A few years back, we saw an uproar about gluten in the food world. Some began avoiding it altogether after seeing articles talking about its harm while others had already been dealing with gluten sensitivity for years. While tricky to master at home, gluten-free goods are incredibly delicious and nutritious. Luckily, we offer a range of masterfully-made gluten-free options at our gluten-free bakery North Vancouver.
But what is gluten exactly?
All gluten is, is a protein that’s found in grains like wheat, rye, and barley. It’s what gives bread and dough its spongey, stretchy, gummy quality. Without gluten, bread wouldn’t be able to hold its shape and would just crumble apart. You wouldn’t be able to knead a ball of dough nor have a slice of toast without it falling apart.
Even though some grains like oatmeal, spelt, durum, semolina, graham, einkorn, and many others are naturally gluten-free, often contain gluten as they are usually processed in the same facilities as wheat. When a naturally non-gluten-containing grain like oats are labeled gluten-free, it means that they were processed in a completely clean facility where wheat and gluten-containing grains haven’t been present.
Is it really that bad for you?
Negative attention in the media has caused many people to doubt its health benefits and look to replacing it altogether without consulting their physicians. According to an article by the Harvard School of Public Health, research suggests the opposite.
They state that “In a 2017 study of over 100,000 participants without celiac disease, researchers found no association between long-term dietary gluten consumption and heart disease risk. [1] In fact, the findings also suggested that non-celiac individuals who avoid gluten may increase their risk of heart disease, due to the potential for reduced consumption of whole grains.”
To read the original article, please click here.
Where its health benefits begin to falter, however, is in individuals who have a sensitivity to it. While some people have a gluten intolerance known as non-celiac gluten sensitivity, others have a much more severe condition known as celiac disease. Those with celiac disease are genetically predisposed to this autoimmune disease where the consumption of gluten will lead to damage in the small intestines.
People along the spectrum of gluten sensitivity or otherwise who choose to eat gluten-free are welcome to ask us anything they wish! We are here to help and ensure you are safe when enjoying our baked goods. Whether you have a gluten sensitivity or enjoy wheat-based products, we encourage you to try our gluten-free bread and pastries! You won’t be able to tell the difference!
Do you make gluten-free products at Bisou?
Yes, we do. You can rest assured that the savory or sweet products we have that are labeled gluten-free have all been carefully created and the areas thoroughly sanitized. We use strictly gluten-free flours for all of our gluten-free baked goods, however, if you have any concerns or questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us so our gluten-free bakery North Vancouver can help.
