Cebu Province - We've seen several videos on the internet and on TV shows where individuals say they only consume gluten-free foods, and it made you want to try it? If that's the case, you're not alone. Gluten-free diets continue to generate a lot of interest and enthusiasm. There are numerous publications, diet gurus, and commercials that support the concept. Is it, however, truly beneficial to your health or sense of well-being? Or is it merely a widely publicized health craze?
There's a lot of talk about gluten-free foods, but what exactly is gluten? Gluten is a protein component found in wheat, rye, barley, brewer's yeast, malts (malt vinegar, malt flavoring), and triticale, a wheat-rye hybrid. It acts as a glue, providing bread and pastas the spongy, chewy feel we expect, as well as assisting in the stretching of pizza and other doughs and thickening sauces and soups.
It's simple to recognize the difference in texture and taste when these typical items are made without gluten. Gluten can be present in a variety of cereals, such as wheat, barley, and rye. It's found in a variety of meals, including bread, pasta, pizza, and cereal. Gluten does not contain any essential nutrients.
"A gluten-free diet is healthier," we've all heard, but this is only true for persons with celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, or other gluten-related diseases. The presence or absence of gluten is not associated to food quality in the general population. What matters, whether a diet is gluten-free or not, is the total food choices chosen within it. "A gluten-free diet is helpful for weight loss."
The presence or absence of gluten has no bearing on whether a diet promotes weight loss. As previously said, a gluten-free diet can either be higher in vegetables and fruits (and therefore potentially lead to weight loss), or it might rely primarily on processed gluten-free foods that are high in fat and sugar (and thus potentially lead to weight gain) (which could potentially lead to weight gain).
Then we ask, "Who should stay away from gluten?" Celiac disease causes an immunological reaction that is induced by gluten consumption. When they consume gluten-containing meals, their digestive tracts and other body parts become inflamed and damaged. According to current estimates, this illness affects up to 1% of the population.
If you do have celiac disease, you must follow a gluten-free diet to eliminate the inflammation and symptoms. Then there are those who are gluten sensitive. Their celiac disease tests are negative (normal), but they feel symptoms including bloating, diarrhea, and crampy abdominal pain if they eat gluten-containing foods.
Wheat allergy is one of the causes, which can be detected through skin testing. However, for many others, the prognosis is still unknown. Non-celiac gluten hypersensitivity, as some have coined it, is a poorly defined illness about which we still have a lot to understand. People with celiac disease, wheat allergies, or those who feel ill after consuming gluten should avoid gluten.
So, what about the rest of us? If you don't have celiac disease and can eat gluten without problems, there is no strong evidence that a gluten-free diet can enhance your health or prevent disease. Of course, future research could change this. We may one day discover that eliminating gluten is beneficial to at least some people who do not have celiac disease or signs of intestinal disease.
Is there a disadvantage to going gluten-free? Be cautious before you commit to a gluten-free lifestyle. It might not assist, it might cause problems, and it might cost more money. While many individuals believe that gluten-free diets are more nutritious and include more minerals and vitamins than traditional foods, this is not always the case.
Gluten-free diets are frequently deficient in folic acid, iron, and other nutrients. Weight gain and obesity have been linked to gluten-free diets in several studies (including those with celiac disease). Gluten-free foods, on the other hand, are more expensive than ordinary foods.
People are typically prepared to pay considerably greater prices for items they believe are healthy. The issue is that there is little or no evidence that these foods are healthier. // ND II Bea Margaux E. Cornelia, RND
References:
https://gluten.org/2019/12/16/the-gluten-free-diet-facts-and-myths/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CA%20gluten%2Dfree%20diet%20is,not%20related%20to%20diet%20quality
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/ditch-the-gluten-improve-your-health
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/ditch-the-gluten-improve-your-health
