Gluten Intolerance

Let's talk gluten:

There is so much misinformation about gluten and so today I wanted to sort through some of the "noise" that is out there.

What actually is gluten:

Gluten is a protein that comes from wheat. A naturally occurring protein found in grains in the wheat family, is the trigger for those with celiac disease. Wheat, barley, and rye are the main gluten-containing grains.

Difference between gluten intolerance and Celiac disease:

Celiac disease is a diagnosed medical condition. For someone with celiac disease, if they eat gluten containing products, it will provoke an immune reaction in their body. This response damages the cells of the stomach lining and affects the absorption of other nutrients. On the other hand a GLUTEN INTOLERANCE means your body does not provoke an immune response to gluten but may cause digestive discomfort and lead to an array of symptoms such as bloating etc. A difference to note is that a gluten intolerance dose not mean you have to cut out gluten containing products all together but can be eaten to a certain extent before symptoms appear.

Cure for gluten intolerance:

The only cure for gluten intolerance is to abide by a strict 100% gluten free diet. This is because when someone with celiac disease consumes even a small amount of gluten, their body's immune response is to attack the small intestine.

Symptoms:

It can affect your mental and neurological health. Physical effects of gluten can cause "foggy brain" or cognitive and memory issues.

Despite a strict gf diet, some people still struggle with anxiety and depression.