There's a little protein hiding in grains like wheat and barely called gluten, and recently it's been getting a bad rap. Magazines, websites, and books like "The G-Free Diet" by Elizabeth Hasselbeck recommend giving up gluten to treat everything from Autism to weight gain. In response to the Gluten-free rage, the food industry has stepped up to provide the public with an increasingly varied supply of gluten free alternative to pastas, breads, cereals, soups, and many other items that typically contain wheat. So what about you? Is it still okay to dig into your Grandma's gluten-packed homemade lasagna, or should you give it up and go gluten-free?
There are two sides the the gluten argument: gluten and Celiac Disease, or gluten and Autism, weight gain, Attention Disorders, and similar claims. Let's start with Celiac Disease.
Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disorder. When people with this disorder ingest products containing gluten their bodies respond by attacking the gluten, damaging their small intestine in the process [1,2]. Celiac Disease can result in malabsorption of many necessary nutrients like Iron and calcium, abdominal pain, and weakness in addition to internal damage [2]. A related diagnosis is Gluten Intolerance, which is very similar to Celiac Disease but does not result in any physical damage to the small intestine [2]. The symptoms of these two conditions can vary from person to person and some individuals may not show any symptoms at all [1]. Therefore, if you think that you or someone you know may have Celiac Disease it is important to see a Doctor for diagnosis.
Take Home Message: Individuals with diagnosed Celiac Disease should definitely switch to a gluten-free diet in order to prevent damage. Individuals with Gluten Intolerance may want to avoid gluten products in order to prevent symptoms.
What about the claims that going gluten-free can treat Autism and attention disorders, increase energy, and aide in weight loss? There is no credible, published research demonstrating a connection between gluten and any of these disorders. The official position of the American Dietetic Association is that there is no evidence to suggest that removing gluten from the diet will improve health in any way unless you have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease or Gluten Intolerance [2]. In fact, many gluten-free products are highly refined and may therefore be higher in calories than typical products and may contain less nutrients and fiber.
Take Home Message: Don't needlessly restrict your diet!
Too often Celebrities and Magazines are quick to make health claims that are not based on solid scientific evidence. Always be sure to check their sources! Just because they say it has been "proven" or is "scientifically shown" does not mean that their sources are unbiased or stand up to international scientific standards.
References:
1-Zimmer KP. Nutrition and Celiac Disease. Curr Probi Pediatr Adolesc Health Care. 2011 Oct;41(9):244-7.
2- Zelman KM. Gluten-Free Diet Review. http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/g-free-diet. 2011
3- Celiac Disease Health Center. http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/celiac-disease/celiac-disease-topic-overview. 2011
Photo Credit: nkzs via www.sxc.hu
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