10 Things you Should Know about Gluten-free Diet
A little medical information - what is gluten?
Gluten is a mixture of proteins which may, when penetrating into the bowels, activate a process leading to penetration of undigested blocks of protein into blood resulting in the immune system starting to produce substances aimed against its own cells. This may cause inflammation of the mucosa and development of malabsorption. In case of chronic form, it may lead to celiac disease and also to cancer of the gut. Symptoms of celiac disease: fatigue, abdominal pain, diarrhoea or vice versa congestion, bloating, loss of body weight. Celiac disease is a genetically-linked disease with varied occurrence according to territory. A person affected by celiac disease may eat a maximum of 20 mg of gluten per kilogram, that means traces of gluten. An allergic person may not even ingest that amount. The fact that food containing gluten may cause many people difficulties, is well known.
Thanks to ´trend-setters´ who do not eat wheat, although they can, the market with gluten-free food is much wider than it used to be, for which real celiac sufferers are extremely grateful. And those who want to live gluten-free life voluntarily nowadays have a really wide space to practice their new lifestyle. Gluten-free diet has spread across the entire western world. We are bringing you interesting information that you should know before you start, too.
1. Some people “bloom” after leaving out gluten, because they cannot digest it as some people cannot digest milk. They feel better.
Gluten-free diet or reduction of food containing gluten is healthy. It has become a trend during the past several years. Many people suffer from sensitivity to gluten, which means that their digestive system responds to gluten and as a result their immune system produces inflammatory antibodies. It is not a typical allergic reaction, since it may show after 48 hours or longer.
2. Leaving out flour from the diet is healthy, because then people logically consume more fruit and vegetables.
It is recommended to include quality protein (meat, fish, legumes) into the diet in particular, as well as healthy fats (avocado, nuts, salmon, coconut oil) and fruit and vegetables instead of pasta, dumplings and bread.
3. Generally speaking, natural gluten-free foods are healthier than those containing gluten.
There are a number of gluten-free products, but it is still processed food with substitutes (starch, rice, meal). As a preference, select sources, which naturally don´t contain gluten - dark rice, sweet potatoes, beetroots, quinoa, millet, etc.
4. Replacement of flour for gluten-free flour is not healthy!
It is absorbed faster, leads to a sharper increase of glycaemia and a greater weight gain through fats. A gluten-free cake is therefore definitely not healthier. Wholemeal bakery products are therefore healthier!
5. Long-term gluten-free diet has no impact on health if excessive quantities of gluten-free bakery products are not consumed as a substitute.
6. After gluten-free diet you may, or may not, lose weight.
If you are looking for a weight-loss diet, gluten-free diet is not ideal! You may lose weight since you naturally reduce your intake of carbohydrates - pasta, bread, rolls, confectionery, desserts. This helps to stabilise sugar levels in the body, reducing production of insulin and storing of fats. On the other hand, gluten-free diet is not tantamount to a light and weight-loss diet. If you consume sausages with gluten-free bakery products, you will not lose any weight.
7. The advantage of a gluten-free diet is that you can dine everywhere.
In almost every restaurant you will find food that is naturally gluten-free - potatoes, rice, meat, vegetables, yoghurt, cheese. It is not necessary to consume processed food with substitutes or pay more for a special gluten-free menu.
8. Gluten-free diet is trend, but not always.
For some the change of eating habits is really important.
9. Testing is relatively easy.
If you have long-term digestive problems (constipation, diarrhoea, bloating, abdominal pain) it is recommended to limit intake of gluten and watch how your body reacts to it. Intolerance to gluten may only be demonstrated with certainty by professional tests.
Testing for celiac disease is now relatively easy. Blood is tested for antibodies against tissue transglutaminase and where the result is positive, the next step is endoscopic examination of the stomach and duodenum with a biopsy. Biopsy will then definitively confirm celiac disease. It is important to leave out gluten before the examination. In case of confirmed celiac disease, it is then necessary to say goodbye to gluten forever.
10. The worst thing for a celiac disease sufferer is that he will NEVER AGAIN be able to enjoy his favourite dish!
"It is that feeling that you will simply never again be able to have a lot of your favourite meals; such as a pizza in Naples, pasta, fresh crispy rolls... The feeling that suddenly you do not know how to go about it. The need to read composition of every product, shopping taking hours at a time. The fear of going to a restaurant (it is not everywhere that they know what gluten is). Concerns. But then suddenly it becomes habitual, you will find that it is not so terrible and indeed after a year or so, you won´t need to read anything; you will know it all. And if you sometimes make a mistake, nothing dramatic will happen. The maximum is a few days of difficulties, and then everything is okay again.
Perhaps the most difficult is permanently to reject sandwiches at beer celebrations etc. (actually I sometimes order Pilsner Urquell; it has 15 mg of gluten per kilo, technically it is gluten-free). But you have to explain it to everyone and listen to comments such as 'one roll will not kill you´... Otherwise I have no difficulties with food, I don´t dwell on it. The taste of gluten-free bakery products is unforgettable. And you start to use the terms when someone tastes gluten-free bread and does not want to say to you that it is "vile". Well it may be, but bread does not make a rational diet." Martin Lamb, Carlsbad Hospitals, celiac sufferer.
If you are looking for specialist who would you advise you and assist you with healthy lifestyle, you can search in a convenient online system and its modern application. BeetFiT You can find a consultant in the place where you live, you will find all the necessary information and it will be easier to choose one that suits you.
Thanks to MUDr. Martin Beránek and nutritional advisor, Eva Westwrhuis Hausler, who operates the advisory page Nueva Nutrition, for their information regarding a gluten-free diet.
