gluten.the not so nice protein

Gluten is a special type of protein that is commonly found in rye, wheat, and barley and oats. Therefore, it is found in most types of cereals and in many types of bread. Not all foods from the grain family, however, contain gluten. Examples of grains that do not have gluten include wild rice, corn, buckwheat, millet, amaranth, quinoa, teff, soybeans, and sunflower seeds.

There are so many people who do not realize that they are gluten sensitive.  If you have celiac disease your body cannot digest gluten and you are forced to go to a gluten-free diet.  It may be tough at first to give up your favorite cereal or bread, but it is all worth it for your body.

What are the symptoms of gluten sensitivity?
Although there may be no detectable symptoms of the immune response to gluten, the typical symptoms people develop occur when the reaction begins to damage the intestines. The symptoms, resulting from malabsorption or improper digestion of dietary nutrients, include abdominal bloating or pain, diarrhea, constipation, gaseousness, or nausea with or without vomiting. It appears that acid reflux in the esophagus, manifesting as heartburn, may be a potential symptom as well. Other symptoms people experience include fatigue, joint pains, mouth ulcers, bone pain, abnormal menses in women, and infertility.

Simply put, gluten is not good for you. It damages your small intestines and causes inflammation in the body which over time can lead to various diseases. Gluten is in pretty much everything, because so many foods are made of wheat (especially) and other grains. Common things are breads. cereals, crackers, shoyu(in Hawaii) and all baked goods. It takes dedication and learning, but there are so many gluten free foods and recipes available.

I am proud to say I am gluten free...I LOVE IT!! I do not in any way feel deprived my body feels great, my skin feels better and my overall digestive health feels fabulous!! Thank you Lord for making me realize this, I sooo wish it was sooner!