First it was fat free, then it was carb free, now it’s gluten free. Is gluten free just the latest gimmick or really an important health and nutrition issue? The answer is both.
For the one out of a hundred people in the U.S. that have celiac disease, gluten free foods are literally a life saver. Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food. Those with celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, even in minuet amounts. Gluten is a protein that is found in thousands of foods made with wheat, rye and barely as well as everyday products such as medicines, vitamins and lip balm. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating, fatigue, bone or joint pain, depression or anxiety, missed menstrual periods and left untreated can cause serious long term consequences. Celiac disease must be diagnosed by a physician, so make an appointment if you are experiencing these symptoms.
If diagnosed with celiac disease you must eliminate gluten form your diet. Most pastas, cereals and grain products are made with wheat, wheat flour, rye and barely and should therefore be avoided. Fortunately “gluten free” products made from potato, rice, soy, amaranth, quinoa, buckwheat or bean flours are increasingly available, making the gluten free diet more palatable and easier to follow. Since “plain” meat, fish, rice, fruits and vegetables do not contain gluten they can be safely eaten. Oats can be eaten in small amounts as long they are not contaminated with wheat gluten during processing. Some people, while not diagnosed with celiac disease, have similar symptoms and may benefit from limiting their exposure to gluten.
The gimmick side of gluten free comes from the belief that foods with gluten are bad, and if it is “gluten free” it must be healthy. First of all, whole grain products made from wheat, barley and rye can make a very positive contribution to a healthy diet and there is no reason to exclude them unless you have celiac disease or you experience the symptoms described above when consuming them. Secondly, there are many gluten free products that are not healthy or nutritious. Food companies are now making gluten free versions of cakes, cookies, muffins, doughnuts, brownies and other junk foods. While it is not bad for someone with celiac disease to enjoy an occasional gluten free treat, a gluten free cookie or brownie is still a cookie or a brownie. If because of the “halo” effect, you give yourself the permission to eat more gluten free snacks than you would eat the regular version of those snack, gluten free could be part of the problem not the solution.
For more information on celiac disease, contact the Celiac Disease Foundation at www.celiac.org. For information on digestive disorders in general, visit the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse website. at www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov.
I am glad you posted this. This way of thinking even for people who do not suffer from celiac disease is spreading. I received a 'lecture' from someone at work about the Wheat Belly book and diet. It is yet another extreme. By watching your calories, by default you limit these ingredients and products.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Lyle. Congrats on all the progress you have over the past year.
ReplyDeleteBob, this was a very interesting post. I was confused about the health benefits of Gluten free food and you really enlightened me.
ReplyDeleteI have celiacs and I learned the hard way that you have to be really strict. We end up avoiding wheat altogether at our house because of me. From what I understand, wheat does tend to be more of an acid forming grain, and the wonderful wheat substitutes you mention in the article, like rice, quinoa, millet, etc. are more alkaline forming. An alkalinizing diet is an anti-inflammatory diet, and that helps prevent a host of illnesses. So, a little more "gluten-free" even when you don't have celiac's can be a good thing! Also, celiac's has a genetic marker, so there's a chance that if one person in the family has it, the others could.
ReplyDeleteMerlyn, glad to hear that you have benefited from going gluten free, and you are right, the healthy gluten free foods we listed are healthy good for all of us. Good point also about celiac disease having a genetic marker.
ReplyDelete[...] a fad diet that’s been circulating, which I’d like to address. Earlier this year, I wrote about the gluten free fad diet and would like to share some updated information on this growing [...]
ReplyDelete