Just a few years ago, people weren’t really sure what gluten was, but these days more and more people are trying to cut it right out of their diet. If you aren’t aware of the dangers of gluten, it might be time to shed some light on this issue so that you can determine whether or not you need to steer clear of it too.
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What Is Gluten?
Basically, gluten, according to Karen Ansel of Women’s Health, is;
…a protein found in the grains wheat, barley, and rye.
Gluten isn’t only used to ensure pizza dough stays stretchy, but it also thickens soups and sauces, so it is in just about everything. While some experts believe that gluten is bad for a specific group of people, others feel that just about everyone could do without it and the reasoning for this is quite intricate.
Celiac Disease and the Dangers Gluten Poses
People who are struggling with celiac disease, a disorder that actually affects their digestive system, react very negatively to gluten, which is why they are advised to cut it out of their diet completely. Because their immune system keeps reacting to the gluten, eventually it starts to damage the small intestine and this causes distress and a range of deficiencies. Worryingly, over time this could even lead to intestinal cancers, as well as conditions ranging from osteoporosis and even infertility.
Celiac Disease More Prevalent Than Initially Thought
In the past, Celiac disease was thought to be an issue that was faced by about 1 in 10,000 people in the U.S., so it was relatively rare and not thought to be a major concern. Recent findings suggest that it actually affects about 1 in 133 people in the states, making it much more prevalent and a much larger concern. These statistics came to light after people began to be made aware of what the condition was, as well as how it could be affecting people. Individuals who often felt unwell after eating a piece of bread in the past realized that it was because of the condition they had, not because they were simply being fussy.
Nonceliac Gluten Sensitivity
You don’t have to be a celiac to have an issue with gluten. According to research recently conducted in this field, having a mere sensitivity to gluten could end up causing problems such as stomach cramps, bloating and even diarrhea. These issues might be uncomfortable and even painful, but they don’t cause damage to the small intestine, although they should still be taken seriously.
Altering Your Diet
With all of the serious side effects of gluten, and the fact that it can be found in many foods, ranging from barley to other whole wheat grains, it is nice to know that people can avoid these side effects by cutting these foods out of their diet.
Getting Tested for Celiac Disease
Individuals who feel that they might have celiac disease might want to opt to get tested for this problem. Peter Lipson explains that in order to test for the condition, professionals simply need to;
…measure antibodies in the blood formed by people with celiac disease, and their intestine shows specific changes under the microscope.
Diets such as Paleo diet have gone a long way in helping celiac patients from avoiding some of the most harmful foods on the market because it advocates cutting out just about all grains, including those considered to be “healthy” by today’s standards.
No matter which side of the fence you fall on, whether you think gluten is only an enemy of those suffering from celiac disease or whether you feel everyone can benefit from cutting it out, there is certainly an argument for watching out for gluten in general.
The post Why Should You Cut Gluten Out Of Your Diet? appeared first on Paleo News and Reviews.