Monthly Challenge Number 2: No Gluten November

Doesn't have the same "no shave November" ring to it, but hey I can only do so much. And I may participate in no shave November - it's gettin' cold 'round these parts and I'll take warmth however I can get it. Current temp: 35° and it's almost noon.

[Sidenote: SO. SCARED. OF. WINTER.]

Back to gluten.

So, what is gluten? Gluten is a protein found in grains such as wheat, rye and barley.

So, why is gluten bad? Gluten gets a bad rap these days. There's gluten-free this and no-wheat that. But what exactly makes gluten bad for you? Well, gluten is hard for the human body to digest. Often gluten will sit in the intestines, undigested, and create a sticky barrier between the wall of our intestines and the food we eat preventing proper absorption of nutrients. This can result in malnutrition. Gluten can also cause allergic reactions in certain people. It has been estimated that a third of the American population is gluten sensitive. Even worse, it is estimated that one in 133 Americans has Celiac disease, although the vast majority of those people have not been diagnosed.

So, what is Celiac disease? Celiac is a very serious autoimmune disease that affects the small intestines. When a person with Celiac consumes gluten, it causes inflammation in the small intestines, which can eventually lead to permanent damage. Currently the only treatment for Celiac disease is an extremely strict, life-long gluten free diet.

So what is gluten sensitivity? Gluten sensitivity means that your body has an adverse reaction to gluten, but you do not experience an autoimmune response and you are not actually "allergic" to wheat. However, people who are gluten sensitive should avoid gluten.

So, why am I giving up gluten? Well, because I believe that if gluten is bad for most people, it is at least not good for everyone. That can be disputed and I have read up on differing opinions, but I hold to my belief.

So, you want to join me? Here is what you need to know. Gluten is found in traditional flour, rye flour, soy sauce, condiments, and a lot of other stuff. Check your labels carefully. The label will not list "gluten" under the ingredients, it will list "wheat," "rye," or "barley". There are other forms of gluten, but those are the most common. Oats on their own do not contain gluten, however, they are often processed on the same machinery that is used to process gluten-rich foods. So, if you want oats or oat-flour make sure you get those that are labeled "gluten-free." You can have rice, quinoa, and many other grains. If you are stuck, just do a quick google search to see if the food you want contains gluten.

So, wish me luck this month!