Gluten-free diets started out as a treatment before becoming a fitness staple. Today, you can get many opinions from people about it. Some will say it’s a necessity. Others chalk it up as hype and marketing. So, are gluten-free diets good?
As I’ve talked about already, gluten has some health benefits. Likewise, avoiding gluten isn’t an ideal weight-loss strategy. However, just like gluten isn’t the devil, it’s not a great nutrient, either. Therefore, the lines between good and bad tend to get blurry.
Let’s clear that up.
The basics of gluten-free diets explained
A gluten-free diet is simply avoiding foods with gluten. Gluten is a protein that you can find in wheat, barley, and rye. In some cases, people develop an immune response to gluten. This response damages the small intestine lining.
In chronic cases, we call this condition “celiac disease.” Yet, some people may present similar but milder symptoms. Gluten sensitivity and gluten ataxia are also similar disorders. Lastly, people may also develop a wheat allergy.
In all those cases, a gluten-free diet is necessary. These conditions can cause a plethora of ill symptoms. Some include digestive complications, muscle movement, and congestion.
Does that mean gluten-free diets are a good choice?
As I mentioned, gluten-free diets are for people with sensitivity to gluten. However, these diets do little for other people.
If you’re sensitive to gluten, a gluten-free diet is essential. That’s where gluten-free diets are good. For other people, it’s not the same. That said, it’s worth noting that further research might prove that wrong.
Gluten-free diets are popular because of marketing. It’s as simple as that. People may hear about its popularity and believe it’s a good idea. Celebrities are also pretty fond of these diets. Therefore, its popularity is more due to social factors than its effectiveness.
The real goal of taking up gluten-free diets
So, gluten-free diets are meant for certain conditions. Now, how do you know if you’re among its target? Of course, the best way to do so is to go to a doctor. But, some signs might give away the need to go.
The most prominent signs of celiac disease are:
- Nutrient deficiency, anemia, and weight loss.
- Infertility.
- Osteoporosis.
- Multiple sclerosis.
- Neurological conditions.
We also have gluten sensitivity, apart from celiac disease. These symptoms also form outside the digestive system. They include the following:
- Headache.
- Joint pain.
- Numbness in extremities.
- Joint pain.
Gluten sensitivity is a lot more common than celiac disease.
So, is a gluten-free diet good for you?
Well, as you probably expect already, it depends. There are three kinds of people for a gluten-free diet. I’ll summarize them below.
Naturally, the first type of people is those suffering from celiac disease. For these people, a gluten-free diet is more than a good idea. Otherwise, they might suffer significant digestive issues.
Then, we have gluten sensitivity. As mentioned, physical pain is a common symptom. But, you may also experience bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and fatigue.
Lastly, we have wheat allergies. In these cases, the problem isn’t exactly gluten. Instead, it’s certain foods that contain gluten. So, a gluten-free diet will make you avoid a lot of wheat. However, barley and rye are gluten-rich grains that won’t cause any issues.
The holistic takeaway
Are gluten-free diets good? Well, yes and no. Yes, they’re great for gluten sensitivities, celiac disease, or wheat allergies. But, they’re not good for anyone else. That’s not to say they’re bad. You simply won’t experience any benefits, according to research.
However, there’s a great way to make gluten-free diets easier. I’m talking about Gluten Guardian. This supplement helps you break down wheat faster. So, it’ll help make your digestion easier.
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