The topic of gluten-free diets is one that fascinates and confounds people who consume wheat and other gluten-containing grains. Popular opinions on the benefits and drawbacks of a gluten-free diet are often at odds with the latest medical research, leading to considerable confusion and worry among people who are avoiding gluten because they believe it to be healthy.
What Is Gluten?
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye that provides elasticity and sturdiness to dough and causes wheat to rise. It is also responsible for the chewiness of some baked goods. Although gluten is present in smaller quantities in most food products, including some meats, its role in human health has become more prominent as the prevalence of wheat-related disorders has increased.
Why Is Gluten-Free Diets Popular?
Many people believe that removing gluten from their diet will help to alleviate the symptoms of several health problems, including stomach pain and ulcers. Some also believe that a gluten-free diet can prevent certain food allergies and that avoiding gluten may help to boost the immune system. Others think that going gluten-free is a great way to reduce the damage that is caused by wheat and other gluten-containing grains.
Is Gluten-Free Diets Healthy?
The short answer to this question is ‘no’. The long answer is that while a gluten-free diet may prevent or relieve some symptoms of health problems, there is no evidence that it is good for overall human health. It has been linked to a number of disorders, including gastrointestinal problems, weight gain and diabetes. These linkages have led some experts to conclude that people experiencing symptoms after avoiding gluten should consider their diet and lifestyle habits again.
When Is A Gluten-Free Diet Necessary?
Some experts believe that a gluten-free diet is effective in treating and preventing celiac disease, an autoimmune syndrome that causes serious damage to the small intestine when untreated. People with celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten in any form, including wheat, rye and barley. If you and your doctor have ruled out celiac disease as the root cause of your gastrointestinal issues, then you may consider trying a gluten-free diet as a means to alleviate your symptoms.
What About People Who Are Genetically Lactose Intolerant?
While a gluten-free diet may be effective in treating celiac disease, it may not do so for everyone. For people who are genetically lactose intolerant, the solution is arguably quite simple – they cannot digest lactose, the natural sugar found in milk, so avoiding dairy products completely or cutting back on the amount of dairy products in your diet is the best way to ensure that you get the nutrients you need.
Is A Gluten-Free Diet Always Best?
As with most things in life, there are advantages and disadvantages to a gluten-free diet. The good news is that the disadvantages are often outweighed by the advantages. In most cases, a gluten-free diet is healthier than a diet that contains gluten. This is because gluten contains high-fiber and high-protein content, neither of which are found in foods that come from animals. Animals do not metabolize fiber or protein as human beings do, so the food available to them is generally low in fiber and protein compared to plant foods. This makes their meat less filling and more likely to cause you to eat more food than you need.
On the other hand, a gluten-free diet can sometimes be a little less nutritious because you are not going to be getting the vitamins and minerals that are available in high amounts in wheat and other gluten-containing grains. Therefore, if you have a vitamin or mineral deficiency, then you may want to consider including some gluten-containing foods in your diet to make up for the difference in nutritional value. Some experts also believe that gluten can sometimes interact with certain medications that people are taking, causing them to lose effectiveness or even induce potentially dangerous side effects. This is why they advise people with certain health conditions to avoid gluten as much as possible even if they experience no symptoms from it.
What About People Who Want To Lose Weight?
Most of us want to lose weight, and avoiding gluten can help to achieve this. However, there are people who should not try a gluten-free diet to lose weight. These are the individuals who have celiac disease or a related disorder because their body does not produce enough enzymes to digest gluten effectively. In these cases, avoiding gluten may increase the risk of malnutrition and the development of complications related to poor bone health.
Eating Gluten Changes Your Gut Bacteria
The human gastrointestinal tract is a vast ecosystem. It is home to trillions of bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms that assist in our digestion. Some researchers believe that by removing gluten from your diet, you may change the composition of the bacteria in your gut. This could lead to some undesirable side effects, including the development of digestive problems or an adverse reaction to certain antibiotics. The evidence for this theory is circumstantial at best, but it is still something to consider if you want to adopt a gluten-free diet.
What About People With Autoimmune Disorders?
A number of people have developed autoimmune disorders after consuming gluten. These are conditions in which the body’s immune system turns on the body and begins attacking its own healthy tissues. People with autoimmune disorders may experience a wide range of problems, including arthritis, psoriasis and systemic lupus erythematosis. In these cases, removing gluten from your diet is often a necessity if you want to maintain a healthy gastrointestinal tract and prevent further inflammation and damage to your body’s organs. While gluten may not be good for everyone, it is absolutely essential that you try to avoid it if you have autoimmune issues that are causing you undue suffering.
Should You Try A Gluten-Free Diet?
In general, people who want to try a gluten-free diet should do so because they believe that it is good for their health. However, the decision to adopt a gluten-free diet is complex, and if you are not sure whether or not it is the right choice for you, then you should consult with your doctor. He or she will be able to help you determine if a gluten-free diet is appropriate for you based on your medical history and the particular health problems you are experiencing. Some doctors believe that if you have been diagnosed with celiac disease or a related disorder, then avoiding gluten is imperative as there is no proven effective treatment for these conditions. In some cases, people have been able to dramatically reduce their gluten intake and thus the risk of gluten-related disorders while on a gluten-free diet. This has led some experts to conclude that people who want to avoid these disorders should eliminate all forms of gluten from their diet regardless of whether or not they have celiac disease.
In most cases, a gluten-free diet is healthier than a diet that contains gluten. This is because gluten contains high-fiber and high-protein content, neither of which are found in foods that come from animals. Animals do not metabolize fiber or protein as human beings do, so the food available to them is generally low in fiber and protein compared to plant foods. This makes their meat less filling and more likely to cause you to eat more food than you need.
On the other hand, a gluten-free diet can sometimes be a little less nutritious because you are not going to be getting the vitamins and minerals that are available in high amounts in wheat and other gluten-containing grains. Therefore, if you have a vitamin or mineral deficiency, then you may want to consider including some gluten-containing foods in your diet to make up for the difference in nutritional value. Some experts also believe that gluten can sometimes interact with certain medications that people are taking, causing them to lose effectiveness or even induce potentially dangerous side effects. This is why they advise people with certain health conditions to avoid gluten as much as possible even if they experience no symptoms from it.
Should You Try A Gluten-Free Diet Before Or After The Pregnancy?
There is some evidence to suggest that trying a gluten-free diet before pregnancy can help to boost the health of the mother and the baby. During pregnancy, the body’s glucose levels rise, leading to an increased demand for insulin. This is why many women with diabetes find that their condition worsens during pregnancy and why they need to change their diet to avoid complications. The good news is that once you have given birth, the need for insulin drops, allowing you to reintroduce gluten-containing foods while still maintaining a healthy diet. If you want to gain some health benefits from gluten, then you may want to consider eating it after giving birth.