Gluten is derived from the Latin word gluten that means ‘glue’. You can recall your experience of touching dough for chapati. The capacity to stretch and rise on giving heat in cereals is all because of the properties of gluten in it.
What is the gluten-containing source of cereals?
Here is the list of gluten-rich cereals. The recipe made of these items in any form will certainly contain gluten.
- Wheat, wheat species & hybrid varieties
- Rye
- Barley
- Brewer’s yeast
- Malt
Gluten is a protein?
Gluten falls under the protein category. This protein is naturally found in the endosperms of wheat, its species and hybrids.
There are different proteins found in gluten-rich cereals. Here are some of the examples.
Wheat – gliadins
Barley- hordeins
Rye – secalins
Oats – avenins
Properties of gluten protein
Viscoelastic & adhesive properties – these add elasticity and chewy textures to the cereals. Gluten helps cereals to rise and stay in shape.
Who should eat gluten-free food?
People having caught under celiac disease must avoid gluten in any possible form. The presence of peptides in gluten-rich cereals causes injury to the intestines. The symptoms go bad to worse.
Concern for gluten
Studies confirm that Gluten has a role in triggering inflammation.
- People having an autoimmune disease, intolerance or allergy to gluten are prescribed on a gluten-free diet.
- The gluten peptides ( short-chain of amino acid) are responsible for triggering gluten-related disease i.e celiac encephalopathy and gluten-related disorders.
- Gluten is used extensively in packaged and processed food. Do check the food content or ingredient before consuming it. You don’t need to be worried if you are not allergic or having an intolerance to gluten.
- It is found oft-used as a stabilizing agent in beer, soy sauce, ketchup, icecreams etc.
Going gluten-free simply asks you for giving up on the traditional chapati to your favourite cake and pastry. Sauces and icecreams are also on the list to bid farewell. And, yes, you must be prescribed with the fortified cereals that can add required B- vitamins and the fibres.