“Gluten” has become quite the buzzword in recent time and every time it’s uttered, people immediately think of unhealthy food. That’s because gluten has been getting a bad rap from the media over the last decade, which has made people associate the word with negative things. However, gluten is not the enemy the media has made it out to be and people realize that once they educate themselves on the matter.

What Is Gluten?

Gluten is a protein we can easily find in most grains, including barley, rye, and wheat. This protein is responsible for the grain’s texture and it makes it possible for these plants to survive. Gluten does not provide nutritional benefits, but grains need it to grow so they can provide all the essential nutrients humans need.

Why Has Gluten Been Attacked?

So, if gluten has no consequence on human health, why has it been so attacked by the media? Well, it has to do with the fact that some people out there are allergic to gluten. But for people without these issues, consuming grains that contain gluten is not at all harmful and they actually benefit from grains that are richer in fiber, iron, and vitamin B. It’s absurd to ask that an entire class of food is removed when gluten intolerant people can easily avoid it.

Gluten Intolerance

Gluten intolerance is a condition that causes the immune system to be triggered whenever gluten enters the organism because it identifies the protein as a bad pathogen. As a result, the immune system attacks it, but gluten is sticky, and it causes cells to get damaged in the crossfire.

Cell damage can lead to many other problems, such as nutrient deficiencies, digestive disorders, anemia, fatigue, and others. That’s why people who are gluten intolerant need to be careful and avoid gluten consumption. Say goodbye to most cereals, pasta, beer, sauces, salad dressings, and more.

Now, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy alternatives! Luckily, there’s a great variety of gluten-free products and recipes you can try.

Gluten-Free Bacon Pimento Cheese Dip

This bacon pimento cheese dip is perfect for gluten intolerant people and it’s one of the many recipes you can find online. It will only take you 10 minutes to prep and 25 minutes to cook!

Ingredients:

• 8 pieces of Dry Aged Bacon
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 4 ounces of cream cheese
• A 40-ounce jar of diced pimentos
• 2 Jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
• 2 or 3 diced scallions
• 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 cups of shredded pepper jack cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

Crisp up the bacon in a pan and crumble it when it’s cool. Take a bowl and mix the bacon, scallions, pimentos, jalapeno peppers, mayonnaise, and shredded cheese. Mix well and then season to taste with salt and people. Pour the dip into a casserole dish and bake it in the oven for 25 minutes before serving!

You can find more articles on gluten intolerance at the Ultimate Online Australia website.