Glutenfree
Gluten - what is it?
and how do you avoid it?
What is Gluten?
Gluten is actually a family of proteins that are found commonly in Wheat, Rye and Barley. These proteins help the plants and seeds to germinate and grow. When Wheat, Rye and Barley are used in food the Gluten proteins are also in the food. Gluten helps add an elasticity to food and helps other ingredients to bond together in the cooking process. Foods made with Wheat, Rye & Barley include:
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Pasta
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Bread
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Cakes & Biscuits
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Beer
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Sauces
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Coeliac Disease
1 in 100 people in the UK suffer from Coeliac Disease. In people with Coeliac Disease the body mistakes the proteins found in Gluten for an attack and the body's immune system kicks in and starts to attack the stomach and intestines. You can find more about this condition from the NHS or from Coeliac UK
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Avoiding Gluten
A really high number of people in the UK now avoid Gluten in their everyday diet. In fact it is thought that as many as 10% of people in the UK actively avoid eating Gluten in their diet. Whether you are Coeliac, Gluten Intolerant or just making a lifestyle change, it is possible to avoid Gluten by learning a few habits like looking for the crossed grain symbol, knowing which foods are more likely to contain Gluten and always checking the packaging. Although it can be daunting at the beginning, it gets easier and easier as the habits form. Don't be discouraged, use it as an opportunity to experiment with different foods and flavours.
