What Is Gluten?Is It Bad Or Good?!!

Most of you probably can’t eat gluten already. But some of you have been asking: what is gluten anyway?

Gluten is the elastic protein in wheat, rye, and barley. Its elasticity is why French bread holds together, why angel-food cakes rise so high, and why bagels are so wonderfully doughy. Gluten is the glue that holds together baked goods and pasta. In fact, gluten comes from the same Latin root as glue. Think of gluten as the glue of wheat, rye, and barley. However, some people do have difficulty digesting gluten and therefore must avoid it. Still, when answering the question what is gluten it is best to stick to the facts and the facts alone and that is what I intend to do.

Other starches, like rice, corn, and potatoes, also have proteins that make them starchy. In fact, some technical experts will call those proteins gluten as well. But that’s a misnomer. Or maybe just too simple. Technically, the elastic proteins in wheat, rye, and barley are called gliadin and glutenin. Gluten is sometimes used as the umbrella term for all elastic proteins in grains and starchy vegetables. This scares some celiacs into not eating potatoes or rice. If this is you, breathe easy. The “glutens” of rice and corn are not the gluten of wheat, rye, and barley. This is why they react differently when you try to bake with them. In other words, this is why a cake made with only brown rice flour falls flat on its ass. (And really, it just wouldn’t taste that good either.)

Gluten (or, to be accurate, the gluten that damages the small intestines of people with celiac disease, and makes life uncomfortable for people with gluten sensitivity) is also part of the genetic structure of spelt, durum, semonlina, kamut, couscous, and triticale. I’ve never seen triticale in my life, and therefore, it’s pretty easy to avoid. Spelt and kamut are ancient grains, wheat in its natural form, before it was hybridized. But they still contain gluten. This means that people who are allergic to wheat but fine with gluten can eat spelt. (I know. I can hardly keep track of all the allergen categories either.) If you can’t eat gluten, beware: hundreds of products advertise themselves as “Wheat Free!” but that doesn’t necessarily mean gluten free. Barley can be dangerous. Almost all beers are made from barley hops, of course, or use barley in the brewing. Anything malted comes from barley. So does some caramel coloring. Some soy milks or rice milks have barley in them. Root beer has gluten in it, except for this glorious exception. Still, wheat is where you’ll find gluten 90% of the time.

Other places gluten can hide:
–modified food starch
–MSG: Monosodium glutamate, also known as sodium glutamate is a sodium salt of glutamic acid
– lecithin which is the emulsifier that keeps cocoa and cocoa butter in a candy bar from separating. In margarines, especially those containing high levels of fat (>75%), lecithin is added as an 'anti-spattering' agent for shallow frying.

–textured vegetable protein (think veggie burgers, or any fake meat)
–emulsifiers
–soy sauce (most of it contains wheat; you have to use wheat-free tamari instead)
–prescription and over-the-counter drugs, even some vitamins

And remember, we’re not just talking about those ingredients in pure form. Who eats handfuls of modified food starch? But take a look at the labels of the foods in your kitchen right now, and search for it. It’s in everything.
If you’re trying to avoid gluten, you may reach for some healthy, organic baked tofu. That’s going to be good for you, right? Well, about the tenth ingredient on the side of the package is soy sauce. If you don’t look, and you eat the tofu, you’re sick for two days. You can even get gluten by licking your envelope, because the glue on it might contain wheat.

It grows worse. I have learned, through horrible trial and error, that food companies are legally required to tell you everything that is in food. (Except that no food package ever says: CONTAINS GLUTEN. You have to decipher that yourself.) But food companies are not required to tell you what is on food. Anything packaged that comes in individual pieces–candy, frozen foods, corn tortillas; french fries; the cashews I ate the other night–could be dusted in flour just before being stuffed in the package. Why? Because we like everything to look pretty.

Minority of the world population suffers from celiac disease. Celiac disease is quite serious as it results in abnormal immune responses to gluten. Due to this people with celiac disease must maintain 100% gluten free diets. This makes eating a bit more challenging for this minority or people who have the most severe gluten allergy. Note that you can be gluten intolerant or have a gluten allergy without actually having celiac disease so please, if you can not properly digest gluten, do not jump to the conclusion that you must have this disease. Only a doctor or geneticist can make that determination.

Naturally, gluten intolerance and gluten allergy are not laughing matters but we need to approach all topics with a certain levity I do believe. The main point is that we have gone a long way in answering the question that we started with.I am talking about what is gluten!

Is Gluten Bad For Your Body?

Not neccessarily...Gluten-free diets are being touted as the solution to everything from digestive troubles to excess fat. But before you hop on the bandwagon, read this

Just 10 years ago, barely anyone knew what the word gluten meant, let alone gave any thought to avoiding it. But now gluten-free diet menus are all the rage, and high-profile stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Rachel Weisz, and Victoria Beckham have been linked to the gluten-free lifestyle, which is said to contribute to increased energy, thinner thighs, and reduced belly bloat.

