Gluten is a complex protein found in many grains. It is especially abundant in wheat, oats, barley and rye. Some people have a congenital genetic gluten intolerance, which can manifest as an acute inflammatory reaction or weaker. In these cases, gluten-free foods are indicated.
Signs of gluten intolerance
Gluten is the same gluten that is considered a beneficial property of cereals. A genetic disorder in which the body reacts sharply to gluten is called celiac disease. In people with this diagnosis, the presence in the body of one of the gluten fractions - gliadins, provokes inflammation of the walls of the small intestine.
This is because the immune system classifies gliadin as a foreign protein and tries to supplant it by any means, affecting the tissues in which it is contained. Sometimes inflammatory reactions are observed in other organs: joints, heart, brain. People with celiac disease suffer from chronic diarrhea, anemia, weight deficiency, diabetes and depression.
Physicians from Europe and the United States conducted independent studies, during which both received the same results. As it turned out, mild gluten intolerance is quite common. It can manifest itself when eating baked goods and pasta, as well as foods containing flour.
In this case, there is severity and pain in the stomach, flatulence, which many simply do not pay attention to, but, meanwhile, such a reaction of the body is a signal to exclude all foods that contain gluten from the diet.
Unfortunately, it is not always possible to detect gluten intolerance with the help of tests. But a gluten-free diet has been shown to improve the well-being of many chronic patients with an unclear diagnosis.
Gluten Free Products
If you suffer from gluten intolerance, keep in mind that it can be found not only in flour products, it is very often used as a thickener and added to yoghurts, sausages and sausages, ketchups, sauces and mayonnaise. You should eat special foods that are completely gluten-free. Many companies have started making these products for people with severe or latent gluten intolerance.
You should not eat gluten-free foods without special need, if you do not have an intolerance to it, because flour products contain the B vitamins necessary for the body.
Gluten-free foods do not contain flour, but this does not mean that they are low in calories, they are often even higher in calories than their regular counterparts. A gluten-free diet is not aimed at getting rid of extra pounds; manufacturers are trying to compensate for the lack of wheat flour by adding more sugar and fat. Therefore, be sure to look at the calorie content, which should be indicated on the product packaging.
