As I visit many marketplaces selling healthy foods, I am surprised to observe so many signs on food products stating, “gluten-free.”
I can recall as a child when my intake of excessive sweets caused my mom to say, “Stop being a glutton.” Now “glutton” has nothing to do with gluten, because if you have an allergy to gluten, a small amount can cause your intestines to get an attitude, in turn causing a feeling of bloating, cramping, diarrhea and excessive gas, and also, weight loss and anemia.
Sensitivity to gluten can even cause babies to fail to thrive. This possibility is one reason infants should never start with mixed cereals too early. They may be allergic to gluten. Rice cereal is a preferred starter.
Gluten can be found in foods such as salad dressings, gravies, meats with fillers (franks), most baked goods, ice cream, candies, beer, ale and pastas.
An intolerance to gluten can be life long and a gluten-free diet is necessary to prevent gastrointestinal symptoms.
Gluten can also be found in wheat, barley, oats, rye and mixed breakfast cereals. The small intestines are lined with finger-like projections called villi, which absorb nutrients as food passes through the gut. If one is allergic to gluten, these small villi become useless, causing intestinal symptoms that can be a life-long affliction.
A gluten-free diet is the only answer. Those who are sensitive should beware of foods you are eating that may have hidden gluten. An allergy to gluten effects 1 to 6 of every 10,000 Americans.