Is Gluten Making You SICK?

Gluten-free might be the trendy new fad diet everyone's trying, but it's for good reason. Gluten Intolerance causes very real, very unpleasant symptoms throughout the whole body and nearly 99% of people who suffered from it are never diagnosed. What is Gluten? Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. It is a key ingredient for giving dough an elastic texture. Symptoms of Gluten Intolerance:

• Digestive upsets - gas, bloating and constipation are all linked to gluten consumption.
• Chronic fatigue - gluten can cause mild sluggishness and fatigue to more serious diseases like fibromyalgia
• Mood disorders - anxiety, depression, ADD and mood swings can be caused by gluten.
• Inflammation - gluten related inflammation can cause swelling and pain in joints. Inflammation is the cause of many serious diseases such as arthritis

Gluten is not limited to bread products, it can be found in foods we would not associate with wheat such as salad dressing, vinegar, hard candies and ice tea. If you are considering reducing or eliminating it from your diet, be sure to check labels carefully on a variety of products. The best way to reduce gluten intake is to focus on foods that naturally do not contain gluten. Incorporating good foods into delicious recipes make the transition fun and easy. Try a raw kale salad with pine nuts and golden raisins, or homemade hummus with paprika and garlic, or grilled lamb with pomegranate and balsamic. There is nothing tasteless about being gluten free! Share your experiences with us! Got any gluten-free recipes to share?