In 2004 Congress gave the FDA until 2008 to establish a uniform definition for foods labeled gluten free. It's been seven long years and the FDA still has not come up with a definitive set of standards, and now plenty of packaged foods that say gluten free actually do contain gluten. This is scary since 1 in 133 people is now believed to have celiac disease and even more are believed to be gluten sensitive.
For those of us that cannot handle gluten, this can mean inflammation, headaches, joint pain, brain fog, major digestive problems, allergies, and fatigue from eating this seemingly safe products that are labeled gluten free. Also, many gluten free products are packed with tons of sugar and other additives. So, rather than playing roulette with your health, go for whole unprocessed foods. Gluten free grains such as quinoa, buckwheat, millet, amaranth, brown rice, and teff can satisfy the carbohydrate need while providing a variety of nutrients. Root veggies like sweet potatoes, carrots, and beets are an excellent source of complex carbs and a variety of other beneficial nutrients.
So yes, let's urge the FDA and Congress to get their act together, but also be mindful about limiting gluten free junk food, labeled or not!
photo by: Neald Stewart
