You Need To Understand - Wheat, Celiac, Gluten Intolerance, Labels
Over the past 10 years, the word “gluten” has become a very hot topic. Millions of people have health issues after eating this protein that is in so many products. We truly hope you take a few moments to read this very insightful blog. Knowledge is power!
Modern Wheat
First, it is important to understand how wheat, which contains gluten, has changed over the past 50 years and when this "change" started is when people began to be diagnosed with gluten sensitivities, initially Celiac. In order to create a higher yielding crop, the gluten protein in wheat was increased. As a result, many people are not able to digest this larger amount because for thousands of years our bodies were used to natural wheat. (Please click here to read more about Modern Wheat). From this shift in production, Celiac and gluten intolerance were created.
Reaction to Gluten
Celiac disease is a genetic autoimmune disorder that affects about 1 in 100 people worldwide. Those who live with Celiac are genetically predisposed to gluten intolerance, where even ingesting a minuscule amount could lead to severe damage of the small intestine.
Non-Celiac gluten intolerance can be tough to diagnose as it’s not an autoimmune disease or a food allergy (although it is possible to be allergic to wheat). Those living with this kind of intolerance mean that your digestive system does not function at its best after consuming any form of the gluten protein. Basically, with the gluten protein increasing in wheat and added to so many other products, many people suffer side effects such as inflammation, digestive issues like abdominal pain, diarrhea, gassiness, fatigue, headaches, migraines, depression, anxiety, missed menstrual periods, fertility issues, skin rashes, bone and joint pain… the list goes on.
Understanding What You Are Eating - Read Labels
Gluten Free labels are everywhere and unfortunately people only read these words on a package and think it is healthy because it does not contain gluten. WAIT! So many of the ingredients in gluten free products are not only low quality but can still cause health issues. One of these products is modified wheat starch, which is sprayed with glyphosate and genetically modified to become so highly processed that it barely resembles a food product. Bottom line - understand the ingredients you are eating.
Solution
We want you to feel confident about what you eat. Please listen to your body. It is SO incredibly important to own your health. Food is medicine and by eating clean and organic you are feeding your body quality nutrients. We encourage you to take the time to read labels, make changes according to how you are feeling after eating, and help others on their health journey. We started AWG to help people enjoy bread again!