October 22, 2021

What Is The Best Gluten-Free Protein Bar in 2021

The long awaited 2021 finally came, and people are really starting to take control of their health. A lot of the time, people turn to what Jlo or Kim Kardashian are doing as their wellness and lifestyle advice and hop on the train of the current trend.

Whether or not you are taking control of your health because you feel passionate about it or want to feel personally connected to Kim, the truth is, it doesn’t matter!

What matters is the fact that you’re interested in taking control of your health and doing things that will boost your overall health and wellness. Who cares what the reason behind it is? We’re certainly not judging! The point is, life is too short not to care about your health. Play around with things and see what benefits your body the most.

Whether you’re obsessed with your health or not, you’ve probably had a protein bar before. If you’re like most people (or like us), you probably even eat them regularly.

Protein bars are great because they can act as a meal replacement, give you a protein boost, and they make for one tasty snack. But not all protein bars are created equal; some are better than others, and that’s due to the ingredients used.

Okay, let’s start with gluten.We know you’ve heard at least one person say that cutting out gluten changed their life, cleared up their skin, or helped their digestion. With so many people going gluten-free, it can be confusing to know whether or not you should too.

What Is Gluten?

First things first: what exactly is gluten? You’ve heard of it, and you most likely eat it in one food or another. But what is it really?

Gluten is the word used to refer to proteins that are found in wheat, rye, and barley. Its purpose is to hold the wheat together and help it maintain its shape. Basically, it’s like a glue for wheat-containing proteins and foods.

Some common names for different types of wheat are:

Farro
Wheatberries
Durum
Emmer
Semolina
Graham
Spelt

These are just the names of different types of wheat (and there are even more than this). There are a lot of foods that contain gluten that you wouldn’t necessarily think would. The most common foods that contain gluten include wheat, barley, and rye. These are known as ‘The Big 3’ when it comes to gluten.

There is an exhaustive list of foods that contain gluten because they contain one of the big three ingredients listed above. Let’s take a look at foods that contain wheat, rye, and barley.

Wheat:

Pasta
Bread
Cereal
Dressings
Baked goods

Rye:

Rye bread
Cereal
Beer

Barley:

Malt (including malted milkshakes, malt extract, syrup, and flavoring, malt vinegar)
Food coloring
Beer
Yeast

As you can see, gluten is in a lot of different foods. Pasta, bread, and baked goods, for example, are common foods that can be found in many people’s everyday diets. And, if you’re a beer lover, it’s hard to escape gluten.

If you are trying to avoid gluten, it’s important that you always read the labels of whatever you’re going to eat. Gluten can be hiding in places that you least expect it!

Is Gluten Bad for You?

This is the question that everyone’s been waiting for...is gluten actually bad for you?

The truth is, it’s not a clear-cut answer. We can’t definitively say that gluten is or isn’t bad for you. There are definitely cases in which gluten is bad for you. For example, three million Americans are sensitive to gluten.

As certain trends take off, gluten seems to be at the forefront of food movements that say gluten is horrible for your body and overall health. There are people out there who are adamant about the fact that gluten is just not good for our bodies.

It’s time to hit you with some cold, hard facts: there is just no evidence suggesting that eating gluten is bad for the average person (keyword: average).

Gluten Sensitivity or Allergy

You can have a gluten sensitivity or a wheat allergy, which causes similar reactions in your body as Celiac Disease does. For example, gastrointestinal distress and skin issues can be related to all three of these gluten-related issues.

Again, in these specific cases, gluten is something you would likely want to avoid.

What Does It Mean To Be Gluten-Free?

There is a simple answer to this question. If you eat a gluten-free diet, it means you do not consume any foods that contain gluten. We provided a handy list to refer to if you need help figuring out which foods contain gluten.

If you are going gluten-free, it’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor or nutritionist first to make sure it’s OK for your body! And remember, if you feel better by not eating gluten, even if you don’t have a disease or sensitivity, then that’s totally fine. At the end of the day, you always need to do what is best for you and makes you feel good!

The Best Gluten-Free Protein Bar

We here at Kalumi are proud to provide award-winning protein bars that are gluten free!. Our bars are packed with amazing ingredients like marine collagen, MCT oil, sweet potatoes, nut butter, and cocoa butter. By the way, each bar contains eight grams of marine collagen!

Marine collagen is the best type of collagen because it can be absorbed more easily.

Plus, besides the fact that each bar is gluten-free, they are also dairy-free, soy-free, and non-GMO. Seriously, could you ask for a better protein bar (no, you couldn’t!)?

Pro Tip: Don’t like bars, or just want an extra collagen boost? Our collagen powder is perfect for you!

Wrapping It All Up

The average person should have no issues when it comes to gluten. However, gluten sensitivities and allergies are actually fairly common. If you do experience gastrointestinal issues or skin problems when you eat a lot of gluten, it can’t hurt to pay a visit to your doctor to have some testing done.

It’s important to note that many gluten-containing foods are heavy foods to begin with (pizza, pasta, etc.), which is why you might feel bloated after eating them. Regardless, always consult a doctor if you are unsure.

Ready to amp up your protein intake but want to keep it gluten-free? We have your back!

Sources:
Maybe it isn't Gluten's Fault | Gastrointestinal Society
Celiac disease: From pathophysiology to treatment | NCBI
Enhancing Skin Health: By Oral Administration of Natural Compounds and Minerals with Implications to the Dermal Microbiome | NCBI
Wheat & Gluten Allergy | Symptoms & Treatment | ACAAI