No Gluten Pizza
Pizza is a favorite of Americans all over the country, and Indiana is certainly no exception. While some may point to New York as the home of the best pizza in the USA, that doesn’t mean that Americans can’t enjoy a tasty, quality slice of this favorite comfort food right in their local area. Pizza is a hard to resist food, and it’s no wonder that everyone enjoys it. But as delicious as this beloved food is, there are some circumstances where traditional pizza may not be advisable for some people to eat. As with any food, some people may have certain medical circumstances and conditions that cause an adverse reaction when they ingest certain things, such as some of the traditional ingredients used to make pizza. In the past, this meant these people might have to miss out on a tasty meal, but today, there are safe, healthy alternatives, such as no gluten pizza. But what is this, and why does the absence of gluten make this safer to eat for some people?
Your Body & Gluten
First, the critical question is, why can some people risk their health just by eating pizza? The answer to that is a substance called gluten. Gluten is a specific type of protein, and it appears most commonly in grain. Different types of gluten appear in different kinds of grain, so, for example, rice and quinoa carry one type of gluten. Another type of gluten is found in the common, popular grains used in the West, such as rye, barley, and, of course, wheat.
In baking, gluten is considered essential because it is this protein that gives flour its distinctive texture, elasticity, and flavor. The taste of your average loaf of fresh bread comes from gluten. However, there can be some rare digestive reactions to gluten from some people, including:
Allergic Reactions
In the same way, some people are allergic to the dander from pet fur or pollen when spring arrives. Unfortunately, some people have an allergy to wheat, specifically gluten. As with any allergic reaction, the symptoms can run the gamut from a mild reaction, such as developing an itch, or even visible hives, to a severe reaction, like impaired breathing or other extreme medical conditions that require treatment.
Gluten Ataxia
This auto-immune disorder is tied to the operation of the nervous system. If the body encounters gluten, nerve transmission is negatively impacted. Muscle control and even voluntary muscle movement are impaired, which can cripple mobility and even reflexes.
Celiac’s Disease
This is another auto-immune disorder, but it works differently. When the body detects gluten, the immune system treats it as a hostile presence. It goes into “overdrive” to the point that digestive activity damages the intestinal lining. If this continues for too long, it impairs the body’s ability to efficiently absorb nutrients, which brings a host of negative side-effects.
A Tricky Situation
People with gluten issues can find it challenging to eat at some restaurants, especially quality Italian restaurants that generally rely on a lot of wheat-based recipes. This is something that Bucceto’s has been aware of and actively worked to overcome.
In years past, early efforts to create good no gluten pizzas with other substitutes were adequate, but not appetizing. It was easy to substitute in something safer. Still, often the taste, texture, and overall enjoyment of the food were compromised to create something gluten-free that was safe to eat.
Thankfully, medical and food sciences have advanced in the intervening years. Now quality Italian eateries like Bucceto’s can offer safe, delicious alternatives, such as no gluten pizza, that still provide the same texture and taste people want in their pizza and other Italian cuisines.
How Does No Gluten Pizza Work?
There are a variety of ways to achieve a no gluten pizza that involve either artificial ingredients that simulate gluten or the use of other grain-based ingredients that still contain gluten, just not the type that causes an allergic reaction or symptoms.
Some gluten-based recipes, for example, substitute enzymes like amylase and glucose oxidase to mimic the properties of gluten. Other techniques use buckwheat, rice, corn, and sorghum. At Bucceto’s, we favor a rice-based approach that provides the same texture to the crust, as well as the flavor most people associate with pizza and pizza crust. Some people even choose no gluten pizzas due to the healthy, nutritional boost you get from eating a gluten-free meal.
Many Choices
If you want to safely enjoy a pizza or even other Italian cuisines without any worries, Bucceto’s is here for you. All of our locations offer over 50 different gluten-free items to eat, including different toppings for a variety of no gluten pizzas anyone can enjoy.
So come on down one of our Bucceto’s locations for a no gluten pizza. We’re even ready for take out if you want to enjoy that Bucceto’s taste at home.