There has been a lot of talk about the gluten-free diet. While it has been around for many years, still only a small percentage of people know about it. Usually, the only time someone would learn of this diet is when their doctor would diagnose them with Celiac Disease or gluten intolerant.
So, who shouldn’t go gluten-free?
There are mainly two groups of people for whom going gluten-free may be good for them
- Those who suffer from Celiac disease.
- Those who are gluten intolerant.
If you don’t belong to one of those groups, the experts say you actually should have gluten in your meals. What exactly is gluten?
Is there something wrong with a gluten-free diet?
Probably. Whenever you start eliminating a food group from your diet, you run the danger of having problems. This doesn’t apply to people who belong to one of the groups mentioned above. Their danger is in having gluten. For the rest of us, though, let’s look at what a gluten-free diet means.
When you eliminate gluten, you eliminate whole wheat products. What’s wrong with that? Well, that means you’re eliminating grains that give you fiber, minerals, and B vitamins. You can get fiber from sources such as brown rice, quinoa, vegetables, and fruits but it will take more of an effort to make sure you’re getting enough.
Most people don’t get enough fiber as it is, so getting rid of one of the primary sources of fiber can set you up for problems with your bowels. Bread made from tapioca, white rice, and other gluten-free flour usually doesn’t have vitamins added. Everyone needs these vitamins.
There are two more reasons to not go gluten-free. The first is that gluten improves the taste of foods and gives them a better texture. When you take out gluten then you have to add in something else. What is usually added in? Sugars and fat. So now, this supposedly healthy food can be worse for you.
Sugar and fat are culprits which can set you up for obesity, diabetes, and heart problems. Gluten, on the other hand, can help to lower your triglycerides; triglycerides are a type of fat that is stored in your fat cells.
The last reason to not go gluten-free is because it’s expensive. Why would you want to pay more money for something that’s not necessary and doesn’t make sense to you?
Almost all refined and processed foods contain gluten. Examples include pizza, salami, sausages, soups, chips, hamburgers etc.
An individual needs to be diverse with their food choices, to be able to get all of the nutrients they need.
When initially eliminating all gluten-filled products from the diet, one can experience mild to severe withdrawal symptoms. Gluten’s complex proteins trigger the body to manufacture chemicals similar to endorphins, producing a calm and relaxed feeling. Just as when opiate consumption is stopped, one can experience a degree of withdrawal from gluten. This withdrawal can cause irritability and intense cravings.
Moreover, as the body heals during the first week or so of going gluten-free other possible side effects could be things like hives, mild rashes, or headaches. This is because the body, and particularly the liver, as it is in the process of detox, can suddenly better process and eliminate toxins.
That being said, if you do not suffer from any form of gluten intolerance going gluten-free isn’t necessarily the best option even if you want to go on a clean diet.
