Garantiert glutenfrei is a book written by Sabine Kauffmann and Helene von Zuccalmaglio. This innovative book is designed to help people with gluten allergies and intolerances to make informed decisions about their diets. It also aims to highlight the expensive gluten-free substitute products available in the market that are not always necessary. The author, Dr. med. Matthias Nelson, uncovers the truth behind these substitute products and offers advice on how to enjoy a gluten-free diet without breaking the bank.

Garantiert Glutenfrei: Nelson entlarvt die teuren Ersatzprodukte

Nelson Mueller, a German celebrity chef, sets out to uncover what really goes into gluten-free products and why they come with a hefty price tag. In recent years, there has been a surge in the popularity of gluten-free food, with a tenfold increase in sales of free-from products in the market. While these products were once exclusive to people with gluten intolerance, they are now being stocked by many supermarkets and bought by a wider range of consumers. Mueller seeks to find out if these expensive gluten-free products are worth the money they are sold for or if they are genuinely a healthier alternative to their wheat counterpart.

Mueller begins by conducting a price comparison between 20 gluten-free products and their wheat alternatives. On average, he finds that gluten-free options are more than twice as expensive as their wheat counterparts. For instance, a gluten-free nut nougat cream is nearly four times more expensive, and gluten-free wafers cost over six times more than regular wafers. Mueller notes that the reason for the high cost is due to the additional measures needed to ensure gluten-free products are indeed gluten-free. One such measure includes ensuring that during the production cycle, gluten-free grains are not contaminated by gluten-containing grains.

To better understand how gluten-free products are made, Mueller visits the central factory of the leading gluten-free food producer, Dr Scheer, located near Marburg in Germany. During his visit, he observes the production of gluten-free chocolate chip cookies. The process involves substituting wheat flour with various gluten-free grains like rice and maize, which do not have gluten as a binder. The ingredients are then mixed with vegan fat, sugar, various starches like tapioca, soy, and other flavourings to produce the dough. Despite this, Mueller observes the similarities between regular cookies and their gluten-free counterparts; he finds that their taste, texture, and crunch are almost identical.

Britta Shorts of the Berlin Consumer Center examines gluten-free products of different categories and notes that they are not always a healthier alternative to wheat-based products. For example, gluten-free bread and buns often contain more additives and preservatives. Mueller concludes from the research that unless one is gluten intolerant, there is no need to purchase gluten-free products, and one can stick to wheat-based products.

In recent years, wheat has gained quite a bad reputation for allegedly causing obesity and allergies. While experts agree that consuming large amounts of wheat-based products can lead to health problems, consumed in moderation, they are a healthy part of a balanced diet. Professor Longin from the University of Hohenheim states that the wheat of today is, in reality, not much different from that of the past. However, he suggests that it could be the group of carbohydrates called fructans that cause gastrointestinal problems in some people. Mueller, in collaboration with the professor, finds that when wheat is left for a longer time, the levels of fructans drop. Additionally, the manufacturing process of food products that contain gluten could be a factor in the rise of gluten sensitivity.

In conclusion, gluten-free products may be a good option for people with gluten intolerance or those suffering from allergies, but for most people, it is not necessary to buy gluten-free. They are not always healthier than regular products, and they are generally much more expensive. Thus, it is essential to read the label and understand the ingredients before buying gluten-free products.
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