There are new gluten-free products everywhere you look. So should you try this new trendy way of eating? And will it transform your health?
Gluten-Free Diets Onto The Scene
People often give up gluten, and receive no health benefit. On the other hand, people who might benefit from this diet often have no clue. There are many who believe fiction over facts when it comes to this diet.
So what about you? Can you tell the difference?
Take the following test and see for yourself!
Gluten-Free Diets: Myths And Truths
Gluten-Free diets Is More Nutritious
Fiction: A gluten-free cookie is just as nutrient depleted as a regular one. Same with pasta, bread, pizza crusts, and cakes. The only difference between these specialty products and the regular variety is that they are made without gluten. And gluten isn’t bad for you unless you have an allergy or an intolerance.
Gluten Intolerance Was Never A Problem Before
Fiction: There is a major difference between our diets, and that of our ancestors. We eat processed foods. And most of these foods get their texture by added gluten which has been isolated from whole grains. So where as our ancestors may have only eaten gluten in small amounts in homemade bread and cereals, we eat it in absolutely everything including on our vegetables, protein, and fats. And that is why so many people are now reacting negatively.
There Can Be Multiple Reasons To Eliminate Gluten
Fact: The most known and serious of gluten-related diseases is celiac disease. This is a severe allergy to gluten, diagnosed by a blood test.
But there are also many who suffer from what is called, gluten-intolerance. Unlike celiac, gluten-intolerance won’t show up positive on a blood test. Trial and error or an elimination diet are the only ways to uncover it. If you suffer from gluten intolerance, you may experience skin problems, stomach issues, depression, autoimmune diseases and more.
Gluten-Free Is Good For Weight Loss
Fiction: A gluten-free diet on its own will not help you lose weight. Remember, gluten is only bad for people who are celiac or have a gluten-intolerance. And while gluten-intolerance can cause inflammatory weight gain, even those with gluten sensitivities won’t lose weight through gluten elimination alone. Also, many gluten-free diets offer the same processed crap that helps people gain weight.
Eliminate Gluten 100% To Benefit
Fact: There is absolutely no benefit trying to eat only a reduced-gluten. The only people who will benefit from giving up gluten are those with a gluten allergy or sensitivity. Even a bite of gluten will cause a reaction for those people. So if you’re going to bother going gluten-free, it needs to be 100%.
It’s Difficult To Find Gluten On Food Labels
Fact: Eliminating gluten means more than just looking for wheat on a food label. Gluten is also found in barley, rye and oats as well as wheat. Many ingredients used for flavoring are made from these grains like malt vinegar, soy sauce, barley malt, and starch. Gluten is also hidden in benign sounding ingredients like natural flavor, seasoning, thickeners and stabilizers. You only know a processed food is 100% gluten-free if it is labeled as such.
Gluten-Intolerance Symptoms Are Immediate
Fiction: While celiac sufferers may have a more immediate reaction, those suffering from an intolerance will usually see a 24 to 72 hour window pass before they start to see symptoms. That is why those who suspect they have an intolerance will find it beneficial to completely eliminate gluten for at least a few weeks to see if elimination makes their symptoms improve.
Gluten-Free Is Tasteless
Fiction: There are tons of gluten-free options on the market and lots of easily available recipes. You can easily find a substitution for almost anything you enjoy.
What Should You Take From This?
Going gluten-free can be liberating when it eliminates lifelong symptoms. I suffered from acne for years and was so happy to finally find an answer in gluten elimination. However, most people go through initial frustration when transitioning to a new diet. And it is normal to experience a mourning period for your old diet and lifestyle. But once you become aware of all the possibilities that still exist, the transition becomes much easier.
But remember, gluten-free diets do not benefit everyone. If you don’t think you have a problem with gluten, don’t bother paying for that special gluten-free pizza crust or special bread. You will receive no benefit. Foods without gluten are not healthier or more slimming.
All of us need to eat less processed and ready-made food. Any food item that comes in a package will likely contain gluten. So we will lower our lifetime risk of developing a gluten-intolerance by eating foods that are natural and less processed.
So there you have it. All the hype around gluten can be confusing. Now you know the difference between fact vs fiction!
