Gluten... Friend or Foe?

This whole thing with gluten has gotten a little crazy, hasn't it? You can't go anywhere without seeing gluten-free options. I am not kidding when I tell you that we visited a church with a gluten-free communion table. I mean, seriously?

So what is gluten? And why the bad rap? Gluten is the protein found in wheat, rye, and barley... it can be found in many of the foods we eat, including bread products, cereal, pasta, beer, salad dressing, cold cuts, etc... 

Simple gluten intolerance is when eating gluten-rich foods causes symptoms like abdominal pain, gas, bloating, and diarrhea. This is not a food allergy and the symptoms pass after the food is digested and gone. Many people who suffer from this condition and if you regularly encounter this type of pain after eating gluten rich foods, the best course of action is to see a gastroenterologist. The advice that I've found is this: don't put yourself on a gluten-free diet to treat these symptoms because evidence won't be present in your body for a diagnosis of Celiac Disease if you do end up needing to see the doctor. 


Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease which triggers your body's immune system to attack the villi (the part of your intestines that absorb nutrients). Apparently, this is a pretty common disease- occurring in one out of every 133 Americans. If you are diagnosed with Celiac disease- you MUST eat gluten-free to protect your body's ability to nourish itself. 


As far as the rest of us.. would we benefit from eating gluten free? The evidence is unclear. There are numerous people who say that they lose weight and feel more energetic when they cut gluten from their diet. The problem with that is that most people who eat a gluten free diet eat less refined carbohydrates and more fruits and vegetables. Obviously, anyone who does this (gluten-free or not) is going to feel healthier. Another problem with eating gluten-free if you don't have to is that you are missing out on the full benefits of eating whole grains. Whole grains are without question very good for you. Among their many benefits... They're full of fiber- which makes you feel fuller longer and prevents overeating and snacking, and they lower your risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.


I'm not going to go into this fully, but there is some evidence to suggest that a gluten-free diet can be beneficial to people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. These people tend to have something called a "leaky gut" which means that things in their stomach can be passed into their bloodstream. Gluten and also milk protein (casein) become peptides in the intestine and can pass into the bloodstream and through the blood brain barrier. This may cause some of the neurological issues associated with autism spectrum disorders. You can find much more information on this on the web.


Bottom line. Gluten free diets are not a weight loss plan! If you are experiencing symptoms of gluten intolerance, see a doctor and consider going gluten-free. If you're not, reconsider forgoing on those healthy whole grains.