Good Lifestyle

Thegluten free diet is no longer an underground diet plan. Your grocery store has probably a fully supplied gluten-free driveway and options now occupy menu sections. While many foods are naturally gluten-free, the GF label came to the general public, and many people give a go for their health. But if you try, and is it a healthy diet? We asked nutrition experts for their thoughts.

What is gluten, and what is a gluten-free diet?

"The gluten refers to the name of the proteins present in wheat, rye and barley, and it is what gives the structure and shape of these grains," says Amy Gannon, RD toCleveland Wellness Clinic. Lapalissade, a gluten-free diet is a gluten-free diet, and therefore free from wheat, rye, barley, triticale and oats sometimes.

This diet can be a challenge to navigate because gluten is in a variety of food products and you would not wait.

"Gluten-containing ingredients can also be found in other foods and beverages, most often soups, sauces, meat pre-seasoned, meat substitutes, snacks, vinaigrettes, spice mixes, sweets and Alcoholic beverages, "says Alicia a. spokesman for Romano, MS, R & D, LDN, the CNSC, theAcademy of Nutrition and Dietary. "In addition, gluten can be found in some dietary drugs and supplements. »

Who should really be on a gluten-free diet?

Thegluten-free diet is mainly indicated for people diagnosed withCeliac disease, A self-immune disease of the intestine.

"Gluten consumption triggers an inflammatory reaction that can damage the mucosa of the intestine, resulting in a number of medical problems that can become serious if the celiac disease is untreated," says Romano. "These medical problems include malabsorption, vitamin deficiencies, diminishedbone health (Osteoporosis),infertility, Increased risk of false layers, and an increased risk of certain types ofCancer. "

For those who have celiac disease, go-free gluten is the only way to prevent the negative effects contamination of gluten may have on the gastrointestinal tract.

"When they eliminate the gluten from their diet, some of these uncomfortable, painful, and harmful symptoms are eliminated as well," says Gannon. "There are a number ofwhole grains Which are gluten-free (Quinoa, TEFF, millet and brown rice are some examples), so that people who have celiac disease and gluten eliminate can still have healthy, balancing gluten-free meals ".

However, there are some with non-celiacgluten sensitivity (Or the sensitivity of gluten without diagnosed celiac) which are also recommended to take this particular diet.

"These people have symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea or constipation, and have been excluded from celiac disease. The treatment with a gluten-free diet is recommended, however, if the need for gluten to be strictly avoided for life remains unknown ", says Romano.

If you do not need to go on a gluten-free diet, should you?

There are no inherent advantages for people who do not need to be on this regime.

"A gluten-free diet can mean to reduce food and replace them strongly transformed with foods that are more nutritious, but exchanging a cupcake for an apple and feel better maybe doing more with the fact that apples are richer in Nutrients and less with the fact that the little cupcake has gluten free ", says Gannon.

Gluten-free studies have shown that individuals see value for various reasons.

"In our current landscape leads diet, gluten-free foods have reached a" healthy health "in consumers: consumers believe a gluten-free food is by a healthy nature because it lacks an ingredient," says Romano. "There is a huge market of gluten-free products in our food industry, and this market is a large number of social media and marketing requests (not supported by science) associated with a gluten-free diet. Ideas that gluten-free diet is "anti-inflammatory" or in a socially acceptable way to lose weight are among some of the ideals associated with this regime. "

RELATED: Your guide on the anti-inflammatory regime This heals your intestine, slows the signs of aging and helps you lose weight.

What are the negative points of this regime?

In fact, there may be more negative.

"The potential for unbalanced diet and vitamin / mineral deficiencies is a great negative for this particular scheme, as is the case with unnecessary restriction of any food group," says Romano. "If not properly planned, the plan may lack a number of essential nutrients found in gluten-containing cereals, including (but not limited to) iron, folic acid and fiber. »

Studies have also shown us that people who value the gluten-free diet can also participate inOther unhealthy weight management tactics And can find it as a socially acceptable way of losing weight.

"Some people will do it as a way to cutcarbohydrates Completely, said Gannon.

A 2017 studyPosted in the BMJ Also found that adults without celiac disease that were on gluten-free diet had an increased risk of coronary heart disease.

Should you try it?

For those who need to be on a gluten-free diet for medical reasons, the answer is obvious. However, healthy people who elevated a gluten-free diet should first check with their doctor first.

"If someone I speak is interested in going free gluten, I strongly encourage them to see their doctor to test to see if it is medically necessary," says Gannon. "For those who try it alone and feel better, I always encourage what they include as opposed to what they have eliminated as a potential reason to feel better. If you get rid of gluten, adding more fruits, vegetables, lean protein and healthy fats, so maybe that's what's really behind positive changes. "

If you are looking to try it for the sole purpose ofweightlossIt may not be the healthiest solution.

"It may be tempting to think that by the number ofgluten-free products And people go free gluten that's something you should do something, but it's just not the case, "says Gannon." This is not something I would recommend unless it was necessary to do so, and I would certainly not recommend a lifestyle for the sole purpose of losing weight or maintenance. It is unfortunate that gluten became demonized because many nutrients contain gluten. "

Romano accepts. "If the gluten-free diet isnot Medically indicated, then it is not necessary. Similar healthy healthy habits (such as increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, a decrease in processed foods) can be reached in a normal healthy power plan that includes gluten ".