Recently, we’ve been overwhelmed with nutrition advertisements and food labels announcing their products as “gluten free.” Articles regarding this new, better-for-you diet have saturated every aspect of the media. Celebrities and health fanatics everywhere are gloating about the benefits of following a gluten free diet. They claim that it helps with weight loss, increases energy, and is easier on the digestive system. Even at Diet Designs my staff has been experiencing an increase in clients who want gluten free meals. It seems that many clients don’t entirely know what a gluten free diet entails. Specifically, gluten is a protein found in wheat, oat, and barley. When someone decides to start a gluten free diet, they stop eating any food that contains the gluten protein.
What is my opinion of this latest trend? Firstly, a gluten free diet is helpful for people who suffer from gluten intolerance. They experience bloating, gas, and ab pain following a meal that contains gluten. Furthermore, a gluten free diet is treatment for people dealing with a condition known as Celiac disease, also called celiac sprue, gluten-sensitive enteropathy, or nontropical sprue. This disorder is a more serious autoimmune, genetic disease. The gluten protein triggers an immune system response that damages the villi in the small intestine. If a person with celiac disease continues to eat gluten, the symptoms may develop into conditions such as osteoporosis, lymphoma, anemia, or intestinal cancer. The main treatment for this disease is to avoid foods that contain gluten, allowing the intestines to heal. An antibody test confirmed with a biopsy test of the small intestine is the only true diagnosis of this disease.
Like most popular diets, there are both pros and cons to following a new nutrition lifestyle. On a positive note, a gluten free diet promotes eating fruits and vegetables, as well as other high-quality grains such as quinoa and brown rice. Corn, yams, potatoes, and popcorn are all gluten free starches. Also, when not eating white, enriched flour, people don’t consume as many desserts, snacks, and other unhealthy processed choices. On the other hand, gluten free products may be filled with just as much sugar and additives as other processed foods. A few delicious, healthy gluten free products that I recommend include: Trader Joe’s Savory Thins, Mary’s Gone Crackers, Dark Chocolate Covered Pomegranate Seeds, Thai Curry Sauce, Lara Bars, and Trader Joe’s Brown Rice Crisps.
Furthermore, following a gluten free diet doesn’t mean eating fewer calories. Like any other lifestyle, gluten free followers may be consuming excess calories that their bodies don’t need. On a gluten free diet, it may be important to take certain supplements while avoiding grains that are normally fortified with certain nutrients. People on this diet consume less than recommended amounts of B vitamins, calcium, fiber, and grain servings. Therefore, they should be taking both a Vitamin B- Complex and a calcium supplement.
I’m going to give the same advice that I provide to my clients everyday. Diets should emphasize vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein. It’s more important to look at nutrition facts of individual foods and to be portion savvy when it comes to calories. Being gluten free isn’t necessarily the better choice, unless you suffer from gluten intolerance or Celiac disease.
In Health & Happiness,
Carrie Wiatt
In Health & Happiness,
Carrie Wiatt
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