What is wheat gluten

What is wheat gluten

Gluten is a family of proteins found in some grains such as wheat , barley and others, but wheat is the most widely used and common among them. The dough, its elasticity, and its height when baking, because these proteins form a sticky network when mixing flour with water , and gluten is the subject of controversy, as many consider it safe and does not cause health problems for people without wheat allergy, while others believe that it is harmful to most people. ^[1]

Foods containing gluten

Of cereals that contain gluten: ^[2]

• Flour, bran, and wheat germ .
• Moroccan couscous.
• Bulgur
• Oats (in fact, oats do not contain gluten, but rather it is often manufactured in factories and facilities that produce gluten, which increases the risk of contamination with it).
• barley.
• Wheatgrass.
• Gluten can appear as an ingredient in the following foods:
  • Chicken broth.
  • Barley vinegar.
  • Some sauces and dressing salads.
  • Vegetarian burgers (unless classified as gluten-free).
  • Soy sauce.
  • Flavorings and spice mixes.

Gluten sensitivity

Gluten intolerance or intolerance, is a disease that causes symptoms when eating wheat and everything that contains gluten in it, and it is worth differentiating between gluten sensitivity and Celiac disease, despite their similarity in some symptoms, that celiac disease is considered a disease Immunologically, it causes the body's immune system to attack its own tissues, especially the tissues of the small intestine, as a result of eating foods containing gluten, and only those who have a genetic predisposition to it suffers from it, as scientists have linked specific genes to celiac disease, while the cause of gluten sensitivity is not completely known until now. ^{[3] [4]}

Symptoms of gluten sensitivity

The symptoms of gluten sensitivity are summarized as follows: ^[5]

• Bloating: Although bloating , which is the feeling that the stomach area is full of gas after eating, is common among people, and it may occur for several reasons, it is considered a common symptom among people who are sensitive to gluten, as one study showed that 87% of Gluten-intolerant people had bloating.
• Diarrhea or constipation: Diarrhea or constipation from time to time is considered normal, but it may indicate an imbalance when it occurs repeatedly, and it is a common symptom of gluten sensitivity, as gluten causes problems in the digestive system, afflicting nearly 50% of people Those who suffer from this sensitivity have diarrhea frequently, while 25% of them suffer from constipation , and some complications may result from recurrent diarrhea such as dehydration , fatigue, electrolytes and nutrients loss.
• Pain in the abdominal area: The pain of the abdominal width of the sensitivity of the most common gluten, as exposed to more than 83% of people with these allergies, after eating foods containing gluten.
• Headaches: Studies have found that people with an allergy to wheat are usually more prone to headaches , and migraines in particular. If a person has headaches repeatedly without any apparent reason, then they may be allergic to gluten.
• A feeling of fatigue: be infected with allergy gluten- people are more likely to feel tired, as studies have shown that (60-82)% of them suffer from fatigue, and fatigue after eating foods containing gluten, and cause allergic gluten- anemia caused by iron deficiency , which in turn causes more fatigue.
• Depression: People with digestive disorders are often more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression , and therefore there are several explanations, including the following:
  • Low levels of serotonin : Serotonin is a neurotransmitter called the happiness hormone, and low levels of serotonin are associated with depression.
  • Gluten exorphins: They are peptides that form when gluten is digested. They can affect the central nervous system and increase a person's risk of depression.
  • Disruption of the balance of gut bacteria : An increase in harmful bacteria in the intestine, and a decrease in the number of beneficial bacteria, can affect the central nervous system, and it also increases the risk of depression.

Diagnosis of gluten sensitivity

Doctors diagnose gluten sensitivity by looking at the symptoms that afflict a person, and starting to exclude the most dangerous diseases by conducting the necessary tests, and whether or not the symptoms occur after eating foods containing gluten or not. Gluten, and some tests may be done to find out whether a person has celiac disease, and among these tests: ^[3]

• Blood test: the person’s blood is tested for antibodies. The person does not have celiac disease unless it is found.
• Biopsy: A biopsy is taken from the lining of the intestine , to look for damage in it, as a result of the body's immune response to gluten, by attacking the intestinal tissues, and if that damage is present, it often means that the person has celiac disease.

Gluten free foods

There are many gluten free foods that gluten sensitive patients can eat, and we mention the following: ^[2]

• Vegetables and fruits.
• Beans of all kinds.
• Legumes .
• Nuts.
• potato.
• Eggs .
• Milk and milk products.
• Oils and vinegar.
• Maize.
• Rice .
• Fish.
• Beef.
• Chicken .
• sea ​​food.
• Quinoa.
• Soybeans .

References

1. ↑ Adda Bjarnadottir (3-6-2017), "What is gluten, and why is it bad for some people?" , Www.medicalnewstoday.com , Retrieved 28-2-2018. Edited.
2. ^ ^{A b} Michael Kerr, Kristeen Cherney (17-4-2017), "Gluten Intolerance Food List: What ' And What ' To Avoid the To Eat" , Www.healthline.com , Retrieved 29-4-2018. Edited.
3. ^ ^{A b} , Markus MacGill (24-4-2017), "What ' Is Gluten Intolerance?" , Www.medicalnewstoday.com The , Retrieved 29-4-2018. Edited.
4. ↑ "Gluten Sensitivity" , medlineplus.gov , Retrieved 29-4-2018. Edited.
5. ↑ Adda Bjarnadottir (29-9-2016), "The 14 Most Common Signs of Gluten Intolerance" , www.healthline.com , Retrieved 4-29-2018. Edited.