More people are avoiding foods that contain gluten, a protein in wheat, barley and rye. But is gluten really bad for most of us? Our Healthy Skeptic has the facts.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
The Claim: Gluten-free foods are more healthful.
“My cousin told me how she had gone gluten free and it really helped her, so I decided I would try it and it really made a difference in my life.”
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, and a growing number of people say they’re trying to avoid it. But for many of them, that may be unnecessary.
Gluten is in all kinds of foods–everything from beer and bologna to pasta and waffles. Going gluten-free is clearly beneficial for those who have a condition known as celiac disease. For them, gluten damages the lining of the small intestine, impairing the body’s ability to absorb nutrients.
The condition is diagnosed with a blood test and biopsy. It’s estimated to affect a bit less than 1 percent of the U.S. population. But what about the remaining 99 percent of us?
Well, some people who don’t have celiac disease say they have trouble digesting gluten.
While there’s no standard medical test for this problem, going off gluten may make sense for these individuals if it helps them feel better.
As for claims that a gluten-free diet is effective against arthritis, autism, diabetes or other conditions, there’s little evidence.
Nor is there proof that shunning gluten can help control your weight or make you healthier overall if you don’t have celiac disease.
Still, a gluten-free diet can be beneficial if it forces you to cut back on refined carbs such as pastries, cookies, and white bread and on calories overall.
But read labels carefully on gluten-free breads and other products. Some can be higher in calories and lower in fiber and B vitamins than the conventional versions.
Because gluten is in so many foods avoiding it takes lots of effort. Unless you absolutely have to stay away from gluten, better to focus on eating a healthful diet overall that way you’ll spend less time and energy and have more foods to choose from and enjoy.
Helping you be a healthy skeptic, I’m Robert Davis.