Last week, we have discussed gluten, its sources, and substitutes. Now, why don’t we move a little bit further and talk about the gluten-free diet?
A gluten-free diet, as the name suggests, is a dietary intervention where we try to remove gluten from meals. Here are important facts you need to know about this special diet:
1.) Gluten-free diet is primarily made for people who experience adverse reactions to gluten. With that being said, certain claims that it is a miracle diet for weight loss should be taken with a grain of salt, due to the lack of substantial studies to back such claims[1]. Though it is not intended to provide an express lane for dieters, weight loss can still be achieved incidentally, since this involves swapping out certain gluten-free grains, and incidentally, some processed food from their diet.
2.) A gluten-free diet does not require people to worry about other proteins and fat sources aside from gluten. Since wheat, barley, rye, and its hybrids are essentially the main sources of gluten, these are the ingredients those with gluten intolerance should guard against.
3.) Aside from celiac disease, the gluten-free diet is also applicable to those who are suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This is a condition where muscle contraction during digestion is no longer coordinated, resulting in irritation during the process. The diet prescribed for such health concerns is called FODMAP (Fermented Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols) diet, which includes gluten-free food items to avoid allergies or any other potential intolerance[2].
4.) Gluten-free diet also helps to address certain health problems such as gluten ataxia, dermatitis herpetiformis, wheat allergy as well, other than the most commonly known diseases associated with this diet (Celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity[NCGS]).
5.) Gluten-free diet may also help improve systemic symptoms in certain diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and HIV enteropathy[3]. However, consultation with a physician is advised, before following this diet to remedy these symptoms.
Got further questions about gluten, and the gluten-free diet? Fel free to leave us a comment below.
Sources:
1.) CERTIFICATION, GLUTEN-FREE. Información en Español. The Gluten Intolerance Group of North America, 2016. Web. 21 Oct. 2016.
2.)Angelle, Amber. “Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention.” livescience.com. 20 Apr. 2015. Web. 21 Oct. 2016.
3.) El-Chammas K, Danner E (Jun 2011). “Gluten-free diet in nonceliac disease”. Nutr Clin Pract (Review). 26 (3): 294–9. doi:10.1177/0884533611405538. PMID 21586414.
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