What is Gluten Free?

Gluten is a protein that is found in many common grains, including wheat, kamut, spelt, barley, rye, and triticale. For a variety of reasons, there are many people who are required to or choose to eat what is known as a gluten free diet. For example, a wheat allergy, gluten intolerance, and celiac disease all make it impossible or painful to digest this protein, necessitating avoidance of foods that contain it.

Gluten can show up in a variety of places, most commonly in breads and baked goods, which makes it difficult for people who must eat gluten free foods to buy packaged food. Gluten is also often used as a filler in meats or as a thickening agent (flour) in many other foods that would normally not contain gluten. This makes it important to check labels when buying foods, even if you do not think they would contain the substance.

While many people are forced to avoid the protein due to health issues like an allergy or celiac disease, sometimes people choose to voluntarily adopt a gluten free diet. This may be to lose weight or as part of an effort to eat healthier. This is because many naturally gluten free foods are highly nutritious and are already part of a healthy, balanced diet. Gluten free cooking can seem like a daunting task for some, but there are a variety of naturally gluten free foods that can be used to create healthy, tasty meals.

Whether you need a gluten free diet for health reasons, you want to lose weight and eat healthier, or just have more questions about what is gluten free and how it can affect your health, your primary care provider or an experienced dietitian can provide you with more information to make an educated choice for your health and help better educate you on the benefits of being gluten free if it makes sense for you.