We’ve put together recipes for 10 delicious and versatile flatbreads that can be used in any way you would enjoy wheat bread. They’re just as delicious too! Because they require so few ingredients, flatbread is remarkably easy to make without gluten. But first let’s talk about celiac disease and gluten insensitivity.
True celiac disease is relatively uncommon. It is an autoimmune condition in which your body simply cannot process the proteins in wheat, which ends up damaging the small intestine.
Celiac disease can lead to serious health consequences, such as anemia, pancreas and gall bladder dysfunction, nutrient deficiency, infertility and miscarriage, osteoporosis, central and peripheral nervous system disorders, and cancer. (1) It’s unknown what causes celiac disease and there is no curent cure.
Much more common are gluten sensitivity, intolerance, or allergy—relatively new conditions that are more difficult to diagnose and are often lumped together as “gluten-related disorders” with celiac disease. (2)
The Problem with Gluten
“Gluten-related disorders” can result in bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, autism, constipation, diarrhea, headaches, depression, skin conditions, and more unpleasant reactions. Interestingly, sensitivity to wheat is most prevalent in North America and Europe than elsewhere in the world, although gluten intolerance is rising in developing countries. (3)
Incidences of gluten intolerance have quadrupled in the last 60 years.
The causes of gluten sensitivity have not been definitively established by the medical community, perhaps due to political factors. (4)
Hypotheses include:
- Genetically modified organisms (GMO)
- Herbicides used in conventional farming, specifically glyphosate
- Increased gluten content in modern wheat due to hybridization
- Reovirus infection (5)
- Proteins in wheat other than gluten (6)
Bread in various forms is a food staple of almost every culture. People who limit their wheat and gluten intake are finding more alternatives readily available but the one thing that they likely miss the most is bread. The gluten in wheat is what gives bread its satisfying texture.
10 Wheat- and Grain-free Flatbread Recipes
Feel free to experiment with your own toppings for a satisfying culinary experience without the bloat. Use organic ingredients whenever possible for full nutrition and flavor without synthetic chemicals.