Is a Gluten-Free Diet For Me?

Ten years ago, no one would have known what gluten is or what a gluten-free diet means. Gluten-free diet has become popular in recent years. More and more people including celebrities; are going on a gluten-free diet which encouraged the health-conscious population to join the fad even if they don’t really need to.

Gluten is a type of protein commonly found in wheat, cereal grains, rye and barley. But gluten is not limited to this food group.  It can also be found in gravies, sauces, broth, dressings, vinegar, ketchup, coffee, liquor. Gluten enhances flavor, thickens food, makes food like bread chewy and gives shape to bread.

Gluten-free diet started becoming popular when medical professionals discovered celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. Going gluten-free had been touted to be beneficial to other illnesses like rashes, obesity, diabetes  and  migraines thus starting the gluten-free craze.

Thanks to medical research, an effective gluten-free diet had been established giving birth to the gluten-free industry. But not all products that claim to be “gluten-free” are guaranteed healthy. Some don’t contain gluten but they contain fattening contents like sugar, fat, carbohydrates  or  sodium.

Gluten per se is not toxic. It’s only bad for you if your body can’t tolerate it. Some may have wheat allergy, gluten intolerance or celiac disease. If you have one of these conditions, once wheat enters the body, it triggers an abnormal immune response that may lead to digestive problems, difficulty of breathing or anaphylaxis.

But if your body has no problem accepting wheat, then there is no need for you to go on a gluten-free diet. Again, gluten is not really unhealthy unless your body has a negative reaction to it. You will needlessly be giving burden to yourself if you do so. Plus you will be missing out on some nutrients your body need like fiber and vitamins.

For more information about a gluten free diet contact your physician. Let’s get healthy NY!