Gluten-Free Myths - AskMen
Messages You have no messages
    Notifications You have no notifications
      Gluten-Free Myths

      © Getty Images

      Gluten-Free Myths

      Is It Time To Change Your Diet? Debunking The Myths About Going Gluten-Free

      If you aren’t on a G-free diet, chances are you know someone who is. In recent years, the percentage of people cutting gluten from their diet has ballooned to one in three, according to The NPD Group. But many aren’t doing it for the right (or most effective) reasons. Meanwhile, those who legitimately need to be on the diet often aren’t doing it right. The problem: These far-too-commonly believed fallacies about going gluten-free.

      1. Gluten-Free Is For Everyone

      “We are all individuals, plain and simple. When it comes to nutrition this could not be more important,” says nutritionist Jaime Mass, R.D., owner of Jaime Mass Nutritionalsin Florida. “Gluten-free living is an option to explore for individuals who may suspect they have sensitivity or potentially the autoimmune diagnosis known as Celiac disease, in which.” But it’s not a health approach for everyone, she says. And it’s definitely not a weight-loss diet. “After all, if you don’t have an intolerance or Celiac, cutting out gluten is no different than swearing off other people’s allergens, like peanuts or dairy to lose weight. Wouldn’t make much sense now, would it?

      2. You Can Diagnose Gluten Sensitivities Yourself

      OK, maybe you can. But you shouldn’t. Getting an evaluation by a gastroenterologist is the best way to learn if you suffer from Celiac disease, a less-intense sensitivity, or are actually reacting to something else in the foods you eat, Mass says. Also, if your stomach flares up after eating sandwiches, pasta, and soy sauce, and you want to see if gluten’s behind your issues, make sure you visit a gastroenterologist before you start experimenting with a G-free diet. “If you cut out gluten because you think it is the answer and then you decide to visit the doctor for testing, your results will likely show up that nothing is wrong,” she says.

      3. Gluten-Free Foods Are Healthier

      This is a myth that marketers everywhere want you to buy into. But, unfortunately, oftentimes slapping a gluten-free label on a packaged food or menu item is just a way to get consumers to pay more, Mass says. Meanwhile, GF processed foods are actually unhealthier and fattier than their conventional counterparts. In order to maintain the flavor and consistency of certain foods (gluten is what gives foods their yummy, chewy texture), manufacturers often hike up the product’s sugar, calorie, and fat content.

      4. Gluten Causes Weight Gain

      “Gluten does not cause weight gain. It can cause bloating and stomach discomfort if and only if a person with gluten-related medical concern consumes it,” Mass says. The reason that some people do actually lose weight on a GF diet has nothing to do with cutting gluten. They lose weight because, granted they aren’t loading up on gluten-free breads, pastas, and cookies, are reducing their intake of refined carbohydrates. What’s more, if overall carb intake is low, the dieters might lose water weight. When the body stores carbs in your liver and muscles, it stores it right alongside water. Burn through all of your carbs and you’ll lose a few pounds of water weight, she says.

      5. If You Have a Gluten Intolerance, You Only Have to Worry About Foods

      Gluten is in damn near everything. It’s even in toothpaste, sunscreen, shampoo, stamps, and medications. For instance, a 2015 Columbia University study found that more than half of the top-selling probiotic supplements on shelves today contain gluten. And even some supplements sporting a “gluten-free” label contained the protein. That explains why that those folks with Celiac disease who take probiotics to help their tummies actually experience more symptoms than those who skip the pills. Exactly how much these gluten-containing non-foods trigger your symptoms (even skin contact may cause problems in some people) depends on how severe your intolerance is.
      Show comments