In the past several years, more and more gluten free foods have come available. You may be wondering if a gluten-free diet is healthier? Well that totally depends on you as an individual. If you have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease, then yes, you absolutely need to be eating a gluten-free diet; but what about the rest of us?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and triticale (a cross between wheat and rye). Gluten is important for the germination of seeds and is found in the endosperm. In the human diet, gluten helps foods maintain their shape, acting like a glue that holds food together. It is the “net” that holds bread together. If you have tried gluten-free bread, you definitely will notice a difference.

Reasons to Consider Going Gluten Free

• Celiac Disease – Approximately 1% of Americans have Celiac Disease, that is 1 in 100 people; and this number seems to be increasing. It is a hereditary disease that runs in families. Unfortunately, 97% of them are undiagnosed, taking approximately 4 years before a person receives the diagnosis! That is a long time. Symptoms can include diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, bloating and gas, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and constipation. If you think you may have celiac disease, it is extremely important to get tested BEFORE you embark on a gluten-free diet. If you remove, gluten and then are tested; your results may not be accurate. So, make an appointment with your health care professional if you suspect celiac disease. Celiac Disease is a serious autoimmune condition that you can develop if you are genetically predisposed. This type of autoimmune condition attacks an immune response on the small intestine when gluten is eaten.
• Wheat Allergy – Wheat allergies are common; but if you have a diagnosed wheat allergy, there may be some gluten products you can eat as long as there is not wheat in the product.
• Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance – This is a condition that is a bit tricky to diagnose. There may be similar symptoms to Celiac Disease but not positive for Celiac. A gluten-free diet may help with some of the symptoms.
• Inflammation – Gluten may be linked to causing inflammation in different parts of the body; joint pain is one area.
• Thyroid Disease – Research has shown that a gluten-free diet can help reduce antibodies associated with autoimmune thyroid disease.
• Leaky Gut Syndrome – In this condition, the intestinal wall may become inflamed and ultimately lead to the inability to absorb nutrients from the diet.
• Autism – There has been some evidence that a gluten-free diet may be helpful for those diagnosed with autism or on the autism spectrum.

As you can see there are several reasons a gluten-free diet may be warranted, but again, if Celiac Disease is suspected, you need to be tested BEFORE embarking on a gluten-free diet.

Does this mean a gluten-free diet is a healthy diet for everyone? NO. There can be many challenges with a gluten-free diet. One of which is the expense of eating a gluten-free food. It can be 2 to 3 times more expensive than a non-gluten-free diet. A gluten-free diet can present nutritional risks of macronutrient and micronutrient deficiencies. Going gluten-free should not be a fad diet, there should be a reason for eating a gluten-free.

One challenge with gluten is it is in so many items now, not just breads; just check out food labels of various sauces, soups, and salad dressings. Processed foods use a lot of gluten to hold things together. The other challenge is that the composition of gluten has changed slightly over the last 120 years; more research needs to be done to determine if this is part of the challenge.

So, should you be eating a gluten-free diet? Again, it is important to work with a healthcare professional to determine if it would be beneficial for your health. Have you been on a gluten-free diet? If yes, have you seen any improvements in your health? If you would like a free 20-minute phone consult to learn more about going gluten free and if it is right for you, sign up below.

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Heather

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