Like this image, many people do not know what it means to be gluten free. Many just think it is a trend or a health fad. How often have you heard people say things like, "Well my friend from Russia told me that gluten free was healthier for me, so I have gone gluten free?"
Well for the average person going gluten free is not healthier. In fact. if you do not do it correctly you may become malnourished. And it definitely does not help you lose weight. Gluten free products are often higher in calories than their wheat flour counterparts.
So here are 7 reasons why you may want to go on a gluten free diet.
1. You may have been diagnosed with celiac disease. In this case, it is essential that you maintain a gluten free diet for life. Celiac disease is an auto-immune disease where your body produces abnormal antibodies which affect your gut. Even a small slip ups with your diet can stimulate those abnormal antibodies and make you sick. There is no cure for celiac disease and the only way to stay well is to go on a 100% gluten free diet.
2. You may have been diagnosed with Dermatitis Herpetiformis. Like celiac disease, this is an auto-immune disease which affects your skin. The only way to control this disease is by going on a 100% gluten free diet for life.
3. You may have been diagnosed with non-celiac gluten sensitivity. This is not an auto-immune disease but like lactose intolerance results from you being able to produce enough of the enzyme required to break down the gluten in your gut so you end up feeling unwell when you eat gluten. An allergic person can suffer from mild to severe allergic reactions when they ingest wheat. The best way to avoid the symptoms is to go on a gluten free diet. However, there are some supplements available which can help you break down and digest the gluten in your food. Note, however, these supplements are NOT safe for celiacs or those with Dermatitis Herpetiformis
4. You may have been diagnosed with a wheat allergy and need to avoid wheat and/or gluten. An allergy occurs because you develop allergy antibodies against the proteins in wheat, much like you would develop an allergy against strawberries etc. Usually, you are allergic to wheat rather than to the gluten proteins in wheat so avoiding wheat is the critical factor here. Depending on which wheat protein you are allergic to you may or may not be able to eat gluten. A skin test will help with the diagnosis
5. It may be you just feel better without gluten in your diet – perhaps you are an undiagnosed celiac. It is estimated that approximately 80% of people with celiac disease do NOT know they have it. If you feel better on a gluten free diet it is essential to seek medical advice to establish if you have celiac disease or one of the related conditions. Do NOT start on a gluten free diet until you have been properly diagnosed.
6. You may have read about the health benefits and want to try them out. Maybe you have read that a gluten free diet helps you lose weight or is better for you. Well, if you do not feel better when you go on a gluten free diet, there is probably no need for you to be on one. A gluten free diet is costly and sometimes quite prohibitive, so only go on one if you need to. If you are going on a true gluten free diet, you need to know all the ins and outs of what that entails.
7. You may be following a fad. Absolutely a gluten free diet has become a fad and it is putting in jeopardy those who really require a gluten free diet for health reasons. That is because the world is becoming quite blasé about it as we saw in a previous blog of mine "Jimmy Kimmel On Gluten". The average person really does not know what it means. My advice is - don't do it unless you have to.
I have devoted my time to teaching people about what it means to be gluten free so if you want to learn more read my book. "Gluten Free Cooking Guide" which details all you need to know about why you need to go on a gluten free diet and how you do it correctly. Alternatively download for free my top ten tips for achieving a gluten free diet
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