Understand Gluten and Avoid Jimmy Kimmel

Understand Gluten and Avoid Jimmy Kimmel

Mention the word “gluten” and you are likely to get varied opinions on the topic. Some say consuming gluten is harmful to health and should be avoided. Others say that the whole gluten-free trend is a bunch of nonsense.

With gluten-free eating a current topic, and if you are considering going gluten-free, you will want to know the facts. Otherwise, you may become entertainment for others because you don’t know a) what gluten is, and b) why you are gluten-free. If you have seen the Jimmy Kimmel video then you know what I am talking about. If you are considering a gluten-free diet, I can help you to know the basics before you start.

I personally have a long history with gluten-free eating as my beloved mother was diagnosed with Celiac Disease over 23 years ago. This was before there was gluten-free bread sold in the supermarket and long before someone felt compelled to create a gluten-free Twinkie recipe. Mom was diagnosed when Celiac Disease was a relatively unknown disease and I was 7 years old. I was with her every step of the way during the process of learning how to eat gluten-free, from the gluten-free pasta taste tests to the not always successful baking projects. Of course, as a child without Celiac Disease, I did not go completely gluten-free. However, as I became interested in cooking in high school, I enjoyed making gluten-free dinners for my mom several nights during the week. I also enjoyed baking experiments and trying to make gluten-free baked goods taste like the gluten-containing variety. When it comes to what contains or does not contain gluten, I consider myself an expert.

What is gluten? Gluten is a protein, actually a composite of gliadin and glutenin, found in wheat, rye, barley and oats (unless certified gluten-free oats). Gluten gives bread that wonderful elastic, chewy texture. Gluten is also involved in the dough rising process. This is why it is so difficult to make gluten-free bread taste good.

What is Celiac Disease? Celiac Disease is an immune reaction to eating gluten. The reaction is located in the small intestine and over time the immune response leads to inflammation and damage to the lining of the small intestine. This results in the inability to absorb key nutrients and leads to uncomfortable symptoms including bloating, gas, diarrhea and a list of other possible symptoms. A blood test may indicate Celiac Disease in a person who is currently eating gluten, and an intestinal biopsy will confirm.

What is gluten sensitivity? People who have tested negative for Celiac Disease may experience non-celiac gluten sensitivity. The symptoms can be similar to that of Celiac Disease and may also include fatigue, depression, or bone and joint pain (to name a few). Gluten sensitivity is often self-reported and there is no blood test for gluten sensitivity.

What is a wheat allergy? Some individuals may experience a runny nose, hives, swelling of lips, diarrhea, or difficulty breathing if they have a wheat allergy. This is an allergy specific to wheat and is not linked to gluten.

If you don’t have any issues with eating gluten, is it bad for you? There really is no evidence to suggest that gluten is bad for the general population without Celiac Disease.

What do you do if you think you have a problem with gluten? Get tested! Ask the doctor to be tested for Celiac Disease including anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTGA) in the blood. If your levels are high, then the doctor may perform an intestinal biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. It is important to continue to eat gluten containing foods before and during this process. After a positive diagnosis, gluten will have to be avoided indefinitely. If your test is negative, you do not have Celiac Disease, but you may have sensitivity. Unfortunately, there is no easy testing method for gluten sensitivity. The best method to determine if the uncomfortable symptoms are caused by gluten is to do an elimination diet (this will be discussed in more detail in another related post).

Hopefully, after reading this post, you will be able to answer the question “what is gluten?” when you are confronted in the park after your workout by a guy with a video camera. As far as the “Why are you gluten free?” question (if you do not have Celiac Disease) then please stay tuned for related blog posts.