Gluten Free Diet
Have you noticed how commonplace gluten-free products have become on our grocery store shelves? Does it seem like everyone and their cousin is now “gluten-free”?
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
First of all, gluten is not a grain – it’s a protein that just so happens to be found in many of them. Gluten is actually a form of several different proteins most commonly found in wheat and it’s grain cousins of barely, rye, kamut, spelt, durum, graham flour and even oats. These proteins (collectively called gluten) create that chewy, gooey, texture that we’ve come to love in baked goods and are freely used as a thickener and stabilizer in many products, such as gravy, salad dressings, soup broth, and much, much more. For a full list of gluten-containing foods, I recommend you visit www.celiac.com.
It’s important to recognize that gluten alone is not bad for your health. However, due to the industrialization of food since world war II, wheat and its gluten-rich relatives have since become”bred” to produce even more gluten then our parents and grandparents digestive systems are used to – for the purpose of making better tasting breads and creating more food stabilizers and thickeners for the food industry. Therefore the grains that contain gluten today far exceed the amount of gluten people even one generation ago were eating – combine that with the sheer volume of gluten-containing products we’re consuming today and you’ve got modern digestive systems seriously stressed. What does this mean? Our digestive systems haven’t caught up with the current food system trends.
Another probable theory (likely true) are that the changes in the composition of our gut bacteria (which are necessary for health and function as the bedrock of our immune systems) may be causing gluten intolerance. Why would changes in our gut flora be changing? A more sterile modern diet (bleached flours, pasteurized foods, refined foods and on and on) is one leading possibility.
GLUTEN INTOLERANCE
This is one of my favourite classic gluten-free books. It has lovely photo’s too.
Apparently 5-10 percent of all people may suffer from some form of gluten sensitivity. That could mean a wheat allergy or non-celiac sensitivity (digestive disturbance, tiredness, irritability etc after consuming gluten), or those with Celiac Disease.
Celiac disease is the diagnosis given to those who, upon eating anything containing gluten experience an abnormal immune reaction to the gluten protein. This reaction can produce symptoms of hives, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, constipation, iron deficiency, menstrual disorders and in extreme cases infertility and anaphylactic shock which can be life-threatening.
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE GUT?
When a person with celiac disease eats food containing gluten (even trace amounts) their immune system reacts by damaging the small finger-like protrusions that line the small intestine called the villi . The villi are critical for life: they permit nutrients to be delivered to our bloodstream. If the villi are damaged or not present, then the person suffers from mal-nutrition regardless of the quantity or quality of food consumed.
The treatment for Celiac disease is to completely avoid gluten 100 percent of the time.
TESTING
Another great book, by the marvelous Shreve Stockton. A smart, articulate, and healthy-minded San Franciscian.
Today there are lab tests that you can request from your family doctor. However, you could also take at least a week off from all gluten-containing products (remember to read those labels, they sneak it in almost everything packaged) and see if you notice a difference in your digestion, mood, and energy levels.
GLUTEN FREE DIETS: CONSUMER BEWARE
One of the pitfalls of gluten-free diets is these foods are often highly processed and devoid of nutrition. Gluten-free certainly does not mean healthy. However in recent years there are more nutritious products and recipes out there thanks to consumer demand.
The most important guideline for living a healthy gluten-free lifestyle – is the same guideline I’d give for living any kind of healthy lifestyle – avoid processed foods!
The biggest concern for those going gluten-free or who NEED to avoid gluten is that they are going to miss bread, pasta and baked goods for special occasions. Thankfully, it’s become fairly commonplace to find decent gluten-free bread, and even gluten-free English Muffins, bagels, waffles, raisin bread and tortilla wraps.
Here on Salt Spring, we have the beautiful Laughing Daughters Bakery, a family run bakery in the South End of the island. They sell their amazing treats at the Saturday Market, TJ Beans, Natureworks, and by now probably a few other places. They make a lovely bread that’s great to toast, cakes, cheese sticks, muffins, cookies, and many more goodies.
Gluten free lasagna!
In terms of pasta – today on most grocery store shelves you can find lovely gluten-free pastas made from brown rice, quinoa and corn. You’ll have to find your favourite, but most are really great.
My dear friend Amy Phillips lives a gluten-free lifestyle and is well-known for her amazing gluten-free treats! I asked her to offer up some words of wisdom and a recipe for my readers. She says:
Gluten Freedom – “The level of health, comfort and well-being you will feel far outweighs any sadness for “missing out.” If you are going to an event where you know there will be gluten-containing treats, bring a little stash of your own. Don’t assume there will be a dish you can eat, bring snacks for when you attend potlucks – I always make a substantial dish that I know I will be content with if that’s all that’s present for me to enjoy – then if there’s more, it’s a bonus.”
Amy’s Amazing Cookies (quick and easy to prep and bake)
Mix together:
Earth Balance
A liquid Sweetener (maple syrup, honey etc)
1 Egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract
Ground almonds
A little rice or other gluten-free flour
Pinch of baking powder
Mix and bake at 350 F until lightly golden. Proportions? I make them up depending on my mood and how many cookies I want…”
Thanks Amy!
