Why You May or May Not Have "Gluten Issues"

by Maria Noël Groves, RH (AHG), Clinical Herbalist & Co-op Wellness Educator

Gluten - the sticky, glue-like protein in wheat and its relatives as well as barley and rye (and hidden in many other foods) - is the "in" thing to avoid right now. The number of American households seeking gluten-free foods has increased dramatically over the past ten years, with 30 percent of U.S. adults currently trying to reduce or eliminate gluten from their diets. Why? Most shoppers believe GF products are healthier. For people who embark on the personal experiment of going GF without any particular diagnosis, those who stick with it say they feel remarkably better. Digestive complaints, skin issues, mood, inflammation, autoimmune disease... gone or dramatically reduced. Why do so many people have "gluten issues" nowadays? While some of it might be more trend than reality, there are several key reasons why an individual might do better ditching the gluten... (read more)