery, you'll generally be alright! Fresh fruits, veggies, meats, and dairy are generally your best bet if you are trying to avoid gluten.
Third, be sure your supplements contain no gluten.
We strive very hard to keep a wide variety of gluten free quality vitamins and dietary supplements in our stock at SupplementRelief.com. We also have detailed product information on every single product we sell. We want to help you get better and better, not inflaming your immune system in any way. We also have great supplements for gluten sensitive people that help restore gut health!
Gayle is a thirty-something stay at home mom who suffered from several different diseases over a two-year period including Interstitial Cystitis and Graves Disease. She chronicles her journey to health and wellness using nutrition, vitamins, supplements, and integrative medicine providing health and wellness advise and encouragement in her SupplementRelief Blog of the Nutritional Concierge.
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