Have you ever walked into a box store or a grocery store to buy food? I am sure you have or at least someone in your family has. I want to ask you a question though. Have you seen all the gluten free foods that are available now? Do you know what gluten is?
Well if you have not noticed ,gluten or a form of gluten is in most food products. Gluten is a protein component that is usually found in wheat and other related grains. It helps the dough rise, gives it some chewiness, shapes it, and makes more elastic. That being said, why do people go on gluten free diet? Some say it is healthy for you. Some other people say they do not believe that gluten is a problem. Some people do have to watch out for gluten-containing foods in certain conditions like Celiac’s disease. Other people like Dr. Kadi, on the other hand, have a gluten sensitivity or are not able to process the processed products containing the common processed white flour. Different reactions can include skin rashes, itching, bloating or in Dr. Kadi’s case, she will go into a coughing fit after eating or drinking certain foods containing gluten.
So what foods have gluten in them you might ask? A basic list off the top of my head: Flour, bread, pasta, cookies, muffins, cereal, beer, gravy, crackers, dressings, etc. There are a lot of different things that have gluten in them. Flour in general is used in a lot of foods as a thickener or binder. Sometimes it is a trial and error to see if it agrees with you. But this at least gives you an idea of what foods have gluten.
So what foods do not have gluten in them? Again some products are like: corn, rice, potato, quinoa, beans, fruits, vegetables, etc. I will say even though Dr. Kadi has the gluten sensitivity, it does make me eat healthier as well. There are certain flours out there to try like potato rice and almond/nut flour. There are many different products that state they are gluten free but the best advice to read the labels. Read those labels and do some research because not all gluten-free food is healthier for you. It may contain more sugar or other fats that are not as healthy for you. If you have any questions, please do not be afraid to contact us at Fletcher Chiropractic or another health care provider to point you in the right direction. You can also check websites like American Diabetes Association or Dr. Mercola’s website that contain good information as well. Have a wonderful day!