Gluten
This is number six in a series of eight outlining ingredients commonly included in so-called healthy bath products that should be avoided and that are nowhere to be found in The Bath Shoppe line of products.
What is it? Gluten or gluten-derived by-products come from gluten containing grains such as wheat, barley, rye, oats. In skin care products they are used as a thickener, emollient, volumizer, moisturizer, or exfoliator.
Why to avoid? Although topical use of products containing gluten has not been shown to cause a typical systemic celiac reaction such as stomach pain, intestinal cramping or nausea because the gluten present in skin care products can not be absorbed through the skin; the particles are too large to enter the blood stream or GI tract. The concern is if you are gluten sensitive or celiac, there is a chance you could ingest accidentally, for example get shampoo in your mouth when washing your hair or body wash in your mouth when washing your face or the lotion on your hands can contaminate your food when preparing it.
How to avoid: Although a product label may say “gluten free”, it is always best to check the label. Look for:
Wheat or Gluten:
- AMP-isostearoyl hydrolyzed wheat protein
- Enzyme modified gluten hydrolyzed wheat protein (HWP)
- Hydrolyzed wheat gluten
- Hydrolyzed wheat starch
- Triticum lipids
- Triticum vulgare
- Wheat amino acids
- Wheat bran
- Wheat bran extract
- Wheat germ extract
- Wheat germ glyceride
- Wheat germ oil or Tocopherol
- Wheat hydrolysate
- Wheat peptides
- Wheat starch
Barley or Malt
- Barley extract
- Malt extract
Rye: Secale cereal
Oats: (unless specified gluten-free oats are used)
- Avena sativa
- Avena sativa extract
- Sodium lauroyl oat amino acid
- Hordeum vulgare extract