Gluten, gluten, gluten – this term has become increasingly popular in recent years. Whole shelves are already filled with gluten-free products in supermarkets.
Gluten intolerance (also called celiac disease) is no longer a rarity in the population and more and more researchers and scientists attribute health problems to the consumption of gluten.
But how unhealthy is gluten really? And how can you do without it at breakfast in the morning? And the question of questions for all muesli friends: Is my muesli gluten-free ?
What exactly is gluten?
Gluten is a natural protein found predominantly in wheat and other cereals. That's why gluten is found in a lot of foods that contain grains in some form – and that's a lot. Cereals containing gluten include wheat, rye, spelt and barley.
Gluten is so often found in a wide variety of foods because it offers many beneficial physiological and technological properties . Gluten, for example, is responsible for the fact that flour and water combine to form a sticky dough. That's why gluten is also called gluten protein.
What causes gluten intolerance?
In many cases, hereditary factors lead to gluten intolerance. However, intolerance can also be caused by a weakened immune system, infections or diet. However, not every form of intolerance is equally pronounced.
There is celiac disease, gluten sensitivity and wheat allergy. These terms are often equated, but this is factually wrong. For example, these three manifestations often mean very different symptoms and courses for those affected.
Symptoms of gluten intolerance
The symptoms range from diarrhea to headaches – but limb pain or muscle pain are also part of it. But before you give up all gluten products directly, you should have a check-up with a specialist .
They can determine the degree of your intolerance and at the same time discuss alternatives and diets with you.
Cereals and Gluten – Which cereals are gluten-free?
But how can you eat a healthy breakfast and avoid gluten ? Since many cereals contain gluten, you are certainly looking for alternatives. How about millet , amaranth , buckwheat and quinoa ?
All these cereals contain no gluten and can be eaten easily and worry-free! Incidentally, wild rice and corn are just as gluten-free – if it is not exclusively for breakfast.
Does cereal contain gluten?
This question depends entirely on which cereal you are looking at. Basically, yes, cereal can contain gluten. However, cereals are not per se dependent on containing gluten-containing cereals.
There are many different gluten-free cereals. Especially with us in the shop, you will certainly find what you are looking for. Our recommendations for gluten-free cereals are, for example, the fruity coconut apricot cereal and the delicious cranberry cherry cereal.
What distinguishes a gluten-free cereal?
First of all, you should make sure that your cereal is really gluten-free. So it's important to look closely at what's in it. A good indication is the gluten-free seal. Muesli is basically a very nutritious and valuable dish in the morning. You fill your energy stores, keep your blood sugar level constant and are full for a long time.
What ingredients come in a gluten-free cereal?
Muesli usually starts with the grain of a cereal mixture – so you should first choose a gluten-free cereal . Soy flakes , amaranth flakes , buckwheat flakes or gluten-free corn flakes . Meanwhile, there is also a wide range of gluten-free oatmeal . That puts you in a good position!
Next, toppings, because without them, muesli only tastes half as good. Seeds and nuts are wonderful gluten-free ingredients that go almost perfectly with any cereal imaginable. Fresh fruits – preferably regional and seasonal – then round off the cereal perfectly! Dried fruits can also taste delicious. However, please make sure that they do not arrive at your home with flour.
What are the benefits of gluten-free cereal?
Gluten-free diets in general offer many advantages. If you have been diagnosed with an intolerance, changing your diet can have a huge impact on your well-being.
In this way, nutrients are better absorbed and utilized by the body. The risk of consequential damage decreases and the small intestinal mucosa regenerates. The antibody levels also return to normal. It's really easy to eat gluten-free breakfast – and it's not just good for your health!
Is oats gluten-free?
There are so many contrary statements about the gluten content of no grain as there are about oats. That is why we have taken a closer look at the question of whether oats are gluten-free .
Oats are naturally low in gluten. However, conventional oats are grown in fields where gluten-containing cereals are also grown.
Also during processing, oats are often produced in machines that also process other cereals – so traces of gluten can get to the oatmeal. Therefore, gluten-intolerant people should make sure that they are labeled as gluten-free when buying oatmeal.
However, quantities of up to 50 grams are not harmful to you in most cases. But you can definitely play it safe with our certified gluten-free muesli and porridges.
If you like to experiment in the kitchen, you can try our recipe for gluten-free Bircher tarts – this will always impress breakfast guests!
Bircher tartlet
Ingredients
- 2 bananas
- 100 g Bircher Porridge
- 50 g honey
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups Greek yogurt
- Apple, nuts & grapes as a topping
- Butter for the mould
Preparation
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Crush the bananas with a fork. Add the porridge, honey, cinnamon and salt and mix well.
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Grease the bottom of a muffin tin with butter.
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Pour a little mass over the individual muffin tins with your hands and press smoothly.
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Bake at 175 degrees for about 25 minutes in the oven until the cups are a little brown and firm.
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Allow the cups to cool and then fill with yoghurt. Top with apple slices, nuts and grapes.
