What’s the big deal with gluten? - William D. Chey

If you've been to a restaurant in the last few years, you’ve likely seen the words gluten-free written somewhere on the menu. But what exactly is gluten, and why can’t some people process it? And why does it only seem to be a problem recently? William D. Chey unravels the facts behind celiac disease, wheat allergies and non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

Lesson by William D. Chey, animation by Stretch Films, Inc.

[ChronicRen]

As someone with celiac disease, I don’t mind the fad. the fact that so many people are jumping on the gluten free bandwagon means that companies are making more gluten free products.

[samikate]

I was a waitress at an Italian restaurant and to this day this is still the funniest moment of my life. Someone ordered the pork belly, mash potato and veg which was marked as gluten free (there’s no gluten in any of those ingredients).

The person asked me if I could add gluten because they don’t like gluten free food.

[Zajcooo]

Yet again I'm blissfully just sitting there listening to narrator's kind and calm voice and enjoying great animation. I really love TED-Ed. And now it's time to stand up and walk for a minute, remembering the lesson about how prolonged sitting is bad for us!

[Kraze]

I absolutely love that being gluten free became a trend. Do you know how little food I was able to buy in stores when I was first gluten free. And not only that but none of it even tasted good. Gluten free food has come so far and has improved so much. Now it just needs to get cheaper so consuming food isn't as ridiculously expensive

[leogarcia]

I heard someone say somewhere that people in L.A. are so scared of gluten that you can rob a bank with a bagel.

[BleuTheWitch]

I have celiac disease and had it since I was 1.5 years old and with this new glutenfree fad thing I like that so many new things are glutenfree, heck I even ate an ice cream waffle for the first time this year.
But the comments you get when you are on a glutenfree diet is kinda annoying thanks to this fad DX

[impostingcookierecipes]

Interviwere: so, what are your specialties?

Me: I can eat gluten

Interviewer: Dear god when can you start?!

[mynameiswoman]

I recently had gastritis and it was the worst feelings of sickness I've ever experienced. I felt like I was going to die. My doctor recommended that I avoid wheat, dairy and oily foods. I carefully followed the meal plan and within weeks I was better. Now I feel 100 times better before I had gastritis.

[disgruntledkitten]

I've been celiac since I was two years old. As much as I hate being judged for my apparently now hipster disease I began to enjoy the fact I don't have to go to a health shop for bread!
My whole childhood revolved around what I can and can't eat and it developed into an eating disorder later in life. Now there's gluten-free stuff everywhere but I prefer rice cakes to the bread, and I'm not bothered about cakes and stuff, now I'm a grown-up I'm more carb-conscious, and there's now a market for gluten-free overly processed pastry and velvet cakes that I have no interest in eating lol!

[lindseygreene]

I found out I have non-celiac gluten sensitivity - getting rid of it four years ago stopped the horrid chronic sinus infections I had for YEARS and coughing up lots of thick phlegm.

[asdf]

its hard to take these conditions seriously cause hipsters makes a mockery of them..

[victorlevivalenciano]

I work as a waiter in a “healthy” restaurant, thus lots of gluten free foods. One time I had a customer who mentioned he was really allergic to gluten and to take extra care not to have a single trace of wheat in his meal, so we did. When he finished, we apparently saw him chowing down on his girlfriend’s gluten ridden apple pie! Til this day I cringe every time I think about it

[KonnieHua]

I highly recommend watching the "WHAT'S UP WITH WHEAT" documentary. It talks about how wheat in our country is harvested way before reaching full maturity and as a result, causes many people to have a sensitivity to it -- not necessarily an "allergy" as much as not being able to digest the un-ripened food -- like eating an un-ripened apple or peach, that results in stomach issues. It's VERY interesting and makes sense.

[flowerbuds]

I have been diagnosed with coeliac disease. Since I’ve stopped eating gluten I feel so much better. I didn’t know why I was so fatigued all the time and had all the symptoms described above. It is hard not to eat all the things you used to eat and enjoyed though. It sucks!

[majamarinic]

For the past 2 years, I felt exhausted, and one night, I had terrible leg rashes that I couldn't sleep until I discovered that I might be wheat intolerant. Now I feel like new me

[oopsy]

My fiancée is gluten free due to an actual allergy and the push from non gluten sensitive people and gf people did help her find more places she could eat at and luckily hasn't experienced people assuming she's lying about being allergic. Wish more places had more menu items without gluten. It's so hard to find things she can eat without getting sick. Really hope 6 more years changes positively.

[lindseycampbell]

I have non celiac gluten sensitivity related to my IBS. So I was kinda surprised that IBS wasn’t mentioned. But before I had my first colonoscopy I didn’t want to go gluten free. I resisted but then gave in because I lived with my parents and they made me switch. And now I’m a lot better! But I still get accused of having the nocebo effect! This is the main thing I don’t like about the diet being a fad.

[deeyyy]

I'm alergic and it sucks. I would not wish this on any one

[sagek]

Been gluten free for almost a year, one of the best decisions I made in my life

[AmberKingmusic]

Finally went gluten free 1.5 years ago my doctor's had been telling me it would help for 4 years. As soon as I went gluten free my grandmother was telling me how she thinks it would be good for her too since gluten is so bad for you and I was like gluten is not bad. The foods I eat arent healthier they just don't have gluten just like how nut free foods aren't healthier they just don't have nuts. I have gained weight since going gluten free however I no longer feel like there is a spiked ball in my abdomen so I am happy being a little bigger.