Why is gluten bad

Many foods on the market today display “gluten free” labels, leading many people to feel that gluten as a substance is actually dangerous and bad for you. For the majority of people this is not the case as gluten is simply a naturally occurring sugar compound found in wheat with similar strains found in rye, barley and oats. For others, however, gluten can cause a number of health issues that can seriously damage their bodies in a number of different ways.

The major concern over gluten rather than a simple food allergy is that, unlike many food allergies, most health issues related to gluten are the result of a genetic predisposition against gluten (such as Celiac disease) that cannot simply be outgrown in time and no medication exists to aid in its treatment. These intolerances can result in a number of issues primarily along the digestive tract that can result in bloating, gas, intestinal lesions or ulcers, diarrhea or constipation, abdominal pain, weight loss, chronic fatigue, osteoporosis (at any age), migraines, mood disorders, depression or even simply general irritability.

The cause of the majority of these issues lies not in the compound of gluten as a whole but in a part of it that, if undigested properly, can result in a toxin being released that is generally believed to be the cause of all of the issues related to gluten sensitivity. This compound is known as gliadin, and while normally a stable part of the complex gluten molecule when release upon the digestive breakdown of the compound those with gluten sensitivity cannot tolerate its presence and as such a major adverse reaction occurs.

Why is gluten bad

Again, this sensitivity is not a normal reaction amongst most people and for those who are not sensitive gluten is a perfectly harmless substance, however a large number of individuals around the world are unable to process gluten to some extent for a number of reasons. It is for this reason that “gluten free” can be seen today on the packaging of many food products along with “peanut free” and other allergy-friendly notifications so those with medical conditions can simply avoid consuming the food that may cause them severe reactions otherwise.