What is the all talk about Gluten?

To begin, Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. These grains are found in traditional pasta, bread, cereals, pizza, and even in some sauces, like soy sauce. It seems like overnight we went from having to go on a scavenger hunt for gluten-free options, to now seeing gluten-free options on every shelf in grocery stores as well as on most menus at restaurants.

Gluten intolerance and Celiac Disease are two of the leading drivers for the influx of gluten-free products. While some make the choice to remove gluten from their diets because of mild stomach irritation, or for weight loss purposes, people with Celiac Disease do not have the option to choose. People with Celiac Disease are unable to tolerate even the smallest amounts of Gluten as it damages the lining of their small intestine, which can result in a variety of symptoms. While Gluten intolerance can show similar symptoms, the lining of the small intestine is not being harmed when they consume gluten.

With the help of the media, gluten-free diets are being broadcasted as the new weight loss diet. While this might apply to some, it is important for people to understand the benefits of gluten before choosing to remove it from their diet. Products containing gluten are often fortified, meaning they are enhanced with nutrients like thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, folic acid, and iron. Thus, if you remove gluten-containing products from your diet it is very important to find foods that can replace these nutrients.

If you do follow a gluten-free diet, here are some foods to help increase the nutrients you may be missing in your diet!

Foods High in Fiber:

Foods High in Thiamine:

Foods High in Riboflavin:

Brown rice

Quinoa

Beans/Legumes

Acorn Squash

Broccoli

Carrots

Tomato Juice

Broccoli

Bananas

Milk

Eggs

Mushrooms

Cuisine for Healing has many delicious gluten-free meal options available, although we do not have a grain-free kitchen so our meals may not be suitable for those with extreme gluten intolerance.

Here are some of the gluten-free options offered at Cuisine for Healing: