Gluten?

Post Reply New Topic

Can anyone tell me what gluten is and why I shouldn't eat it?
Also a list of high-gluten foods to avoid would be much appreciated.
I don't want to obsess about my diet, but if there are some simple changes I can make, I would like to give it a try.
Also I'm not a science-type so please keep it basic.
Thanks

Gluten is a protein, ( oddly enough , seeing as it occurs in starchy carbohydrate foods ! !) found in wheat, rye, oats , and barley. Wheat and rye contain the most.
It is the largest and most complex food molecule that we ever eat!
It has only been around for about 15,000 years , since the end of the last ice-age, when a mutation occurred in grasses, in the Middle East around Turkey and Iran. .
(Humans got highly addicted to it and decided to start farming it in consequence ! !! Well, we don't know that , but we do know that farming and permanent housing appeared shortly afterwards , in what is known as the neolithic revolution!!)
If you want to cut it out you need to avoid everything that uses flour ( wheat, and rye) and also porridge, muesli and barley in soups etc. Bread, pizzas, pasta, sandwiches, cakes and biscuits , couscous, and sauces thickened with flour, anything containing hydrolised veg protein cos it's often gluten, and flavoured crisps etc that use flour to "stick" the flavourings on.
On the other hand you can still eat rice, corn/maize ,potato, manioc, tapioca and some other grains/flours found in health food shops.
Good luck.
There's a support thread in the Members Only ;( still on page 1 , I think!!) with tips etc.

Monty has some good research papers about gluten intolerance. It seems possible that in people who are intolerant to it for some reason ( genetic susceptibility, or a too early exposure , or weakening of the gut ,etc) the gluten protein is not broken down properly in its passage through the stomach and can act as sort of pseudo-opiate ( the gluten molecule has a similar structure to some opiates ),and have an effect on the brain. It also may put the immune system under pressure in a way that aggravates or even creates some of the sensory symptoms of ASD . This is still largely theoretical but many thousands of people swear by the positive results of cutting it out.

And there is a pretty good book list at "foodallergycure" and at "foodcanmakeyouill". One of my favourite writers on the subject of food intolerance and mental health particularly is Dr. Richard Mackarness ,and his book "NOT all in the Mind" !

Sure,

I can only assume that you are talking about "Wheat Gluten."

What happens is similar to all types of food allergies, except that when you digest wheat your body has problems breaking down the carbohydrates so it usally ends up resulting in constipation and even slight muscle failure.

I'm pretty sure Gluten and Wheat Gluten are basically the same so it just means that you should avoid foods high in "wheat."

Like Bread, Pasta, Crackers, and so forth.

Instead of eating whole wheat, or even oatmeal(Though most people can digest Oatmeal rather well), eat foods like rice, potatoes, and etc.

If you are told to be put put on a gluten free diet that there are a lot of books and recipes already provided in restaurants to help you out.

You can get wheat-free bread and such as normal grocery stores usually.

And I don't like simplifying this sort of thing so I could give you a much longer and much more accurate post if you want......I know more than a little bit about the digestive system since that is one of my obsessions.

Thank you both

I think I'll just try to limit gluten in my diet rather than cut it out completely. I'd rather have AS than never eat cake or pizza again!
It would be interesting to eat no gluten for a week or two, though, just to see what happens.