Gluten Intolerance Protection with Enzymes

Eating out with gluten intolerance is challenging. The continual hunt for restaurants that either have a gluten-free menu or can accommodate gluten-free requests can make eating out downright discouraging. What’s even more discouraging is that most restaurants cannot fully prevent the cross-contamination of gluten in your food. But many people have found a solution to ease their troubles – digestive enzymes!

That little disclaimer at restaurants and on food packages that states “made on shared equipment that processes wheat products” makes gluten-intolerant people cringe. Why? It basically means that you are about to consume some food that MAY or MAY NOT have traces of gluten in it. Restaurants and packaged food companies that share product lines do their best to clean the equipment before preparing a gluten-free item. But it’s not always a guarantee to prevent those tiny bits of gluten “dust” that may just grab onto a piece of food and make their way into your sensitive digestive tract.

There IS hope with digestive enzymes! But first, let’s look at the three variations of gluten intolerance:

Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder caused when the consumption of gluten literally damages the small intestine. This type of reaction creates autoimmune responses, malabsorption of nutrients, IBS symptoms and much more. Ingesting gluten with this disease can lead to some pretty serious reactions.

Gluten Intolerance
Gluten Intolerance can be difficult to diagnose. Someone who has it can experience similar symptoms to those who have celiac disease. This is also referred to as non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Symptoms can include foggy-mind, abdominal pain, bloating, and much more. Figuring out if you have a gluten intolerance can be done through an elimination diet or blood work. The blood work looks for particular antibodies that indicate how active (or reactive) your immune system is.

Minor Bloating and Gas Caused by Gluten
You know that feeling, when you’ve consumed a few slices of your favorite pizza or indulged in some chicken alfredo. On comes the bloated belly, indigestion and perhaps even some minor (or major!) gas.

Instead of reaching for an antacid after eating, how about taking a digestive enzyme beforehand that can help to digest gluten? This will help to reduce digestive distress that may be caused by foods containing gluten.

For some people, gluten intolerance isn’t severe enough for a little cross-contamination to affect them, while for others, it could be a long night of true discomfort or even a visit to the hospital.

So, what’s a gluten intolerant person to do?

Avoidance is priority, followed by protection. If you don’t want to roll the dice at a restaurant that MAY have gluten in your meal, but still want to socialise, the key in these situations is protection. Supplementation by digestive enzymes that aid in the digestion of gluten could be one way to assist.