Gluten?

Lately, people around the world have been joining a new dieting trend. About 1% of the population suffers from celiac disease, an inherited autoimmune disease that causes damage to the small intestine when gluten is consumed. Others may simply have non-celiac gluten sensitivity, which is simply an intolerance to gluten that causes similar symptoms. Some of these symptoms include skin, growth and digestive problems as well as anaemia, irritability and fatigue. A gluten free diet. However, the controversy lies on whether or not it is healthy for people, who do not suffer from celiac disease or intolerance to gluten, to have a gluten free diet.

A study done in 2011 by Peter Gibson, a professor of gastroenterology at Monash University and the director of the G.I. unit of the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, provided evidence that proved that gluten could be harmful for people who did not have celiac disease. He recruited thirty-four people with irritable-bowel syndrome. He put half of them in a strict gluten-free diet and half of them in a diet with controlled gluten intake. In his experiment he gave half of them muffins that had gluten and the other half muffins that didn't, and he controlled the rest of their diets. The ones who ate the gluten muffins complained about pain and about having some of the symptoms that gluten intolerance causes. The ones who didn't have any gluten intake remained fine. Still, it is important to take into account that it was a really small study and that all the patients in his study had irritable-bowel syndrome, which is an intestinal disorder that causes stomach pains, gas, diarrhoea and constipation. Which means that it is most likely not true for most people.

The main problem with most diets is that people don't do them carefully. They stop eating things that may contain nutrients that are necessary for their health. This is also the main problem with gluten free diets. Whole grains, which contain gluten, are a good source of fiber, vitamins and minerals which are crucial for maintaining a healthy diet, but gluten-free products are often made with refined grains, and are low in nutrients. This can cause fiber, iron, folate, niacin, thiamine, calcium, vitamin B12, phosphorus and zinc deficiency. The point of going on a diet is eating healthier to be fit. This could mean loosing or gaining weight. The reason people start gluten free diets is because they can lead to wight loss since they reduce the carbohydrate intake. Nevertheless, this can be achieved in healthier ways that do not involve loosing so many nutrients in the process. Your body needs these nutrients to survive and work, and a healthy diet is essential in order to get all the nutrients it needs. Still, it is not only about the diet. Sleeping habits, stress management, and exercise routines also influence  weight loss and healthy diets.