Gluten-Free Living

UNDERSTANDING GLUTEN

Definitions• The small bodies in the nucleus of a

cell that carry the chemical “instructions” for reproduction of the cell. Chromosomes form every species DNA

Chromosome

• A protein consisting of a mixture of gluten and gliadin, present in cereal grains, especially wheat. Gluten is the pure form and gliadin is the genetically modified form of gluten

Gluten

• Denoting or derived from an organism whose DNA has been altered for the purpose of improvement or correction of defects: genetically modified food

Genetically Modified

Chromosomes

The human body has 46 chromosomes.

Chromosomes make us uniquely different from other species.

These grains were genetically modified to alleviate issues. 1. Grains growing were prone to the effects of the elements. 2. Third-world countries were starving.

In the late 1950s through today wheat, rye and barley have been genetically modified several times.

Wheat in its natural form has either 18 chromosomes or 24 chromosomes depending on the species.

Genetically modified 1980s

Genetically modified 1970s

Genetically modified 1960s

46

18 Genetically modified 1950s

Wheat from its natural form to today

Gluten vs. GliadinGluten Gluten in its

natural form does not harm the human body.

Gliadin Gliadin is the

actual culprit behind many heath issues.

What does this mean for us today?

Celiac Disease

Irritable Bowel

Syndrome (IBS)

Vomiting

Diarrhea Acid Reflux Gluten Sensitivity

Arthritis Obesity High Blood Pressure

Some ingredients with gluten or hidden gluten

mp-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat

Protein

Artificial Color

Baking Powder

Clarifying Agents

Coloring

Dry Roasted Nuts

Emulsifiers

enzymes

Fat Replacer

Gravy Cubes

Ground Spices

Hydrolyzed Wheat Gluten4

Atta Flour

Barley Grass (can contain

seeds)

Barley Hordeum vulgare

Barley Malt

Beer (most contain barley or

wheat)

Bleached Flour BranAtta Flour

Barley Grass (can contain

seeds)

Barley Hordeum vulgare

Barley Malt

Beer (most contain barley or

wheat)

Bleached Flour Bran

Do Contain Gluten

May Contain

Gluten

What can you do?

Preventive

Eat healthier

PredictiveRead labels

ProactiveBecome informed

Now you know…what will you do?

• You had no awareness

Unconscious incompetence

• You are becoming aware

Conscious incompetence

• You are aware

Conscious competence

• It becomes second nature

Unconscious competence

References• Celiac.com• Four Stages of Learning by Abraham Maslow• Mayo Clinic• Oxford Dictionary•Wheat Belly by Author William Davis, M.D.

Visit my blog for information and recipes:

http://thisisglutenfreeliving.wordpress.com

Helpful app

Activity

You need to pick up a few items from the grocery store. You are celiac and cannot eat foods with gluten. Choose one of each of the products on your shopping list. There is one item in each category that is gluten-free.

While in the check-out you decide to purchase a candy bar for your lunch tomorrow.

On your way home you decide to stop for fries and a drink.

Choose the products that do not have gluten in them.

Circle only one product from each category on your shopping list.

Choose either McDonald’s or Wendy’s for your fries and drink.

Let’s see how well you chose your items.

Scenario Challenge

Shopping list• Lowry Garlic Salt• McCormick Garlic Salt • Lay’s Stax Original• Lay’s Stax Salt & Vinegar

• Kraft Italian Dressing• Wishbone Italian Dressing

• A-I• Heinz 57

• Kraft Colby-Jack Cheese Slices• Sargento Colby-Jack Cheese Slices

• Hershey bar with Almonds• M&Ms

• McDonald’s• Wendy’s

Lowry Garlic Salt (modified food starch)

Modified food starch is corn starch that has been processed either chemically, or with enzymes to give it desired properties like withstanding heat and acidity retaining water, or getting in cold solutions. Modified food starch is essential to, and exemplifies, the world of processed food. As an example, powdered eggs and powdered cheese must flow when poured without caking and dissolve smoothly.

Lay’s Stax Salt & Vinegar (monosodium glutamate (MSG)Monosodium glutamate is also known as sodium glutamate, or MSG. It is the sodium salt of glutamic acid. It is used in the food industry as a flavor enhancer because it balances, blends, and rounds out the perception of other tastes. Pure monosodium glutamate does not have a pleasant flavor, but used in a precisely prepared amount with other ingredients, it enhances those flavors and its flavor is masked.

Wishbone Italian Dressing (Maltodextrin)

Maltodextrin is a polysaccharide used frequently as a food additive. It is a creamy white hygroscopic, spray dried powder that is easily digestible. It is moderately sweet or almost flavorless. It is used often in sodas, candies, and other processed foods where it acts as a thickener and filler. It is used for these capacities because it is an inexpensive alternative to other thickeners. It is often used as a sugar substitute.

Heinz 57 (Caramel Color)

Caramel is an approved food color additive and is used in many foods. There are four classes of caramel, class I alkaline caramel, class II alkali-sulfate caramel, class III ammonia caramel, and class IV sulfite ammonia caramel. The food additive caramel and the confectioner caramel, although they share the same name, are two different types of products.

Sargento Colby-Jack Cheese Slices (Natamycin)

Natamycin is used in the food industry to prevent fungi or yeast mold from growing on various food products. In some countries, though not in the United States, it is approved for use on meats, however the US has approved it for use in the dairy industry. It is commonly used to limit mold growth in cheeses that undergo a long period of ripening. Adding Natamycin increases both the yield and the shelf life of cheeses.

M&Ms (Dextrin)

Dextrin is processed starch. Starches, or carbohydrates, consist of long molecules, which are chains of simple sugars. Dextrin is starch that has been broken into smaller segments, but not broken down all the way to sugar. Dextrin is used as a binder to hold ingredients together, for example in processed meat products such as nuggets or fish sticks, it is also used as a thickener in custard or fillings to arrive at the perfect consistency and it imparts a smooth texture.

McDonald’s French Fries• Potatoes, canola oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, safflower oil, natural flavor (vegetable source), dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate (maintain color), citric acid (preservative), dimethylpolysiloxane (antifoaming agent) and cooked in vegetable oil (Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with THBQ, citric acid and dimethylpolysiloxane) and salt (silicoaluminate, dextrose, potassium iodide).• At a glance, many of the ingredients above are hazardous to human health, including those which are genetically modified (canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil), hydrogenated (soybean oil), chemically preserved and antifoaming (THBQ, citric acid, dimethylpolysiloxane), and artificially colored (sodium acid pyrophosphate).