It's Gluten.. Is it safe? unsafe? Gluten allergy? Gluten intolerance?... What is this? Answers to all these questions is right HERE !!! 😍😍
What is Gluten???
In simple terms, Gluten (from Latin gluten, "glue") is a group of proteins [1] which are found with starch of various cereal grains.
Gluten is composed of glutenin and gliadin molecules that form an elastic bond when mixed with water. Gluten is known for its abilities to maintain structure in bread and cakes together, and providing a spongier texture. [2]
Natural Foods having Gluten
It is a complex mixture of hundreds of related but distinct proteins, mainly gliadin and glutenin found in wheat. Similar storage proteins exist as secalin in rye, hordein in barley, and avenins in oats and are collectively referred to as “gluten”. [3]
Gluten is also found in hybrids of these grains like triticale (hybrid of wheat and rye) and as well as in food products like pasta, roti, bread etc made out of these grains.
Hidden Gluten
When Gluten free foods come in contact with Gluten containing foods, the Gluten is incorporated in the Gluten free food. This is called Cross-contact. At times like this Gluten free food is no more Gluten free. This is the Hidden gluten that gets added eventually.
Cross-contact can happen in industries while making gluten free grains flour like that of brown rice, jowar, quinoa, millets like bajra, amaranth, etc in the same facility where gluten rich grains like wheat, barley, rye are powdered for flour making. Cross-contact can also happen in household environment where the common utensils are used for making gluten free foods and gluten rich foods. [4]
Why is Gluten problematic ?
Gluten free diet has become a buzz word due to the increase in number of cases of gluten intolerance and allergy. Gluten protein when consumed, it triggers the immune system and thus the lining of the small intestine is eaten up. This is the condition faced by people with Celiac disease. They are highly intolerant to gluten. [5, 6]
Gluten may also cause rashes on the skin which is a result of your own immune system attacking you. This gluten allergy is known as Dermatitis Herpetiformis.
In rare cases due to gluten intake from your food, Gluten may trigger the immune response of the person, which attacks the brain and neurological system. This is known as Gluten Ataxia.
In all the above cases mentioned, the best remedy is to avoid gluten containing foods and consume Gluten free foods. [5] Natural Sources of Gluten free foods are millets like ragi, jowar, bajra, etc, pseudocereals like Amaranth, Quinoa, fruits and vegetables which are also rich sources of proteins and amino acids.
For Amazin' Gluten-free recipes... check out Jus' Amazin Blog
For more insight on the above content have a look at books written by Indian Authors: Pankaj Vohra, "Celiac Disease – A Comprehensive Guide" (2016), Jeeva Anna George and Sheila Kumar, "A Gluten-Free Life: My Celiac Story" (2018), Ishi Khosla, "Is Wheat Killing You?" (2013)
References
Food and Drug Administration (January 2007)."Food Labeling; Gluten-Free Labeling of Foods"
https://articles.mercola.com/what-is-gluten.aspx
Biesiekierski JR, “What is gluten?”, J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017 Mar; 32 Suppl 1:78-81.
https://www.beyondceliac.org/gluten-free-diet/cross-contact/
https://www.verywellhealth.com/five-different-types-of-gluten-allergy-562305
http://celiacindia.org.in/about-celiac-disease/gluten-intolerance/
Author: Manisha Byakodi
Disclaimer: The content represented is based on the references stated above. Any changes in the diet should be done after consulting Nutrition expert or Doctor.