Gluten is a protein found in the endosperm of grains, especiallywheat, rye and barley. it constitutes about 80 percent of theproteins in wheat, and is composed of the proteins gliadin andglutenin. Gluten is also used as a food additive in the form of aflavoring, stabilizing or thickening agent, often hidden asdextrin, maltodextrine and dextrose found in ice cream, ketchup andmany other items. Gluten provides elasticity to dough, which givesbreads and bagels their chewiness.

Gluten intolerance is most common among people of Scandinavian,Irish, English, Scottish and Eastern European. Often it’s assumedthat gluten intolerance is a food allergy, however, it’s actuallyan autoimmune process. Gluten intolerance affects an overwhelmingpercentage of the population, and is often misdiagnosed orunder-diagnosed. One estimate says that 97 percent of all sufferersdon’t know they’re intolerant to gluten because most doctors areunfamiliar with it.

Symptoms of gluten intolerance can vary per individual. the mostsignificant symptoms are weight gain, fatigue and depression. Othercommon symptoms include diarrhea with periodic constipation, mentalfogginess, skin rashes, gas, nasal and throat mucous, bloating andheadaches. Children may experience allergies, asthma, anemia,re-occurring infections, a constant upset stomach or milkintolerance.

Effects on the body include chronic gut inflammation, dysbiosis,leaky gut syndrome, skin rashes, mental fogginess, lactoseintolerance, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, extrapounds, allergies, food cravings, immune system dysfunction andmany other conditions. Gluten intolerance causes multiplenutritional deficiencies, including an inability to absorbproteins, fats and carbohydrates.

Gluten intolerance is an inability to digest the protein portionof grains, including wheat, rye and oats. In those who are glutenintolerant, these grains cause a reaction in the intestines thatsets off various symptoms. Often it goes undiagnosed because thereaction can appear 12 to 24 hours after eating gluten, making ithard to identify the offending food.

Are your symptoms related to gluten?

• Abdominal bloating, pain or cramping

• Constipation and/or diarrhea

• Cravings for carbohydrates, sweets, breads

• Difficulty digesting dairy products

• Difficulty relaxing, often feel tense

• Female hormone imbalances

• Food allergies/sensitivities

• Migraine headaches

• Muscle, joint pain or stiffness

• Overly sensitive to physical and emotional pain, cryeasily

• Skin problems/rashes

• Tend to over indulge in alcohol

• Unexplained fatigue

Do you experience any of the followingconditions?

• Irritable bowel syndrome

• Lactose intolerance

• Ulcerative colitis

Number of “yes” responses potential for glutenintolerance

• Four or less = not likely

• five to eight = Suspected

• Nine or more = Very likely

If you scored five or higher completely avoid breads, pastas,bagels, cereals and all grains for 60 days. after 60 days you willnotice major relief. it can take 30 to 60 days for the inflammationto subside, and nine to 12 months for the small intestinal liningto heal. If you identify yourself as gluten intolerant, you mustavoid gluten for the rest of your life to prevent the unwanted anddamaging effects of gluten.

Following a gluten-free diet means reading the list ofingredients. Gluten is in every grain except rice, quinoa,amaranth, buckwheat and millet. Some labels reveal if the productcontains gluten, but most don’t. Usually, the more processed a fooditem is (often evidenced by a long ingredient list), the greaterpossibility it contains at least some gluten. People following acompletely gluten-free diet must also take into consideration theingredients of any OTC or Rx meds and vitamins. Also, cosmeticssuch as lipstick, lip balms and lip gloss may contain gluten. Gluesused on envelopes may also contain gluten.

Many supermarkets carry numerous gluten-free products.Florenicia Pizza offers gluten-free pizza on its menu. And, thereare tons of cookbooks with gluten-free recipes.

Eliminate gluten from your diet, and let me know how incrediblygood you feel and look.

Ahwatukee Foothills resident Paula Owens is a nutritionist,fitness expert and weight loss coach with more than 20 years ofexperience. Reach her at PaulaOwens.com.