There have been a steady rise in gluten-free food since the last decade. You may be wondering why, but it’s not because people have suddenly realized that consuming too much gluten is bad for them.
Scientists have actually found that more and more people have become allergic to gluten, but the cause in the rise of gluten allergies are still up for debate. Experts have blamed everything from the way wheat is grown and processed to the of prevalence of gluten-rich foods in the market.
One type of food product that has recently catered to the gluten-free crowd is energy drinks. Today we will be analyzing if Game Fuel, Mountain Dew’s spin-off brand for gamers, is gluten-free and safe to drink for those with gluten-allergy.
A lot of energy drinks seem to be gluten-free, but is Game Fuel one of them?
The short answer is that although not officially certified, Game Fuel seems to be gluten-free.
Some of the jargon here may sound complicated, but after finishing this article you’ll certainly feel more knowledgeable about which food products are gluten-free and whether you should consider going gluten-free or not.
But first let us take a look at what gluten is and why some people are allergic to it.
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What is Gluten?
Gluten is an insoluble protein with its two main proteins being gliadin and glutenin. The reason why doughs are consistently elastic and why foods are chewy like bread and pasta is due to gluten.
Gluten is controversial these days. Most sources claim that it is safe for everyone except those who have celiac disease. On the other hand, some health experts believe that gluten is harmful to most people.
Medical News Today
Gluten is derived from the glue-like property of wet dough but it is the compound gliadin that’s responsible for gluten’s many adverse effects if you have a gluten intolerance, such as:
- Bloating
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal Pain
- Headaches
- Tiredness
- Skin Problems
Gluten can be found in grains, including wheat, rye, spelt, and barley, which makes it almost impossible to avoid in this day and age where most food products are primarily made of flour.
What we think of as everyday staples can be dangerous for people with gluten allergies. Bread, cakes, doughnuts, pasta, beer, cereals, cookies and pies all contain gluten unless they were specifically made with gluten-free flour.
According to Medical News Today, 26 to 30 percent of adults in the United States alone have started reducing their gluten intake or even abstaining from gluten completely.
However, the popularity of gluten-free products are not only the result of gluten allergy. A lot of people have started believing that consuming too much gluten is bad for you even though there is no evidence to support this.
Is Gluten Bad for Your Health?
Gluten is neither healthy nor unhealthy for those who do not have a gluten allergy. So you may be puzzled as to why gluten-free products are flying off the shelves even though there is less than 1% of people with a gluten allergy in the world.
Well, that’s because living a gluten-free life is great if you have celiac disease, wheat allergy, wheat intolerance, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or you just want to avoid eating processed foods.
Are you curious about what will happen if you choose to be gluten-free for a month? Here’s a video that will tell you different people’s anecdotes on going gluten-free:
What Is Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease is a type of disease that prevents people from eating gluten. This is solely because eating foods that contain gluten will damage their small intestine.
Some symptoms of celiac disease are:
- Depression
- Headache
- Exhaustion
- Skin Rashes
- Diarrhea
- Digestive Discomfort
But keep in mind that some people that have celiac disease don’t necessarily feel any digestive symptoms. That’s why doctors have a hard time diagnosing celiac disease, and why 80% of people with celiac disease don’t even know that they have this disease.
What Is Wheat Allergy?
Allergy is a condition wherein a person becomes sick or starts to develop vast health problems like skin problems or breathing problems.
This means that people with allergies will have certain symptoms and adversities once they consume or even come in contact with wheat.
What Is Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity?
Non-celiac gluten sensitivity or gluten intolerance is a term used to describe individuals who cannot tolerate gluten and experience symptoms that are homogeneous to celiac disease.
However, as the name implies, these people are not diagnosed with celiac disease due to lack of intestinal damages or the same antibodies that celiac disease has.
What Is Wheat Intolerance?
The main difference that wheat intolerance has to gluten intolerance is that people who are only intolerant to wheat can still eat other types of gluten like rye, barley, and the like.
In short, they’re only not allowed to eat wheat and not holistically gluten.
Is Game Fuel good for you?
If you’re playing video games and need a fast energy boost, Game Fuel isn’t a terrible beverage to have on hand. The energy drink has a reasonable quantity of caffeine without causing unpleasant side effects, and it contains a reasonable amount of sugar without being too excessive.
Even so, I think you should limit your Game Fuel intake to a can a day at most. Drinking too much might cause health issues such as a change in blood glucose levels and sugar crash. Possibility of developing diabetes, heart disease, and obesity rises.
Are the Ingredients in Game Fuel Gluten-Free?
Since Game Fuel ingredients appear to have no wheat, rye, or barley. It’s safe to hypothesize that it’s gluten-free.
So if you have any symptoms of celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, wheat allergy, or wheat intolerance, then Game Fuel is a safe option for you!
However, just because Game Fuel is gluten-free doesn’t necessarily mean you can binge-drink it. Just like overconsumption of foods and beverages, taking too much Game Fuel can lead to adverse effects.
Gluten-Free Drinks vs Drinks That Have Gluten
| Drinks That Are Gluten-Free | Drinks That Are Not Gluten-Free |
| Energy Drinks | Beer |
| Coca-Cola | Malt Beverages |
| Water | Wine Coolers |
| Tea | Lager |
The Truth About Gluten-Free Diets
Some people believe that a gluten-free diet is better for your health even if you don’t have celiac disease.
But very few people adopt it simply because gluten is a main component of a lot of those delicious carbs we know and love like bread and pasta. It’s just impossible to avoid gluten, especially if there’s no good reason for you to do so.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t reduce your gluten intake once in a while, because the benefits can be surprisingly good for you.
The benefits of a low-gluten diet for those without gluten allergies include reduced obesity, less fatigue and improved athletic performance.
While those who have celiac disease, or other gluten allergies need to avoid gluten like the plague, the rest of us normies actually need it because gluten-rich foods like wheat are fortified with essential vitamins and minerals, and cutting it out entirely out of your diet may do more harm than good.
The side effects of a gluten-free diet for those without gluten allergies include nutritional deficiencies and coronary artery disease.
Can kids drink Game Fuel?
G Fuel mandates that everyone buying their products should be at least 18 years old. In addition, Both the company and Gamma Labs advocate limiting yourself to one serving of their powdered and canned goods day, respectively.
While GFuel may be a better option than sugary energy drinks, owing to its high caffeine concentration, it is not advised for anybody under the age of 18. G Fuel powder has between 140 and 150mg of caffeine per serving. About twice as much, or 300mg per can, is found in G Fuel.
Conclusion
There is a common misconception among the general populace that gluten is bad for your health, but that’s only true if you have health problems like celiac disease, wheat allergy, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or wheat intolerance.
If you don’t have any types of health problems, then being gluten-free is still great if what you’re doing is trying to avoid processed foods. This is simply because processed foods contain a lot of gluten and they aren’t also healthy, but if you don’t eat a lot of processed foods going gluten-free won’t make you healthier. In short, gluten is neither healthy nor unhealthy.
Since Game Fuel doesn’t have any wheat, rye, or barley, it’s safe to say that Game Fuel is gluten-free. Keep in mind though that Game Fuel shouldn’t drink too much because just like any other energy drink, it can lead to serious health problems when you drink it extravagantly.
However, I am not a medical professional so it’s best you consult your physician before trying Game Fuel, especially if you do have celiac disease, or any other gluten-related diseases.