Gluten: Lead the facts behind the fad

Gluten: Learn the Facts Behind the Fad

Celiac Disease, Gastroenterology, Medicine

Gluten has gotten a lot of interest over the past decade. While gluten might be found in many foods that contain carbohydrates, gluten itself is actually made up of PROTEIN!

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It seems like everyone is talking about gluten, especially when it comes to their diet. While it is true that gluten has gotten a lot of interest over the past decade, some people find this term confusing and use the word “gluten” interchangeably with “carbohydrates” or “bread” or “pasta.”

Gluten gives wheat its shape, foods containing gluten their texture and stretchiness and also helps baked goods to rise by trapping air bubbles.

We are here to set the record straight! While gluten might be found in many foods that contain lots of carbohydrates, gluten itself is actually made up of PROTEIN!. You read that correctly! Gluten refers to two proteins found naturally in wheat, barley, and rye (gluten is also found in triticale, a cross between wheat and rye). Gluten gives wheat its shape and foods containing gluten their texture and stretchiness (think of the last time you rolled out a pizza dough). It also helps baked goods to rise by trapping air bubbles.

Interestingly, many people have cut gluten out of their diet completely without even understanding what it is! In fact, a recent study suggests that the number of those patients diagnosed with celiac disease has not changed much in recent years, but those following a gluten free diet has tripled! Given the fact that many foods are derived from wheat and grains, gluten is also found in MANY processed foods.

Food
Grain
Contains Gluten?

Bread originating from wheat, rye and triticale contains gluten
Wheat
Rye
Triticale


Crackers made out of wheat contain gluten
Wheat

Baked goods made out of wheat have gluten.
Wheat

Soups have wheat and barley which contain gluten
Wheat
Barley

Especially cream-based commercially made soups

Pasta is made out of wheat and triticale have gluten in them
Wheat
Triticale

Cereals are made out of wheat, rye and triticale all contain gluten
Wheat
Rye
Triticale


Many salad dressing are made out of wheat which contains gluten
Wheat

Some, gluten used as a thickening agent. Read the label carefully.


Many sauces we use in our food are made out of wheat which contain gluten
Wheat

Roux-based sauces
Soy sauce (not tamari)


Gravies often have gluten because they have wheat in them
Wheat

Food coloring often has gluten because it is made out of barley
Barley

Beers made out of barley, rye and wheat contain gluten
Barley
Rye (Rye beers)
Wheat (Wheat beers)


Brewer's yeast has gluten.
Barley

Malted bevreges and malt vinegar contains gluten because is made out of barley
Barley

While most yummy, starchy foods contain gluten, there are some that do not. Some great examples of carbohydrate-filled foods without gluten are rice, corn and oats (this assumes there has been no cross-contamination of the oats).

Examples of carbohydrate-filled foods the DO NOT contain gluten are rice, corn and oats (this assumes there has been no cross-contamination of the oats).

Sometimes gluten can be a little sneakier. If a food or product manufacturer uses wheat byproducts during production, the product may contain gluten. Here is a list of some surprising products and foods that might contain gluten. Always verify by checking the label or with the manufacturer directly.

  • Processed lunch meats

    (uncommon nowadays with improved labeling)

  • Beauty products such as lipstick

  • Communion wafers

  • Over-the-counter nutritional supplements

  • Imitation crab – California rolls

  • Licorice – Warn your grandpa

  • Playdough: Mean for playing, not eating

  • Street (illicit) drugs (another reason not to do ‘em)

An autoimmune (when the body attacks itself) reaction to gluten can cause celiac disease. In celiac disease, the body’s army of immune cells reacts abnormally to gluten and attacks the main cells lining the small intestine. This process can lead to a decreased ability to absorb important vitamins and minerals—what doctors call malabsorption.


Celiac disease, is an autoimmune disorder,  the body’s army of immune cells reacts against gluten and attacks the main cells lining the small intestine. This process can lead to a decreased ability to absorb important vitamins and minerals—what doctors call malabsorption.

An autoimmune reaction to gluten causes celiac disease.

Celiac disease is rare, affecting less than 1% of the population, but that number is misleading since most cases of celiac disease are undiagnosed. The treatment for celiac disease is strict avoidance of foods that contain gluten; this stops the body’s attack on those important cells and heals the damage done.

About the Author
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Chris Palmeiro D.O. M.Sc.

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Dr. Christopher Palmeiro serves as the Medical Director of Telehealth for Moonlighting Solutions.  He is also the Medical Director of the Inpatient Endocrinology Telemedicine Program at Atlanticare Regional Medical Center in Southern New Jersey.  Additionally, Dr. Palmeiro serves Native American patients, in the Midwestern United States, via the Avera E-Care Specialty Telemedicine platform. Prior to his current positions, Dr. Palmeiro completed his fellowship in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism at Westchester Medical Center. He completed both his residency and chief residency in internal medicine at St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Center in Manhattan. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine.  Dr. Palmeiro completed a Master of Science degree in clinical nutrition while in medical school at New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine and was the first graduate of an innovative program that incorporated this degree into the medical school curriculum, earning him the John J. Theobald Graduate Achievement award.  

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Last Modified: Apr 2, 2021 @ 9:15 pm

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