Just 10 years ago, barely anyone knew what the word "gluten" meant, let alone gave any thought to avoiding it. But now gluten-free diet menus are all the rage, and have been linked to the gluten-free diet lifestyle, which is said to contribute to increased energy, thinner thighs, and reduced belly bloat.
What It Is, Exactly?
Gluten is a protein found in the grains wheat, barley, and rye. Most of us unknowingly love it, because gluten gives our favorite foods that special touch: It makes pizza dough stretchy, gives bread its spongy texture, and is used to thicken sauces and soups.
Gluten-free eating does help a genuine health problem. To people with a chronic digestive disorder called celiac disease, gluten is truly evil: Their bodies regard even a tiny crumb of it as a malicious invader and mount an immune response. Problem is, this immune reaction ends up damaging the small intestine, which causes both great gastrointestinal distress and nutritional deficiencies.
The Health Hype
Thanks to the increase in diagnosed celiac and gluten sensitivity cases, and the corresponding uptick in foods marketed to sufferers, gluten-free diets have emerged from obscurity, and now the pendulum has swung completely in the other