Gluten is a hard-to-digest plant protein, commonly found in our everyday food grains like wheat, rye and barley. It is elastic in nature and helps the grain hold its specific shape.It is used in Indian staples like paranthas and rotis, normal white and brown bread, cakes, cookies and biscuits, pizza, burger, pasta, sauces like soya sauce and tomato ketchup, ice-cream and beer.
WHAT IS GLUTEN INTOLERANCE?
Gluten-intolerance is when the body is unable to absorb the gluten from food or other sources resulting in an allergic response. If you get skin rashes or loose stools or severe stomach aches after eating gluten-rich foods or using a gluten-enriched beauty product, then you may be intolerant towards the protein.
WHAT ARE THE COMMON TYPES?
There are the 2 major types of gluten intolerance:
1 . Celiac Disease
– It is a chronic auto-immune disease in which our body’s immunity attacks the gluten consumed.
-This disorder results in damage of the walls of small intestine and other organs to a lesser degree.
-The symptoms including skin rash, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, joint paint .
-However, it may be without any symptoms which causes it to go undetected in many patients.
-Continual consumption of gluten rich foods by patients of celiac disorder may lead to serious medical conditions such as malnutrition, weakening of the vital organs, osteoporosis and intestinal cancer.
There is no specific treatment this condition. Patients have to adopt a Gluten-free diet for healthy living.
2 . Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity
– It is a slightly less risky but more prevalent condition than the previous one.
-If eating gluten produces allergies, headaches and fatigue among others, and you have tested negative for celiac disease, your condition may be non-celiac gluten sensitivity or gluten allergy.
-A gluten-free diet helps people suffering from this condition.
WHAT ARE THE WAYS TO MANAGE GLUTEN INTOLERANCE?
-These days, foods like breads, cookies, pastas to lifestyle stuff like shampoos and lotions are all available in their gluten-free avatar.
-Grains like wheat and barley contain essential nutrients like iron, Vitamin B, folic acid and dietary fiber. To compensate for the absence of these in your diet, take supplements as prescribed by the doctor.
-Popular foods such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products, rice, millet, maize/corn and cornmeal, quinoa, nuts, eggs, fish, meats are all gluten-free.
-Ensure that you eat fresh ingredients rather than the processed ones and once in a while try the ‘gluten-free’ eats.
-While picking up life-style products, choose the ones that are free of this protein, preferably herbal.
-Eat a lot of citrus fruits like orange, lemon and lime to help the body assimilate nutrients and also for their anti-oxidant content.
–Potatoes and rice should see out your need of carbohydrates.
–Nuts and green leafy vegetables would supply you with enough minerals.
So, if you have symptoms of gluten intolerance, you do not need to fret over it or lose hope. By making small lifestyle changes, you can lead a healthy and fulfilling life. Just make sure you know what you can eat what you need to stay away from. Try and stick to natural, fresh and home made ingredients. Stay Healthy, Stay Happy with 1mg, a leading online medical store in India!