What Actually Is Gluten?
By Corinne Caputo
PHOTOGRAPHED BY ROCKIE NOLAN.
There are plenty of myths about gluten out there. But, there are also people who legitimately need to steer clear of the stuff. Ideally, those who avoid gluten have an understanding of what it is, but just in case, this new video from TED Ed breaks it down.
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Gluten is “an insoluble protein composite made up of two proteins: gliadin and glutenin,” the video explains. It’s basically what makes dough elastic. For those with celiac disease, a wheat allergy, or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, gluten makes eating certain foods troublesome. Symptoms can range from gas to depression, depending on the diagnosis and severity. While wheat allergies and celiac disease are easier to identify, TED Ed points out there is “no reliable blood or tissue test” for gluten sensitivity.
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It’s hard to calculate how many people are actually sensitive to gluten, but sometimes those who claim a gluten sensitivity are actually reacting to sugars called fructans found in food, not the gluten itself.
Whether you love it, loathe it, or are just tired of talking about it, gluten is probably going to hang around in the zeitgeist for a while to come.
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