Going Gluten Free: 5 Delicious Wheat Substitute Recipes

I know when you hear “gluten free diet” the first thing you think of is boring bland food. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Whether you are gluten intolerant or not it is always helpful to know what you are putting into your body.

First, let’s answer the biggest question, what is gluten?

Gluten is a protein of which most of our store bought products consist of, such as , French fries, pasta, bread, beer, rye bread and many more.

Gluten is made up of proteins which are known as gliadin (a prolamin protein) and glutelin (a glutelin protein).

These don’t affect most people but in a recent study published on the online journal, Gastroenterology & Hepatology, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and Celiac disease are the two leading intolerances caused by gluten and wheat, affecting up to 20 percent of American adults and 1 in every 145 Americans.

People who suffer from any sort of gluten or wheat intolerance digest this protein differently to people who are not suffering from the intolerance.

Meaning, their body creates an abnormal response during the digestion stage. Studies have also shown that gluten contains high levels of starch and sugar which ferments when in contact with intestinal bacteria which in turn creates cramping, bloating and in some cases, diarrhea.

Other symptoms caused by wheat/gluten intolerance are; weight loss, fatigue, joint pains, irregular bowel movements, intestinal infections and bumps on the skin.

According to an article posted on Live Science, more doctors are recommending gluten intolerant people to switch to a gluten free diet which means avoiding foods such as; bread, pasta, French fries, beer, pizza, soy products and even some soups which contain gluten.

When I was first diagnosed with IBS I was disheartened because I thought I had to give up some of my favorite foods. Gluten free diets can be tasty and delicious!

There are many substitutes like cauliflower couscous and pizza bases, and not to mention banana pancakes! The recipes below improve digestion, increase energy levels, reduced bloating, and increased cognitive functions. The best part is that they are easy to prepare too!

My personal favorite is the Fluffy Coconut Flour Pancakes! Who says being gluten free should be boring? Enjoy!

Fluffy Coconut Flour Pancakes via Stephanie Wise