Gluten-free. Most of us are familiar with the term. Restaurant menus we look at, food labels we read – increasingly feature the ‘GF’ label prominently. Celebs like Gwenyth Paltrow swear by it.
But, what is gluten?
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley that essentially holds foods together. Foods and drinks we consume regularly like breads, pastas, soups, cereals, sauces, and even alcohol contain gluten. With so much buzz surrounding going gluten-free, some collegiettes might wonder if the trendy gluten-free diet is right for them.
I worked at a PR firm in Los Angeles this summer, and several of the clients we represented were gluten-free food brands. To be honest, I never really gave the idea of going gluten-free a thought. I just never assumed it was relevant to me. I thought it the latest Hollywood fad, like the South Beach Diet or hardcore no-carb diets. I soon realized I was wrong.
Going gluten-free isn’t just a fad that’s passing any time soon. Sure, maybe 10 years, let alone five years ago, gluten was off the radar. Now, the FDA officially endorses the gluten-free label, and researchers predict that the gluten-free market will be worth $15.6 billion by 2016 (NYT). Seems to me that gluten-free might be more than just a trend.
I also realized this summer that being-gluten free isn’t just a diet – it’s a way of life for some. The initial adopters of gluten-free diets were those who suffer from Celiac disease, a disease in which the small intestine cannot digest gluten. For those with Celiac, as well as those considered gluten-intolerant, the explosion of the gluten-free market has changed their world – in terms of food, that is. Imagine going to a restaurant and not being able to order anything on the menu?! Now those with Celiac have a growing abundance of options.
Most people like you and me don’t likely suffer from Celiac (only 1% of the U.S. population does, so odds are I’m justified in my assumption). However, that doesn’t mean we can’t try a gluten-free diet. Testimonies, including those of my personal friends, claim that a gluten-free diet can result in weight loss, boost your energy levels and help remove harmful preservatives from the body. It makes you feel cleaner, healthier.
Even after a summer surrounded by gluten-free food, I did not make the decision to 100% avoid gluten. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t! If you suffer stomach pains after eating carbs or certain gluten-heavy foods, give going gluten-free a try. Though not totally gluten-free myself, some of my favorite snacks and foods actually are gluten-free. And, while we aren’t in West LA where gluten-free food is literally everywhere, South Bend and even Notre Dame, offer gluten-free options.
So, I challenge you: Go gluten-free. Try it for a week, a month. See if it’s for you! To help get you started, check out a few of South Bend’s best (and my favorite) GF options:
Restaurants: Aladdin’s, Elia’s, Cre-Asian, Chipotle, Whole Foods (their prepared food section ROCKS)
Dining Hall: Quinoa, Gluten-Free Cabinet (it’s kind of hidden, ask the DH staff about it!), Salad Bar, Tofu Stir-fry
On-Campus: The Huddle Salad Bar, Café de Grasta
Brands: Udi’s, Venice Bakery, Amy’s, Greek Yogurt (really any brand!), Glutino, KIND, Nature’s Path
Follow the HCND Pinterest account, and remember to keep posted with HCND on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!
Sources: New York Times