What is Gluten Free?

What is gluten free?  There are two commonly found definitions for gluten free.  The first one that describes the storage proteins common to most grains.  The second one that describes those who are following a gluten-free diet.
In its most basic form, gluten refers to the proteins grass plants build into their seeds.  The plants seeds (wheat, grasses, etc.) are what we know as grains.
Most grains have gluten and are perfectly safe for people with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity or gluten intolerance.  Corn is an excellent example.  However, it is the gluten that occurs in a specific sub-group of grains, namely the Pooideae subfamily of the Poaceae family of grasses, that causes specific reactions in people who have celiac disease or are gluten-sensitive.  It is the Pooideae subfamily that includes wheat, barley, rye and oats.

Gluten Gives Dough Elasticity, Structure
The gluten in wheat, barley and rye consists of two proteins.  These are gliadin and glutenin.  When we  combine these proteins during while baking, they form a thick, stretchy, glue-like substance that gives bread and baked goods elasticity and texture.  Gluten help bread dough rise by trapping bubbles from fermenting yeast.  This allows the dough to rise into a loaf.  However, the gluten proteins in other grains do not provide this same ability and this is why it is so difficult to find a really good gluten-free bread.  Modern wheat has been bred to contain much more gluten than older varieties.  .

Gluten-Free Means No Wheat, Barley or Rye Gluten
Gluten-free means refers to the gluten contained in wheat, barley and rye and sometimes oats.  These specific types of gluten proteins are those that cause the reactions in people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity.  These grains, especially wheat, are so integrated into our food chain that eating gluten free involves way more than simply substituting gluten-free bread and other products.  Gluten containing ingredients are commonly found in many processed foods.  Anyone following a gluten-free diet needs to learn what terms also refer to and mean glutens on food labels.

Check out our next blog as we discuss more about food labeling and the gluten free diet.

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