Gluten Allergy: Definition
Gluten is a complex protein substance which interacts with yeast in bread dough
to cause elasticity. It is found in many grains, principally wheat but also rye,
spelt, barley, amaranth and sometimes oats. Gluten allergy, also known as celiac
disease or celiac sprue, is an inherited disorder which causes serious lifelong
symptoms. It occurs in up to 10% of white people of Nordic ethnicity, often undiagnosed, and has been reported in India, Latin America, and the Middle East, though cases amongst ethnic Chinese, Japanese and Africans are rare. The only cure for gluten allergy is to eliminate all gluten from the diet.
