Gluten-free has become the way to be. The gluten-free market has boomed, in 2010 annual sales of gluten-free food products were estimated  to be $2.5 billion in the United State alone. It seems like everyone is talking about gluten and even worrying whether it is in their toiletries and cosmetics. Perhaps it’s because of the recent trend to “go green” and eat “organic”, that many people think that eating gluten is inherently bad for you. However, a gluten-free diet may not be necessary for you at all.

What is Gluten?

Gluten is a general name for a mixture of storage proteins found in wheat, rye, and barley. The group comprises of two types of protein; Glutenins (alcohol-insoluble) and Prolamins (alcohol-soluble). Prolamins are a group of proline and glutamine (amino acids) rich proteins that resist digestion in the stomach and intestine. The prolamins found in wheat, rye, and barley are gliadin, secalin, and hordein respectively. Continue reading →