After being limited to health food shops for years, gluten-free foods now appear everywhere. Supermarket aisles brim with items that are boldly labeled "Gluten-Free," and even restaurants now sell gluten-free choices.
This surplus is a gift for people who can not absorb gluten, a protein present in wheat, rye, and barley. Yet recently, going gluten-free has become hip. Centered in little to little facts other than media testimonials, individuals have turned to gluten-free diets to drop weight, improve stamina, cure autism, to simply feel better. This doesn't make a lot of sense.
People who are sensitive to gluten may feel better, but a greater number would not benefit greatly from the practice. They're just wasting their money because these things are costly.
People with celiac disease can not tolerate gluten, not even small doses. Only 50 milligrams of protein - about one tiny crouton - is enough to cause problems. In people with celiac disease, gluten induces an allergic response that affects the lining of the small intestine. This can interfere with the absorption of nutrients from food, cause a host of symptoms, and contribute to other problems such as osteoporosis, infertility, nerve damage, and seizures.
A related disorder called gluten sensitivity or non-celiac gluten sensitivity may give rise to symptoms similar to celiac disease but without intestinal injury.
Avoiding gluten means more than giving up conventional bread, cereal, pasta, pizza, and beer. Gluten also hides in many other items, including frozen vegetables in sauces, soy sauce, some meals made with "natural flavorings," vitamin and mineral supplements, some drugs, and even toothpaste. This makes it incredibly difficult to adopt a gluten-free diet.
If you're willing to be rid of gluten, it's important to realize that certain dietary deficiencies can happen. Fortified bread and cereals have been a significant source of vitamin B in the United States. While white rice, tapioca, and other gluten-free flours are becoming more popular, they are usually not fortified with vitamins. This may be a concern for everyone, but it is extremely troubling for women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant. Vitamin B9, more widely referred to as folate or folic acid, is required to avoid birth defects. Taking a gluten-free multivitamin multimineral supplement is a smart option for those trying to avoid gluten.
It's best to see a doctor before you go gluten-free if you suspect you may have celiac disease or gluten allergy. Once a person has resisted gluten for a time, it becomes difficult to determine whether or not he or she has celiac disease or gluten allergy.
There's one more thing to do: keep your dietary choice to yourself. More than 300,000 people in this country with celiac disease have to follow a gluten-free diet because the tiniest taste of gluten causes weakened gastrointestinal discomfort. It's time-consuming, costly, and restrictive.
