Nowadays it seems like everyone from hipsters to soccer moms are taking up a gluten-free diet. But do they even know what gluten is, or if there are even health benefits to such a diet?
Many Americans are gluten-free out of medical necessity, and to them this isn’t just a diet trend, their life and health depend on it. If you don’t even know what gluten is, should you really be eliminating it from your diet?
Gluten is a protein that naturally occurs in grains such as wheat, rye, and oats.
It is a common binder for baked goods as it strengthens dough and creates pockets that trap air released from yeast and other leavening agents. Contrary to popular beliefs that the media has been pushing, it is not evil and is actually found in a lot of foods that are essential to your diet and health.
Although gluten isn’t bad for most of the population, certain people are prescribed a gluten-free diet out of medical necessity.
Celiac disease is an immune reaction to eating gluten that triggers inflammation that damages the small intestine’s lining and henceforth prevents the absorption of nutrients. Over time this malabsorption of nutrients can deprive your brain, bones, liver, and other organs of the nutrients that they need.
It is estimated that 2-3 million Americans have celiac disease, and 18 million have a gluten sensitivity, which means they experience similar symptoms to those with celiac disease.
This makes up about 6% of the U.S. population, but according to market research firm NPD Group, about 30% of Americans say they are avoiding gluten.
Therefore 24% of Americans are unnecessarily taking on a gluten free diet. Why are all of these people going gluten-free if they don’t have to?
Beckee Moreland, Director of Gluten-Free Industry Initiatives for the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness states that, “Many factors contribute to the rising interest in the gluten-free diet, such as celebrities and athletes touting its perceived health benefits, the increased availability of gluten-free food and the growing number of people self-prescribing a gluten-free diet.”
Celebrities and our media have both contributed to incorrectly making gluten-free a buzzword for health, diet, and natural living.
This trend has made a mockery of those who truly need to avoid gluten for medical purposes, many of whom would do anything for the chance to eat whatever they want or order whatever they want in a restaurant.
To those with celiac disease this isn’t just some fad perpetrated by a few celebrities and organic food stores, this is their life.
The gluten-free food market is now a $4.2 billion industry, which will only further prolong this trend, since making money off of false healths benefits seems to be the current norm for the American food market.
Grains make up the largest part of the food pyramid, yet many are quick to jump on the gluten-free bandwagon.
In reality eliminating gluten without medical reasons may mean eliminating the most important part of your daily diet and the many essential vitamins and minerals that grains contain.
To date there are no health benefits associated with a gluten-free diet, that have been scientifically validated, unless you have celiac disease.
Many people fall into the trap that a gluten-free diet has plenty of health/digestive benefits, but in reality gluten-free foods tend to be higher in sugar and fat and lower in fiber.
According to Peter H.R. Green, MD, director of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University, “Many people may just perceive that a gluten-free diet is healthier…unless people are very careful, a gluten-free diet can lack vitamins, minerals, and fiber.”
Although gluten itself doesn’t offer nutritional benefits, the whole grains that have gluten do. Studies have shown that a healthy diet with whole grains may lower your risk of diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.
So before you change your entire diet and grab that box that says gluten free, ask yourself this: “Should I really be taking health and medical advice from an actor?”
Zachary Heppner
Viewpoints Correspondent