For some people, adhering to a gluten-free diet isn’t mandated by the doctor rather a personal choice, but others need to take it as seriously as they can because it’s necessary, specifically those with celiac disease or are gluten-sensitive or -intolerant.
Like other trending eating plan, followers of this diet have been steadily increasing in the past years – in fact, a 2017 study said that the number multiplied by three times from 2009 to 2014.
A lot of restaurants started offering a different set of menu for those on a gluten-free diet while the cosmetics industry also created gluten-free make-ups, which only means the diet is ever-so-popular.
However, before you jump on the bandwagon, it is best to do your research first. Here, we list everything about the famous diet that even actors are trying out.
What is Gluten?
Before we delve deeper, let’s discuss gluten first. It is actually a group of proteins found in wheat, rye, and barley which acts as a glue (take it from the name) to help keep the food secure its shape.
According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, wheat is usually found in salad dressings, bread, pasta, soups, baked goods, cereals, roux, and different sauces, while rye is usually present in cereals and rye beer and bread. Barley is found in beer, soup, food coloring, malt, and Brewer’s yeast.
A gluten-free diet can be interchanged with the celiac diet or gluten-intolerance diet to refer to those that shouldn’t be consumed because of a medical condition. As mentioned, following this diet is more of a doctor’s strict advice than a personal choice.
Celiac Disease, Gluten Intolerance/Sensitivity
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that is quite rare – according to the National Institutes of Health, only one out of 141 people is affected. If a person who has this condition eats gluten, it damages the small intestine. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this and prevention is the only key.
But then not all people who react negatively to gluten suffer from celiac disease, some suffer from gluten intolerance or gluten sensitivity. People with this condition may experience bloating, stomach pain, diarrhea, tiredness or joint aches.
Gluten-Free Diet for Weightloss
Because a gluten-free diet is not limited to those with a health issue, people who are looking to shed off pounds are welcome to try the plan. But the better question is that, is it safe and effective for losing weight?
University of Minnesota Health System clinical dietitian Katie Kondziolka explained that cutting back on refined carbohydrates like white bread, pastries, and cookies would certainly help you trim down whether you are following the diet or not.
However, it’s not the end of the equation. The expert said losing weight would also largely depend on the food replacement. She explained that there is food labeled as gluten-free, which are usually higher in sugar and fillers that were used as a substitute for the protein, that may result in weight gain.
Those with celiac disease, however, may experience gaining weight after adhering to a gluten-free diet and that’s because their bodies are finally absorbing the food. Katie suggests those who want to use the diet for weight loss to consult with their doctor and as for her, she advises to lower gluten intake but not completely gluten-free.
