3 Reasons Why Gluten-free Diet Is Not A Great Option

Gluten-free diet is a celebrity fad that has been followed by many people around the world including Gwyneth Paltrow, Victoria Beckham and Bill Clinton. Gluten is a component in wheat, barley and rye that provides elasticity and shape to the food . It is proved to be a major causative factor of Celiac disease, an autoimmune disease that affects the small intestine. Gluten-free diet was originally intended to be followed by people who have Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. Because of the popularity of celebrity endorsements, even people without these conditions started to follow the diet and within no time the over a million people in the United States started following the diet without any symptoms of intolerance against gluten. Here is a look at some of the general health impacts of the diet that may prove it is not such a great idea after all.

It is a treatment option for Celiac disease: The occurrence of Celiac disease is rising globally and close to 1% of global population has been diagnosed with the condition according to an article by Srihari Mahadov and Peter HR Green of Celiac Disease Center Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. The only available treatment to this disease currently is to follow a diet that is completely devoid of gluten. It needs a systematic dietary practice and if followed properly, it can eliminate all the symptoms and other associated risks like that of lymphoma.

Gluten is not bad for normal people: Gluten has not been proved to be harmful to people who don’t have a genetic disposition to contract Celiac disease or specific allergies. A study by a team of scientists in 2013, headed by Peter Gibson from Monash University, Australia has found out that there is no significant evidence to prove the effects of gluten in people with NCGS (Non-celiac Gluten Sensitivity). Another crucial study in 2014 by a team of researchers from Columbia University and US Department of Agriculture has found out non-gluten proteins to be possible triggers of Celiac disease.

Gluten-free diet can cause insufficient nutrition: Experts say there are no proven additional health benefits from a gluten-free diet to people who are not diagnosed with Celiac disease or gluten intolerance. On top of that, it may cause insufficient nutrition that may lead to deficiencies of calcium, iron and vitamins in the body. It has also been noted that natural low gluten diets like some Asian diets, where rice is predominant than wheat, reduce the risk of gluten intolerance.

Photo: elana’s pantry

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