These are so fantastic! I highly recommend you try them. If you have a favourite gluten-free recipe, I’d love to hear about it. Please post in the comment box below so others can see them too.
Blessings,
I simply feel better when I moderate the amount of gluten I put in my system. For this reason, I appreciate the realm of gluten free eating and new recipes. Here’s one I’d like to share, this chocolate cake is the best chocolate cake I’ve ever had… and it’s got a gluten free Bonus!
Moist Chocolate Cake
No one will believe this chocolate cake is made with cooked quinoa —
no flour required. It is kid-friendly and gluten-free.
Serves 8-16
2/3 cup white or golden quinoa
1 1/3 cups water
1/3 cup milk
4 large eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup butter, melted and cooled
1-1/2 cups white or cane sugar
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Bring quinoa and water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Cover, reduce
to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and leave the
covered saucepan on the burner for another 10 minutes. Fluff with a
fork and allow the quinoa to cool.
Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease two 8-inch round or square cake
pans. Line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper.
Combine the milk, eggs and vanilla in a blender or food processor. Add
2 cups of cooked quinoa and the butter and continue to blend until
smooth.
Combine sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a
medium bowl. Add the contents of the blender and mix well. Divide the
batter evenly between the two pans and bake on the centre rack for 40
to 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the centre comes out clean.
Cool completely in the pan before serving. Frost if desired.
Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to one week or
freeze for up to a month.
This recipe is definitely THE BEST chocolate cake recipe I’ve ever tasted! Gluten-free or not. It’s true, people will not believe it’s made with quinoa. It’s so fantastic thanks for sharing Mailyn!
I know Gluten from….believe it or not, the plastics industry!
Yes, as you know and have warned, it is everywhere from Ice-cream to lipstick to …. yes those Bio degradable plastic bags, drinking bottles and plastic forks and bowls.
Unfortunately because it is everywhere many people assume it must be bad, evil!
It isn’t and as a food gluten is our friend but — it is a common mistake to think that if it is truly bad for some it must be good to avoid for general good health. Better safe than sorry.
It is truly bad for some, less than 1/10 of 1% of North Americans are diagnosed with celiac dieses. If you have celiac you will know it. It is generally agreed that celiac is a genetic disposition certainly not cause by gluten.
So it is my suspicion that most people walking the isles of the grocery store in search of gluten free products are either mistakenly avoiding it or have a wheat allergy in which taking “a week off from all gluten-containing products and see if you notice a difference” would be a first step.
It’s my opinion that wheat allergies, which come in an endless number of forms can be managed, reduced or gotten rid of often without cutting out wheat. It is also quite likely it is not the gluten that is the offender.
Gluten sensitivity idiopathic neuropathy I know nothing about other then there is little fact known about it. It is very hard to diagnose and a fraction of 1% have been clinically diagnosed.
For those/most of us without a real problem with gluten it could almost be considered essential, certainly for a rounded protein rich nutritionally balance diet.
I fear the hype has also sent vegans looking to add gluten free to their diet when it should be amongst the top of their list of foods to eat.
I guess what I’m saying is if you have something upsetting you don’t jump to conclusions. There is a bit of crazy and unfounded hype around the evils of gluten.
Ted
My son and I are GF sensitive so I am always on the lookout for good recipes that I can make that the whole family can enjoy. Here is a wonderful gluten free pizza crust recipe that even non GF sensitive people can enjoy. We tried so many different ones but this is hands down the best. The other great thing about this recipe is that you don’t have to wait for the dough to rise. Just flatten out into your preferred pizza shape with well oiled hands, add your toppings and bake in a very hot oven. Enjoy!
For pizza crust (Makes two 10 inch pizzas, recipe doubles well for more)
3/4 cup tapioca flour
1/2 cup white rice flour*
1/3 cup chickpea flour
1/3 cup sorghum flour
1 teaspoon xanthum gum
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 cup whole milk
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast, from 1 (1/4-ounce) package
2 teaspoons sugar
2 large egg whites, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
Remove racks from oven, set pizza stone or heavy upturned baking sheet on bottom of oven, and preheat to 400°F. (Preheat at least 45 minutes if using pizza stone or 20 minutes if using baking sheet.)
In bowl of electric mixer, whisk together tapioca flour, white rice flour, chickpea flour, sorghum flour, xanthum gum, and salt.
In small saucepan over moderate heat, stir together milk and 1/4 cup water and heat until warm but not hot to the touch, about 1 minute (the mixture should register between 105°F and 115° F on candy thermometer). Stir in yeast and sugar. Add milk–yeast mixture, egg whites, and 2 tablespoons oil to dry ingredients and, using paddle attachment, beat at medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally, until dough is very smooth and very thick, about 5 minutes.
Have ready two 12-inch squares parchment paper. Scrape half of dough onto each square and form each half into a ball. Coat each ball with 2 teaspoons oil, then use oiled fingertips to pat and stretch each ball into 9-inch-diameter round, 1/4 inch thick, with a 1/2-inch-thick border.
Add your toppings and then place parchment paper with pizza into the oven and bake for about 10-12 minutes depending on how hot your oven gets.
Michela, I love this recipe! Thanks for sharing.