Is There Gluten in Udon?
If you've recently started a gluten-free diet, it can take some time to learn which foods are safe for you to eat. Asian restaurants are generally a good choice when eating out because gluten-free options with rice or rice noodles are usually available. However, udon noodles featured in many Japanese dishes are made from wheat flour and contain gluten.
Udon is a thick, white Japanese noodle, either round or square in shape, used in a variety of hot and cold dishes such as soups and salads. You'll see udon on menus in Asian restaurants and can buy fresh or dried noodles in Asian markets. They're made by kneading a high-protein, white wheat flour with salt and water, according the BBC. The use of udon and other noodles in Japanese cuisine is as commonplace as pasta in western cultures.
Gluten is the protein found in the grains wheat, rye, barley and triticale. If you have celiac disease, a wheat allergy or a gluten intolerance, the protein gluten triggers an allergic reaction in your body. The symptoms of a gluten sensitivity vary but often include diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, abdominal pain, bloating and anemia, according to The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center.
Gluten in Udon
If you have any type of gluten sensitivity, avoid all udon noodles. Their primary ingredient is wheat flour, which contains gluten. Eating udon noodles will likely cause you some uncomfortable side effects. Even if the side effects are not extremely apparent, you may still be suffering internally. The University of Chicago notes if you have celiac disease and eat gluten-containing foods, you may experience other health complications and damage your intestines. Malabsorption of nutrients caused by intestinal damage can cause nutrient deficiencies to develop.
Avoiding udon is fairly simple when eating Japanese food. Fortunately, Asian restaurants use gluten-free rice noodles in many dishes and have rice as well. Order stir-fries or soups with rice noodles or ask to substitute rice noodles in place of udon noodles. Gluten-free rice noodles are also available in Asian markets and most grocery stores to cook with at home. When in doubt about an ingredient, it's best to avoid the food to prevent side effects.
Erica Kannall is a registered dietitian and certified health/fitness specialist with the American College of Sports Medicine. She has worked in clinical nutrition, community health, fitness, health coaching, counseling and food service. She holds a Bachelor of Science in clinical dietetics and nutrition from the University of Pittsburgh.