This week I am focusing on the good and the bad of a gluten-free diet. Gluten-free diets and products have exploded over the past 2 years. There are whole grocery store sections devoted to solely gluten-free merchandise, but gluten-free isn’t always healthier. Here are 5 myth-busters (unless of course you’re diagnosed with Celiac disease):
- It’s healthier: A gluten-free diet is healthier than a non gluten-free diet: Not necessarily so! You have to be very careful when purchasing gluten-free food because it often contains a lot of added sugar. Read your labels carefully. Moreover, a gluten-free diet can be actually extremely detrimental to those who are not Celiac or don’t have a wheat allergy – why? Well, whole grains such as organic wheat, barley and rye are very beneficial grains – they contain loads of healthy nutrients including a ton of important fiber. To strip all of these foods from your diet could amount to shooting yourself in the foot.
- Weight-loss: Many people are under the illusion that a gluten-free cookie or cake will pack on less pounds that a regular one. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Many gluten-free baked goods are very high in sugars and carbs – again read your labels carefully.
- Gluten causes bloating: We’ve been kind of brainwashed into thinking that a muffin top or bloating (after eating) is caused by gluten. If you are seriously wheat-intolerant (and obviously if you are Celiac), this may well be the case, but not for everyone. If you are struggling with extra pounds or experience a lot of bloating and gas after eating, it could be a number of different issues, including dairy-intolerance or IBS.
- Clearer Skin: Tons fiber in the form of fresh fruits and veggies, and drinking loads of filtered water is the key to clear skin – not avoiding gluten.
- It will solve my digestive issues: Just removing gluten from your diet may not be the only thing you need to do to solve your digestive issues. We tend to want a quick, easy fix, and giving up gluten seems just that. However, if you want your digestive system to work optimally, you need to address a variety of issues, which might include: good gut bacteria (are you getting enough pro-biotics and pre-biotics), sitting down to eat, drinking enough water, eating alkalizing foods etc.