The Health Hype
Thanks to the increase in diagnosed celiac and gluten sensitivity cases, and the corresponding uptick in foods marketed to sufferers, "gluten-free diets have emerged from obscurity, and now the pendulum has swung completely in the other direction," And with this popularity push, people have latched on to avoiding gluten as a cure-all for many conditions aside from celiac, including migraines, fibromyalgia(meaning muscle and connective tissue pain), and chronic fatigue syndrome. While some have found relief, that doesn't mean a gluten free diet will work in all cases.

And then there's the idea that a gluten-free existence is the ticket to speedy weight loss. But there's nothing magical about a gluten-free diet that's going to help you lose weight. What's really at work: Gluten-free dining can seriously limit the number of foods you can eat. But it can backfire too, because gluten-free doesn't mean fat-free or calorie-free.
"Without gluten to bind food together, food manufacturers often use more fat and sugar to make the product more palatable," . Consider pretzels: A serving of regular pretzels has about 110 calories and just one gram of fat. Swap them for gluten-free pretzels and you could get 140 caloriesand six grams of fat!

Should You Go Gluten-Free?
If you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, the answer is easy: Yes, you have to. But if you just want to give the diet a spin, know this: It's a giant pain in the butt. Giving up gluten may sound as basic as cutting out bread or eating less pasta, but this isn't just another version of the low-carb craze. Because gluten makes foods thick and tasty, it is added to everything from salad dressing to soy sauce to seasonings.

Besides the hassle, you can end up with serious nutritional deficiencies. "Gluten-free doesn't necessarily equal healthy, especially when people yank vitamin-enriched and wholegrain foods from their diets and replace them with gluten free brownies,". In fact, research suggests that those who forgo gluten may be more likely to miss out on important nutrients such as iron, B vitamins, and fiber.

This is where careful meal planning comes in, which may explain why some people feel so good when they go G-free: They're eating real food instead of ultraprocessed packaged fare. "If you skip the gluten-free goodies and focus on fruits, vegetables, lean protein, dairy, and gluten free grains like amaranth and quinoa, this can be a very healthy way of eating"

Seven Signs of Gluten Sensitivity

> Chronic diarrhea or constipation

> Abdominal pain

> bloating

> Unexplained weight loss

> Anemia

> Fatigue

> Infertility

Free Ways to Stop Your Hair Fall Naturally

When you start finding your hair strands floating under the shower after shampooing or when you find that your comb has more hair than your head, there is a pretty good chance that you are facing the problem of hair loss. It's one of the most painless yet psychologically painful ailment that afflicts us. Falling hair is a condition that affects both men and women. If left unattended, this condition can worsen and result in permanent hair loss leading to baldness. Therefore it is very important to find a solution for your falling hair as early as possible.

The root cause for falling hair is both hereditary and hormonal.The solution for falling hair can be a combination of medicines as prescribed by the doctor and good nutrition coupled with good grooming.
Identify the factors for falling hair before looking for a solution for your falling hair. The cause varies form individual to individual. It could be any one of the below mentioned causes or a combination of factors that lead to falling hair:

Stress, hormonal imbalance, lack of balanced diet, lack of iron which can lead to anemia and a reduction of red blood cells, irregular sleeping patterns ,ailments like Typhoid, nutritional deficiency especially Folic acid, effects of Chromotheraphy, treatment for cancer and pregnancy or wrong choice of hair-care products.

Some of the solutions for falling hair can be found at home.However, there is no quick fix solution to falling hair. Regular and timely care is the only lasting solution to falling hair.

