What is Gluten-free Diet?

Gluten-Free diet has become the trend of today. We all have heard of gluten-free diet and how it helps to stay healthy. But, many of us are still unclear about it, what to follow and what not. Many people need to avoid it pertaining to medical reasons, while some just follow the trend and want to give it a try to stay updated.

So, what is it and what’s all the hype surrounding it?

Gluten is a naturally found protein found in many grains that help it stay starchy and elastic. It holds it together. Wheat is an amazing example of this, everyone uses wheat flour in their daily lives, and one might also have observed the manner in which after making a dough out of it, it stays intact and elastic.

This is not the case with grains such as millets, maize flour, Chickpea flour etc. When we make dough out of it, it just rips off and breaks, instead of staying bind. It occurs due to the lack of gluten in it.

Celiac disease is the sensitivity to gluten which may affect the small intestine’s lining if care is not taken. It can be easily diagnosed now, and proper care can be taken. Other than such serious medical reasons, gluten-based foods, if taken in a normal amount, would not be problematic.

What does it mean to go gluten-free?

Avoiding all the food that might contain gluten is going gluten-free. This does not mean that just leaving wheat, rye based items like noodles, pasta, bread etc. is meant to be gluten –free. It also includes not consuming packet based foods, frozen foods, foods with natural flavouring etc. because they might contain traces of gluten in it.

But there’s also a bright side to it. Many gluten-free foods have amazing nutrient content in them, which would help in maintaining the nutritional content.

Let’s have a look at the gluten-free foods that are being consumed by people staying gluten-free and how they manage it.