Is a Gluten-Free Diet For Me?

Ten years ago, no one would have known what gluten is or what a gluten-free diet means. The gluten-free diet has become popular in recent years. More and more people including celebrities; are going on a gluten-free diet which encourages the health-conscious population to join the fad even if they don’t need to.

Gluten is a type of protein commonly found in wheat, cereal grains, rye, and barley. But gluten is not limited to this food group.  It can also be found in gravies, sauces, broth, dressings, vinegar, ketchup, coffee, and liquor. Gluten enhances flavor, thickens food, makes food like bread chewy, and gives shape to bread.

Gluten-free diets started becoming popular when medical professionals discovered celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. Going gluten-free had been touted to be beneficial to other illnesses like rashes, obesity, diabetes, and migraines thus starting the gluten-free craze.

Thanks to medical research, an effective gluten-free diet has been established giving birth to the gluten-free industry. However, not all products that claim to be “gluten-free” are guaranteed healthy. Some don’t contain gluten but they contain fattening contents like sugar, fat, carbohydrates or sodium.

Gluten per se is not toxic. It’s only bad for you if your body can’t tolerate it. Some may have wheat allergy, gluten intolerance, or celiac disease. If you have one of these conditions, once wheat enters the body, it triggers an abnormal immune response that may lead to digestive problems, difficulty breathing, or anaphylaxis.

But if your body has no problem accepting wheat, then there is no need for you to go on a gluten-free diet. Again, gluten is not unhealthy unless your body has a negative reaction to it. You will needlessly be giving a burden to yourself if you do so. Plus you will be missing out on some nutrients your body needs like fiber and vitamins.

If you’re considering a gluten-free diet, consult your physician for more information. Access to proper health insurance coverage ensures you get the guidance you need to make the healthiest decisions for your body. Let’s get healthy, NY!