Gluten-Free Cause and Effect

The term gluten refers to the proteins found in wheat, rye, and barley. The most common sources of gluten include breads, pastries, pasta, and cereals, yet everything from mouthwash and toothpaste to lipstick and supplements can contain gluten. It can also be hidden under certain names such as emulsifier, . I have had celiac disease for about five years, and throughout this period I have mastered the art of detecting and avoiding gluten. In fact, I believe that the key strategies to adapt to this lifestyle are : to always be cautious and alert, to do your research, and to collect up to date and credible information. I remember when I was first diagnosed, my doctor gave me a short list of foods that I must eliminate. However, within one week, I kept on adding to that list until I turned it into a ten pages catalogue that I used as a guideline to facilitate my transition. I had a major clear out

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. People with celiac disease cannot eat foods with the gluten protein, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. If they eat foods with gluten, their

Celiac disease seems to be on an up rise today. You now walk into grocery stores and restaurants and see gluten-free food everywhere. Thankfully, for the celiac disease community, life has become a little easier with these accommodations. When most people hear celiac disease many just think gluten-free diets, but they do not realize that celiac disease can affect all parts of the body and mind, or that the disease has a higher prevalence in women. It is a new lifestyle that many have to take on. In the next few pages, I will discuss the affects that this disease has on the body systems, the lifestyle changes many make when diagnosed with celiac disease, and the importance of educating those who are dealing with the disease on a day to day basis. I also will discuss information from two articles which focus in on the direct affects that the disease takes on women living with it, and the lifestyle changes that are necessary to manage the symptoms.

If you notice or experience any of the signs or symptoms common to celiac disease, see your doctor. If someone in your family is known to have celiac disease, you may need to be tested. Starting the process will help you avoid complications associated with the disease, such as osteoporosis, anemia and certain types of cancer. Seek medical attention for a child who is pale, irritable, fails to grow and who has foul smelling stools. Many other conditions can cause these same signs and symptoms, so it's important to talk to your doctor before trying a gluten-free diet.

As a celiacs daughter I quickly adapted the “gluten free” life style out of convenience for my mother. I would even find myself going to restaurants asking for the gluten free menu and strictly sticking to the diet in and out of my household. I was aware that I was lacking some nutrients by not eating gluten but to make up for it I took vitamin D pills and everyday women health vitamins but little did I know that was not enough to keep me healthy. I was not aware of the risks I was putting myself at by eliminating a whole category of food. I was lacking my body of calcium, fibre and iron as well as other nutrients.

When you talk to your friends at the gym about the diets you are following the word gluten comes up or when your seeing a cook show they often show more gluten-free recipes and when you go to the super market and you are walking down the aisles you can see many products marked as gluten-free. Gluten has been a really popular topic in many conversations in the past years. Gluten is found in many food products mainly on the bread products. Gluten is a protein that is found in wheats and in many other grains (7). Gluten is a component for grasses such as wheat, barley, and rye, but gluten is not found in all grasses like corn or rice. (7). Gluten helps to give a certain type of texture when the bread is being produced. This grains are found in many of the food products we consume daily.

When you have a gluten intolerance, you can't grab a burger with a bun, eat pizza, or enjoy a bowl of pasta at your favorite Italian eatery.

Celiac Disease is a digestive condition that makes the small intestines to become inflamed and unable to absorb nutrients (Kamycheva, Goto, & Camargo 2017). The condition affects more than 3 million Americans. One in 133 American people are known to have the disease. The condition is triggered when an individual eats gluten. Mostly gluten is found in barley, wheat, rye, and other grains that most Americans love to eat. What if you couldn’t eat sandwiches, pasta, cakes, pies, pizza? Sound terrible, right? This has been my life for 10 years now.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder which is triggered by consumption of a dietary protein called gluten. Celiac disease causes the immune system to react abnormally to gluten. This immune response can lead to damage of the small intestines therefore causing malabsorption of vital nutrients. Gluten is found in wheat, rye, barley and triticale (a cross between wheat and rye). Celiac disease is also referred to as celiac sprue, gluten-sensitivity and non-tropical sprue. Gluten is not only contained in grains but it is also a hidden ingredient in a very large number of prepared foods. Celiac disease is a genetic disorder which means that the genes which predispose people to celiac disease can be passed on from parent to child in the DNA. Celiac disease is also more common among people with other genetic disorders including Down syndrome and Turner syndrome, a condition that affects girls’ development.

First of all,The main reason why people need gluten is for their body’s health. For example, people need gluten specifically in the immune system. Gluten can help fight cancer in your Immune system. High gluten bread improves triglyceride levels, which is good for your blood. One month of no gluten can hurt your body. That’s one reason why I think gluten diets are not worth it.

2. The health issues of consuming gluten include: autoimmune, endocrine, respiratory, muscles, skeletal , mental, digestive and cancer health concerns.(Karr)

Many autoimmune diseases such as Rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Psoriasis, Ulcerative colitis and Multiple sclerosis can be the result of gluten intolerance.

This sounds easy, but it is more difficult than it sounds. Cutting gluten out of one’s diet basically means that they may eat plain meats, fruits, vegetables, rice, potatoes, and most dairy products (King 120). This seems like a boring way to live, but there are many foods that have been made to be gluten free. For example, there are bands like “Gluteno” that make gluten free cookies, pasta, and other normally gluten-containing foods. When picking out foods that are gluten free one needs to be cautious. Always read the food label before purchasing any product you think may be gluten free (King 121). By law, labels must list all ingredients in a product and if it contains a common allergen (including wheat) and this should be stated clearly (Hand 54). Some foods that are labeled gluten free will still be processed in a facility that makes foods with the gluten protein. Steer clear of these items, as they may be cross-contaminated on the facilities processing equipment. Cross-contamination can be an everyday issue that people with Celiac Disease have to face. They are advised not to eat foods prepared with pans, dishes, or utensils that were previously used to prepare allergenic food (Hand 54). This can add difficulties when eating out or anywhere that one cannot regulate how the food is

The act of taking out gluten does not make a diet healthier, but there are ways to be healthy without eating gluten. Gluten free diets can be healthy if processed foods and excessive carbs are simply dropped and only lean meats, fresh produce, and low-fat dairy are consumed(Nelson). Gluten free products lack the vitamins and minerals that wheat products contain (Palmer). Gluten-containing products contain much of the Vitamin B in our diets. Their gluten free counterparts are not nearly as rich in this vitamin, and a lack of one type of this vitamin is especially critical for pregnant women, because a type of this vitamin prevents birth defects (Strawbridge). So, avoiding gluten can negatively alter nutrition, because a diet without gluten will not provide necessary vitamins. When consuming gluten free replacements for processed foods, it is important to realize their nutricious deficiencies. The replacements for wheat in gluten free products are highly processed and have sugar contents that can be as high as the sweets people are trying to diet from (Spector). When consuming packaged gluten free foods that are gluten free, they have proven to be contain even more fat and sugar than the original products (Fenton). Fat and sugar decrease the nutritional value of gluten free replacements for many

If you’re not at all worried of being gluten-intolerant or you feel that you’re not at risk of having neurological disorders, but you’re very conscious about your weight, then you really have to take the gluten-free diet seriously.