Gluten-Free

I’ve always seen restaurants with “gluten-free” options, or heard of people saying they don’t eat gluten. But I never understood what that really means! When I was younger I always just figured it was some new diet thing people were trying out. As I got older I knew that was wrong, but I still never really knew what gluten was, or why so many people were trying to avoid it, so it’s about time to learn about gluten!

Gluten is a composite formed from many different proteins found in types of wheat and other grains like rye and barley. These proteins form gluten and create the elasticity found in dough. As we all know, dough is a part of many different foods, especially carbs. Gluten can be found in bread, pasta, tortillas, bagels, cereal, pretty much anything made from wheat or rye flour. It can also sometimes be found in other foods and beverages like beer, cookies, lunch meats, soy sauce and even some ketchup. Gluten is even used as the base for imitation meats like veggie burgers. So if you want to stay away from gluten, you are going to have to check the labels well to make sure you are staying gluten free. 

10 years ago it seems like gluten was never a problem, and gluten-free options were never seen. Gluten-free is everywhere now though. Gluten free products have been popping up in all supermarkets and restaurants have been creating more and more gluten-free options to keep up with the people. Apparently some churches have even begun offering gluten-free communion wafers. But why has gluten become such a big issue lately?

For some people gluten can cause intestinal problems, which can lead to more serious sensitivities to gluten and diseases. However, this gluten sensitivity seems to be increasing in industrialized countries, like ours, which is why we have been hearing more about gluten now then ever before. It is believed that our countries are just to clean, that our bodies immune systems can’t handle all the same stuff our ancestors could. If we were to eat a little dirt when we were kids most people would consider a little dirt to be good, that it would help promote a healthy immune system. But with our society becoming cleaner our immune systems no longer can handle all foods as well anymore. This is why more people have discovered that their bodies feel better when they stay away from gluten. 

Even for healthy people, who do not have gluten sensitivity, gluten is still a difficult protein for their body to digest. So healthy people, as well as gluten sensitive people have been adopting gluten-free diets as part of their lifestyle now. 

Gluten-free is no big new fad; our bodies are evolving and are getting use to this nice clean society we’re living in. Gluten-free has become a lifestyle for many people now, and I’m guessing we are going to be seeing a lot more gluten-free products and restaurants in the future.

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Chris Keating
Santa Clara University