| Gluten is an element in the family of proteins of | | | | there is a significant percentage of celiac sufferers |
| glutenin and gliadin. These make up almost the | | | | in the United States. The harmful effects to a |
| whole substance of that protein and fall into the 2 | | | | celiac disease patient are a vast list of painful |
| major branches of gluten. Starch, wheat and | | | | symptoms including malabsorption and anemia. |
| grains are the major carriers. Protein types of | | | | WBRO -- wheat, barley, rye and oats -- define |
| gliadin are found in wheat, hordein is contained in | | | | amino acid sequences which cause gluten |
| barley, secalin in rye, avenin is found in oats, zein | | | | intolerance (note: oats are a special case - see |
| in corn and oryzenin is in rice. | | | | below). |
| Gluten was discovered by Chinese Buddhist | | | | A gluten-free diet seems to be the only cure. |
| monks during the 7th Century while trying to find | | | | Zero gluten labels mean foods do not contain |
| an alternative meat flavoring for a vegetarian diet. | | | | unsafe additives such as gluten derived peptides, |
| They used what was available: wheat flour and | | | | starch and malt. Hence, these products are |
| water. By molding dough and dipping it in cold | | | | considered "foods that don't harm celiacs." Oats |
| water, they discovered the properties of gluten! | | | | are also generally considered one of the |
| Thus the immersion in water washed away the | | | | constituents of a gluten-free diet but celiac |
| starch and a soft dough texture was produced. | | | | patients should proceed with caution in adding oats |
| When the gluten is squeezed out of the dough it | | | | to their diet. A few guidelines should be followed |
| results in very small particles of glutenin molecules, | | | | before adding oats to a celiac diet: the patient's |
| called gliadin, which make the dough thick and | | | | celiac disease should be well controlled; it should be |
| supple. During the baking process, the yeast feeds | | | | used in limited amounts; and the oats must be |
| off the sugar and produces carbon dioxide gas. | | | | labeled pure, free of cross-contamination, and |
| The carbon dioxide becomes trapped, causing the | | | | gluten-free. A patient is advised to add oats under |
| dough to rise and shape up the baked good. This | | | | a doctor's supervision. Still, there are a small |
| can be seen in food products such as pizza, | | | | number of celiac patients who cannot tolerate |
| bagels and pies and is why gluten is one of the | | | | avenin, the protein found in oats. |
| most sought after food additives. | | | | Peptides are also a harmful constituent of gluten. |
| In spite of all the negative effects of this | | | | They are also known as polypeptides and peptide |
| substance on those suffering from gluten | | | | chains which are a structure of hundreds of amino |
| intolerance, it is accepted by all countries as a | | | | acids. The peptide having 19 amino acids is |
| healthy source of protein. By international | | | | harmful to celiac patients. Moreover, barley and |
| standards, the 'Codex Alimentarius' defines the | | | | rye also contain some polypeptide chains. These all |
| proper brand labeling of gluten-free foods. Some | | | | cause abnormal intolerance and allergies in celiac |
| food products, unknown to the consumer, contain | | | | patients. |
| gluten as a stabilizing agent. In the USA, gluten is | | | | Corn and rice are not considered celiac harmful |
| considered GRAS or Generally Recognized As | | | | even though they contain gluten they contain no |
| Safe. Other countries, like the United Kingdom, | | | | gliadin. Gluten is also cooked as a meat alternative |
| allow voluntary brand labeling for gluten containing | | | | in oriental countries like China and Japan. Found in |
| products. | | | | vegetarian dishes, it has the savor of fish, beef |
| Even though wheat and other glutinous grains are | | | | and chicken. Other products containing gluten |
| present in a large percentage of foods products, | | | | include pet foods and herbicides. |