Gluten is a protein found in wheat and flour. Its supple and elastic. Components contain gluten proteins called peptides. A lot of food containing gluten are wheat, rye, and barley.
Most people avoid gluten due to health reasons, particularly the celiac disease patients (allergic to gluten proteins that cause immune disorders). Dare naughty and breaking taboos, the body’s defense system will react as if gluten is the enemy that must be destroyed. As a result of intestinal villi, the organ in the abdomen which helps the absorption of nutrients, so disturbed. If allowed to continue could cause malnutrition.
In addition to celiac disease sufferers, gluten should also be shunned by people with rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, inflammation of the nervous system (neuromyelitis), autism, ataxia (loss of weight for no apparent reason), down syndrome, cognitive disorders, osteoporosis, diabetes type 1 and 2, as well as anemia. In addition, allergy sufferers can also benefit from eating gluten-free.
In addition, those who have intolerance to gluten or gluten syndrome are also advised to avoid gluten, thus explains Dr. Rodney Ford, an allergist from Australia. The symptoms are frequent headaches, excessive anxiety, and feel tired prolonged. Gluten-free diet is also good to be lived by those who do not have any complaints.
Writer Donna Karn and Alessio Fasano, MD, a pediatrician and professor of physiology and medicine from the mucosal Biology Research Center, University of Maryland, in the book Living Gluten Free For Dummies, explained the reason why we should stay away from foods that contain gluten:
1. Make us more youthful. Wheat increases in blood sugar levels. In the blood, the sugar binds to the protein. Both raise the levels of enzymes that damage glikasi skin collagen tissue.
2. Relieve symptoms of menopause. Some health experts believe that gluten can exacerbate menopausal symptoms such as fever, headache, and mood swings. Avoiding gluten tantamount to relieve these symptoms.
3. Easier to maintain weight. With a gluten dieters, means we are “forced” to forget the favorite snacks such as pizza, pasta, cakes, and bread. Switch to other types of snacks that are more healthy as a salad or juice.
4. More aware of nutrition. The habit of reading food labels to make us become more familiar with the various terms of nutrition. If you do not understand, we will be motivated to find out. Result, we so understand if oats, malt, and wheat, only the terms of wheat.
5. Blood sugar levels more stable. Gluten-free means avoiding bad carbs. The result, blood sugar more stable. In addition, we become more energy due to excess carbohydrates can make the body lethargic and sleepy.