In recent years, gluten has gone from being a little-known term to the center of many conversations around healthy eating. But what exactly is gluten, and how can it affect our bodies? In this article, we’ll break down the basics—from what gluten is to how it impacts health.
What is gluten?
Gluten is a protein found in grains such as wheat, barley, and rye. It acts like a “glue” that gives dough its elasticity and helps bread and other baked goods hold their shape. While gluten is harmless for most people, for others it can cause health issues, such as coeliac disease or non-coeliac gluten sensitivity.
How gluten affects the body
For people with coeliac disease, an autoimmune condition, eating gluten damages the lining of the small intestine, preventing the proper absorption of nutrients. Symptoms can include abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and fatigue, among others. Non-coeliac gluten sensitivity causes similar symptoms, though without the intestinal damage associated with coeliac disease.
Living gluten-free
The only effective treatment for those with gluten-related conditions is a strict gluten-free diet. This means avoiding all products that contain wheat, barley, and rye. Fortunately, growing awareness has led to a wider variety of gluten-free options available in today’s market.
Understanding what gluten is and how it can affect your body is the first step toward managing any related sensitivity or allergy. With the right information and resources, living gluten-free isn’t just possible—it can be both delicious and nutritious.
Further reading:
“Coeliac Disease: More Than Just a Diagnosis” – by the Cantabrian Health Service.
