What is gluten

What is gluten? How does gluten affect health?

What is gluten

whole wheat flour

Gluten is a protein that is in some grains such as wheat, spelt, barley and rye. When these flours are mixed with water, gluten makes dough elastic. This makes the breads made from these flours rise well and gives the bread a chewy texture.

For people who are gluten intolerant, gluten protein does not let nutrients to be absorbed in body and that can cause malnutrition. It can also cause some other health problems in an individual.

Gluten sensitivity symptoms in a person include stomach pain, diarrhea, tiredness, bloating and depression.

Plain flour - white flour

As gluten containing flours, such as wheat flour (atta) /plain flour (maida) / semolina(cream of wheat/sooji/rava) are commonly used to make bread, a gluten sensitive person needs to look for alternatives for these flours.

A gluten sensitive person also needs to make sure that these alternative flours/ingredients have not come into contact with gluten containing ingredients during processing, milling, packing and distribution.

While cooking at home, be careful about using canned ingredients. Check if they contain wheat starch or barly / wheat products. While ordering food in a restaurant also a gluten intolerant person has to be careful.