• Limejuice can be applied to the scalp and allowed to dry for some time before taking a head bath. This will arrest fling hair by keeping the scalp clean and healthy.
• You can also apply a paste of Fenugreek seeds soaked overnight and apply it all over the scalp. Allow it to sink in for about an hour before taking a bath.
• Applying coconut milk all over the scalp is also another effective solution for falling hair. Using castor oil as hair oil regularly will also help in preventing hair from falling.
• Overuse of hair dyes, hairdryer and curling iron can aggravate the problem of hair loss, leading to baldness. Hence, do not use such products on a regular basis, if you are facing the problem of excessive loss of hair.
• In case you are coloring your hair on a regular basis, be sure to leave a gap of at least 6 to 8 weeks between each session. This will prevent hair loss. Let your hair turn gray naturally. After all, it is better to sport gray hair than baldness!
• Tight hairstyles such as braids, buns and ponytails can also lead to hair loss. The best way to prevent hair loss is to adopt easy hairstyle.
• Hair follicles are made of protein.Eat a diet rich in protein. Include protein-rich food such as low-fat cheese, eggs, almond, beans sprouts, fish, seafood and yogurt in your diet. Soy milk and tofu are smart additions to the diet, as they are enriched with protein.
• Calcium is another important nutrient for strengthening the hair follicles and roots in your scalp. Hence, include food rich in calcium in your diet.
• The next thing to a balanced diet is sound sleep. Do not compromise with seven hours of sleep, make sure that you sleep enough and on time.
• Hair care products should be chosen carefully, because they would directly affect the growth of your hair. Never use harsh shampoos, conditioners or stylizing products, because they would have a negative effect on the growth of your hair on account of prolonged use. If any such product causes hair loss, visit a dermatologist and some products that are suitable for your hair.
• Alcohol and tobacco are the root causes for majority of hair loss problems. Quit habits such as smoking and consumption of alcohol.
• Another important dietary need are essential fatty acids, found in foods like walnuts, canola oil, fish, and soy."This is just an observation, but I believe there are many people who may have a sub-clinical lack of omega 3 fatty acids , these are 'good' fats, which have anti-inflammatory properties and may actually play a role in healthy hair," says Samantha Heller, MS, RD, a nutritionist at NYU Medical Center.
• Saw Palmetto has been shown in some small studies to be effective for preventing hair loss in some men. It was first used by the American Indians to treat and maintain healthy hair and skin.
• Nettle root may not only stave off baldness, but may actually regenerate hair growth.
• Vitamins: Your mother told you they were good for you, but you may not know they're good for your hair too. Vitamin A is an anti-oxidant which promotes healthy production of sebum in the scalp.Vitamin E stimulates circulation. Good blood circulation in the scalp is important in keeping hair follicles productive. The 'B' vitamins contribute to melanin, which gives hair its healthy color and also stimulates blood circulation
• Try rubbing your scalp with garlic juice, Onion Juice or Ginger Juice(you can either of one out of three, Do not mix any of two or three). but if your head gets wet you will be able to smell it
• Try rubbing your hair with henna.
• Practise Meditation. Most of the times, the root cause for hair loss is stress. Meditation can help in reducing that and restore hormonal balance
• Massaging your scalp can be of immense benefit. Get good stimulating scalp massage oil and massage your scalp twice a week.

Major benefits of scalp Massage oil

o It conditions and lubricates the scalp and resists developing dandruffs, which minimize the chances of hair thinning in women.
o Stimulated blood circulation in your neck and scalp area impend hair growth
o It strengthen the hair root, minimizing the chances of hair fall
o It protects the hair from adverse factors like scorching sun and harsh climates
o It replenishes damaged hair
o It prevents the hire from splitting ends.

Don't forget:
"The same foods that are good for your body and your health overall are good for your hair''

Consequences of Not Getting Enough Sleep!

'Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.'

First: Are You Getting Enough Rest?
Experts suggest that adults get seven to nine hours of sleep a night. Everyone is different, though, and you may need more after a few days of burning the midnight (or 2 a.m.) oil.
To assess your sleep deficit, ask yourself:
•Am I often tired?
•Am I using caffeine to get through the day?
•Do I sleep well?
•Do I wake up feeling refreshed?
•Do I get drowsy while driving or watching TV?

We only spend a third of our life actually sleeping. Between figuring out our circadian clock, juggling work and home, and battling insomnia-inducing factors, we can't get enough of perfecting our sleep routine.
And we have good reason. Not getting enough sleep can lead to a multitude of not-so-great things. Why is sleep so important?
Here are some consequences of not getting enough sleep.

• You'll eat more(300 calories more) to be precise. A recent study found that sleep-deprived subjects, when allowed to eat whatever they wanted, ate more than when they had a full-night's sleep, even though they stuck to their normal eating schedule.
• You'll weigh more. Logically, if you are regularly consuming more calories every day it stands to reason you may weigh more, but the weight gain is not only caused by what you consume. Not enough sleep also causes stress on the body, which triggers it to slow metabolism and store fat
• You may not live as long. Researchers may have found the secret to long life , a study found that women who slept fewer than five hours a night were less likely to live as long as those who got more.
• It shrinks your brain and worsen your memory Chronic insomniacs had smaller, less-dense brains, which affected crucial parts of their neurological systems like decision-making.
• It raises your blood pressure. A study found that adults who missed an hour of sleep each night for five years ended up increasing their risk for hypertension by almost 40 percent.
• It increases your risk of getting sick. Not enough shut-eye has been proven to leave people susceptible to cold viruses,diabetes, and cardiovascular disease
• You'll skip your workouts. Lack of sleep means lack of energy, which probably means lack of gym time. In fact, research has shown that sleep deprivation is a key reason why people stay inactive.
• It makes you cranky Without sleep we revert back to a more primal version of ourselves, meaning we can't appropriately cope with emotions or respond maturely to situations.
• It Reduces immune system functioning

Sleep is what keeps the human body running. Anyone who gets too little will suffer for it. The hormones that keep us alert are regulated by our amount of sleep. Losing only an hour of our sleep can make us less alert and productive.
Sleep well everyone!Good night and sweet dreams!