What’s all the buzz on having a gluten free diet? If you Google “gluten free diet”, you will get over 17,000 hits. But, what is gluten? And, why would you not want to eat gluten?

A gluten free diet is a hot topic these days. It’s been discussed on morning news shows recently, it appears in numerous magazine articles, there are gluten free cook books, gluten free goodies at the grocery store– like brownies, and there are claims of weight loss when you cut gluten from your diet.

Gluten is a protein that gives food a chewy texture, and acts as a binding agent. Think about your favorite pizza, and the crust! Or, think about bagels, cookies, cakes, and other favorites. Yummy! Well, believe it or not, you can actually make many of these treats without gluten. And, by the way, you will find gluten added to certain other food products, so if you want to avoid it, read the labels before buying.

Some typical reasons for starting a gluten free diet include losing weight, improving digestive function, improving overall diet and health, and treating more serious health problems, such as celiac disease. People who have celiac disease have difficulty digesting products made with gluten. Some people are actually allergic to wheat and other gluten products.

Gluten is typically contained in most flour products and grains, such as wheat flour, cereals, and white rice. A few that are considered to be gluten free are buckwheat flour, chickpea flour, and brown rice flour. Most experts consider oats to be gluten free, although there is some debate about it. Another popular gluten free grain is quinoa. Quinoa is high in protein, fiber, and other nutrients. Many other gluten free products are in fact, high in fiber and protein, making them a healthy food choice. This combination in food leaves you feeling fuller longer, improves digestion, and aids weight loss programs.

The best news is that finding products for a gluten free diet is easy. Your local grocery stores, health food stores, and book stores, all carry products and information for a gluten free diet. Some of the packages of gluten free flour have recipes on them, as well. You can even buy such things as gluten free cake mixes and gluten free pizza in a lot of stores. There are more options now for a gluten free diet than ever!