Gluten Free Living: Helpful or Harmful?

By now, you have probably heard the term “gluten free” or GF, from your co-workers, restaurant menu, grocery store, or favorite TV show. But a decade ago if you were to mention the word “gluten”, not a head would turn in a crowd. Gluten free diets have developed rapidly over the past few years and are becoming increasingly popular. Can eliminating gluten in your diet really make you healthier?

Gluten is a storage protein found in foods like wheat, barley, and rye. When the body cannot digest this protein correctly, it can cause major health issues depending on the severity of the intolerance. Celiac disease is the diagnosis for those with the most severe intolerance. When people with Celiac disease ingest gluten, it causes their bodies to produce antibodies that attack the intestine. If it is not treated properly, it can lead to a variety of autoimmune disorders, weak bones, and in some cases even infertility. About 1% of the population falls into this category.

Others may have a gluten intolerance that is less severe and may just need to avoid gluten to free themselves of the side effects. Some of the side effects of those with gluten intolerance include bloating, fatigue, IBS symptoms, nausea, acid reflux, and vomiting. It is estimated that about 6% of Americans today have some sort of gluten intolerance. So if this number is so small, why are so many jumping on the GF bandwagon?

Some say it’s a losing weight fad. Today, it is estimated that about 25% of Americans are concerned with the consumption of gluten. In college towns, more and more gluten free options are becoming available. Health food stores have stocked their shelves of gluten free products and more restaurants are having gluten free options on their menus. It is mentioned in the media frequently as a healthy way of living. For example, stars like Gwyneth Paltrow, Miley Cyrus, Dr. Oz, and Oprah have claimed that they owe their healthy lifestyle to gluten free decisions. But does eliminating gluten from your diet make you a healthier person?

Yes and no. By eliminating foods that have gluten, your eating options become slim which forces you to choose more foods like fruits and vegetables. Monitoring everything that you eat will become normal, reading nutrition labels will be customary, and most all fast foods and processed foods will be off limits. Yet, if you do not follow a gluten free diet in the correct way, it can be very unhealthy.

Many have self-diagnosed themselves with gluten intolerance or just simply choose to eat gluten free for one reason or another. If it is not properly researched, gluten free diets can cause issues. For example, when you are cutting many foods from your diet that you once had, you may be cutting yourself short on essential vitamins that your body needs. Bones can even become fragile if you are not replacing the correct nutrients in your diet. What most people don’t know is that many processed gluten free products can be fattening. Production companies, often times, rely on fattening components to replace the gluten in a product and to provide the product with any sort of flavor and texture.

So why has General Mills created over 300 gluten free cereals and Amazon.com advertise thousands of gluten free cookbooks? Maybe it’s a “get skinny” fad? Maybe gluten intolerance is finally getting the attention it deserves? Whatever the answer may be, the knowledge of gluten free diets should be one that is not taken lightly and a decision that should not be made without the consultation of your doctor.

For more information about this topic, or other health related topics, check out our A.D.A.M. Interactive Health library at http://www.franciscanphysicians.org/.