What Is Gluten? #120

What is gluten and how does it affect heart patients?  I have read numerous articles in magazines, and on the internet, concerning food health and will find in those some reference to gluten.  I did not find any mention of gluten having any healthy benefits and virtually each article contained more about food grains and obesity as associated with gluten.  Some trainers at my fitness center on occasion mention gluten being one cause of body fat.  It is obvious gluten is a product of grain processing.  As I write this paragraph I have not yet done my research or know much more about gluten than what I have just told you.  I will guess it primarily relates to controlling your body weight.   It will be a few days before I finish researching and know enough to begin the next paragraph.  I just wanted to impress on you that most of the topics we discuss about our health I do try to be as informed as I can.

Three Days Later
The first thing I discovered was to understand gluten, you need to know a lot about grains.  Most grains are ground into a fine powder, known as refined grains, also known as all purpose white flour.  When ground into flour the resulting food of most grains will act like sugar in the body.  Causing blood sugar spikes and overloading the pancreas output of insulin.  Two slices of whole wheat bread raises blood sugar levels more than six teaspoons of table sugars will.  Foods made from refined grains would include bread, cereals, pancakes, pasta, pizza dough, crackers, cookies cakes, processed snack pastries.   Gluten is a protein found in the endosperm of wheat, rye, barley, and related grains.  The endosperm is a part of the grain left after milling containing mostly starchy carbohydrates and reduced amounts of vitamins, antioxidants, and phytonutrients.  Gluten is also used as a stabilizing agent in ice cream, ketchup, and processed meats.  Health risk factors of  refined grains and gluten include heart disease, weight gain, and diabetes.  Medical research has found gluten triggers brain receptors that increase your appetite and food cravings.  Medical researchers have also reported  that refined grains are the most harmful influence in the American diet.  Gluten can increase unhealthy fat accumulation around your waistline.    What is a gluten free diet?  A diet excluding gluten found in wheat, rye, and barley.  Of interest to heart patients is which foods a naturally gluten-free? Beans, nuts, seeds, eggs, fish, poultry, fruits, vegetables, and most dairy products are gluten free.  Gluten-free grains include buckwheat, cornmeal, flax, rice flour, corn flour, bean flour, soy flour, hominy, millet, sorghum, and soy.

Whole grain food must include all of the edible parts of the grain kernel.  The bran, the germ, and the endosperm.   These are the nutrient containing layers of the whole kernel and when the kernel is cracked, ground, or crushed those layers disappear,and the natural healthy oils of the kernel oxidize, or become rancid.  Remaining are less nutrients, more calories and starchy carbohydrates.    Even though you may exercise on a regular basis consuming gluten rich foods can lead to accumulation of body fat around your waistline.

The alternatives that will help you in eating less gluten and refined grain based foods.  Eating more fruits and vegetables and making them a regular part of your daily diet. 

Check out this website for a variety of healthier salad dressings.  My favorites are Balsamic vinaigrette, and raspberry vinaigrette.  http://www.naturallyfresh.com/