luten free pastas and cookies line the shelves of many popular grocery stores, but this has not always been the case. Those with the most unfortunate reality of having Celiac disease or a gluten intolerance were not always so lucky when it came to finding their favorite gluten free snacks.
The gluten free diet has skyrocketed into popularity over the past few years promising benefits such as a smaller frame and clearer skin. It seems like everyone from Kourtney Kardashian to Miley Cyrus is suddenly gluten-free. Many people fall under the spell of what the diet claims, but in reality, it is not necessarily all it seems to be in the media. Here is why you should never be on a gluten free diet, unless you have a gluten allergy or Celiac disease.
The average body was not meant to live without wheat products, and by doing so you are often depriving yourself of fiber, antioxidants, and iron. Hordes of people are drawn to the diet because of the potential of losing weight. The idea of no wheat tricks many into thinking they will be eating less, or healthier calories, but that is not the case. Calories in gluten free foods are often very similar to their gluten alternatives because the gluten free versions contain more sugar and a variety of filler ingredients in order to provide the same texture and taste as the original. Sugar is one of the a leading causes of weight gain in the United States, so the diet also puts you at risk of actually gaining more weight if you’re not careful.
Some processed gluten free products are much less healthy than organic wheat. Your body needs complex carbohydrates, and without them the body can actually become inflamed. If this inflammation occurs your metabolism actually slows down, causing weight gain.
If your body cannot handle gluten because of Celiac or an intolerance, it is best to avoid all processed gluten free products and stick to lean meats and vegetables. But if you can eat gluten, cutting out an essential grain may even cause the body to have insufficient levels of vitamins such as Thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), folate, iron, B12, making it necessary to find alternatives in foods you are able to consume. If your body does not have an issue processing gluten, please take my advice and skip this fad diet.
Images courtesy of The Guardian