A gluten-free diet is all the craze right now and you who are reading this article may be thinking of going on a gluten-free diet yourself. But before you too join the gluten-free bandwagon, there are some facts to think about. Formerly, gluten-free diets were introduced for people who were fighting against celiac disease which is a deadly auto-immune disorder which gradually harms your intestinal tract. Celiac is a disease affecting around 1% of the population and can be cured by taking gluten out of your diet. By undergoing an intestinal biopsy, you could detect celiac definitively.
People usually are joining this range of adopting a gluten-free diet as they wish to combat the feeling of fatigue, depression and bloated around their stomach. Accepting a gluten-free diet helps in losing weight and feeling better. But don’t you think that before rushing to a gluten-free diet, you should try something simpler like exercising? Or rather prefer a life sans birthday cakes, pasta and bread?
Following a gluten-free diet plan is a hard row to hoe
Studies reveal that gluten-free diets can seriously lower your nutrition levels as they’re usually low in iron, fiber, folate, thiamine, niacin, calcium, vitamin B12, zinc and phosphorus. This is because most of the products with the label ‘gluten-free’ are composed of unenriched starches and grains which have adequate calories but very less minerals and vitamins.
Out of the immense desperation which the Americans feel about their body, shape and weight, the new gluten-free food industry is making millions. Off late, there has been an explosion in the number of gluten-free junk foods and if you’re too much into this craze, make sure you steer clear from them. Without checking whether or not you require a gluten-free diet, it is recommended that you shouldn’t make an uninformed decision.
Gluten – What is it?
Gluten is a kind of protein found in some grains and in wheat such as barley and rye. As per a gluten experiment carried out at the University of Maryland, there is enough function and importance of gluten. Few foods which contain gluten are bulgur, barley, couscous, cereal binding, malt, malt flavoring, rye, wheat, wheat germ and even in some kind of oats which are given the label, “Gluten free”.
When is it necessary to embrace a gluten-free diet?
People who will definitely need a gluten-free meal programme should have one of the below listed conditions. Check them out.
- Celiac disease: As mentioned earlier in this post, people who suffer from celiac disease actually have damaged villi, fine tissues in their digestive tract due to chronic inflammation caused by gluten. For this problem, consuming a tiny amount of gluten can lead to cramping, bloating or other skin rashes. Hence, they should strictly be on a gluten-free diet.
- Sensitivity or gluten intolerance: People who are gluten-sensitive but who don’t have celiac, aren’t suffering from a damaged intestinal lining. But still they may experience bloating, headaches, diarrhea or fatigue after consuming foods containing gluten. Though it’s tough to get a clear number of people with gluten sensitivity, there are many who have this common celiac disease. Hence, they should also be on a strict gluten-free diet.
Hence, if you haven’t been diagnosed with gluten sensitivity or some sort of celiac issues, it’s fine to buck the trend of going gluten-free but that doesn’t mean that you have to chuck off gluten from your diet just because the stars are doing it. Make sure you eliminate gluten if you have some unnatural reaction to it, but do so only after you meet a doctor.
About Carla Smith:
Carla Smith is the founder of Safe and Healthy Life. Her main objective is to provide informative articles, reviews, and analysis of health & fitness topics to her readers that help them to make their life easier and happier. Connect with her on Twitter.