What is Gluten? Is It Safe to Consume?

Gluten is a protein that’s found in different types of grains, it helps bread and other food maintain their shape. Foods like pizza and pasta also have gluten proteins. Should you avoid it? Is it okay to consume? We have the answers.

Where does gluten come from?
Gluten will come from grains like rye, barley, and triticale, which is a combination of rye and barley. Sometimes it can be found in oats as well.

What does gluten do to your body?
Protease is an enzyme in our bodies that processes proteins, but it can’t completely break down the gluten protein. It essentially doesn’t provide any nutrients to your body. Most people are unaffected by gluten, but others can have a severe autoimmune response to gluten with very unpleasant symptoms.

Side effects of gluten include mild fatigue, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. If you suffer from gluten intolerance, you may have more severe symptoms like anemia, depression, or abdominal pain.

Who should avoid gluten?
People who suffer from celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, wheat allergies, and gluten ataxia should avoid foods with gluten in them. People with these conditions can have very unpleasant or severe symptoms if they consume any gluten.

What should I do if I think I struggle with gluten issues?
If you notice yourself having symptoms as described earlier in the article, you may want to contact your primary care doctor. Your doctor will probably have blood tests done to test for celiac disease or a wheat allergy. Before you decide to cut gluten completely out of your diet, ask your doctor first.

Is it bad to consume?
If you don’t have a gluten allergy or celiac disease, gluten really isn’t bad for you but it doesn’t benefit you either. Many people think gluten-free diets will help them lose weight, but this is far from the truth. Most people who try gluten-free diets end up gaining weight because of sodium and sugar intake from processed foods.