Do you know what gluten is? Did you know that your bread isn't the only gluten containing food?
A couple of years ago Jimmy Kimmel asked people who removed gluten from their diet if they knew what it was. Watch the video below. But spoiler alert - they didn't know either.
What is gluten?
Gluten is part of a family of proteins that is naturally found in a number of grains. It is made up of two main proteins called glutenin and gliadin. It is the gluten in wheat, for example, that that gives it elasticity so that it rises. If you've been following a gluten free diet for a while you would notice that nothing tastes quite the same as its gluten containing versions. Gluten is also found in rye, spelt and barley. If you have coeliac disease, your immune system treats gluten as though it is an invader. Unfortunately, the lining of your gut also gets attacked in the process which can lead to serious immediate and long term consequences such as nutrient deficiencies, diarrhoea, bloating, fatigue, constipation and bowel cancer.
Should I avoid gluten?
If you really want to cut gluten out of your diet, you should visit Coeliac Australia's website. It will tell you about all the foods that contain gluten and how you have to modify your diet extensively to really remove gluten from your diet. You'd be surprised how many of the foods you eat contain gluten. Spend just one shopping trip reading the labels on your food and you will discover "may contain gluten" on dips, sauces, condiments etc. It's everywhere. Also, your partner will have to keep the house gluten free too because there is a risk of contamination if things don't get washed out properly or if they accidentally drop bread crumbs in the butter.
There are THREE groups of people who benefit from removing gluten in their diet:
- Someone with coeliac disease. For them, eating gluten can not only make them feel terrible but it actually destroys their digestive tract as I have outlined briefly above.
- Someone who has a fructan intolerance. In short, bread contains fructans which is one of the carbohydrates that someone with irritable bowel (IBS) can be sensitive to. Therefore, when they remove bread from their diet they experience less bloating, constipation or diarrhoea. Its not the gluten.
- We are now learning more about something called "non-coeliac gluten sensitivity". In this case it is the gluten - they are sensitive to it, but its not causing damage to this person's body. This is diagnosed after ruling out persons 1, 2 and other serious conditions.
When you should seek medical advice
So now think about your experience removing gluten from your diet. Do you think it was because you cut processed foods from your diet and ate mostly fresh foods? Perhaps you chose better quality snacks, or ate more regularly, or more mindfully? Or do you think this warrants a trip to the doctor for a blood test and a colonoscopy, or a 14 week elimination and reintroduction program with a health professional?
If its not removing gluten from my diet that made me feel great, then what can I do instead?
Come see me in my Canberra rooms for some one-on-one advice to help you make those changes more easily. Or if you need that extra accountability that comes with having a friend on the same journey - come see me together for a tailored plan for both of you, with aligning goals so you can cheer each other on.
Finally, there's some information below about IBS, if you think this could be the cause of your digestive problems:
