diets, it has a lot of people wondering - what the heck is it? More importantly, should you

be eating it?

Simply put, gluten is a combination of 2 proteins, found primarily in wheat and related grains

like barley and rye. That's it - it's just protein! These two proteins called gliadin

and glutenin combine, creating gluten which helps to nourish the plants embryos, and is

a major component in giving the foods you eat that chewy goodness! It's kind of like

glue - It makes dough stretchy and gives bread its sponge-like properties.

So why is it so bad? Well...it's not. In fact, it's neither detrimental or essential for

your health! And there is very little evidence to suggest that cutting it out is the healthier

choice for the average person. On the other hand, those with the chronic digestive disorder

called celiac disease aren't able to eat gluten at all, and this is where some confusion may

have stemmed from.

If consumed, a celiacs body sees gluten as an invader and triggers an immune response

which ends up damaging the small intestine. Too much of this, and their body begins to

suffer major nutritional deficiencies. More recently, scientists have recognized another

small proportion of the population that aren't celiac but still have gluten sensitivity - that

is, they suffer similar symptoms after eating gluten - like cramps, diarrhea and bloating.

In both of these cases, 'gluten free' food options are essential. But if you don't suffer

from either, there isn't much weight to the other health claims of gluten-free diets.

It's in no way a 'toxin' as some may suggest, and 'gluten-free' doesn't necessarily mean

that food is more natural, healthier or lower in calories.

Conversely, there are some risks of cutting gluten out; while the lack of gluten itself

is of no concern, the vitamins and whole grains that it's often combined with are quite important.

Without supplementing them, you could be hurting your own health. On top of it all, without

gluten to bind your food together, more fat and sugar are often used to make gluten-free

foods more enjoyable.

At the same time, the popularity and fad of gluten-free diets has created a market for

these foods. Where once there was little selection, now there are gluten-free options all over

the place - and that's pretty cool for those who actually need it!

But what if there was a substance that only included the stuff your body needed, and took

out all the things that you don't? Like the perfect diet, all in one? Come with us to

our second channel, AsapTHOUGHT, where we break down how in the future, you may never

have to worry about food again! Click on the screen, or the link in the description!

Got a burning question you want answered? Ask it in the comments or on Facebook and Twitter.

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