8 Myths About The Gluten-free Diet

Recently, nutritionists, doctors, and adherents of a healthy diet have started talking about the word "gluten".

Recently, nutritionists, doctors, and adherents of a healthy diet have started talking about the word "gluten". What does not promise, in their opinion, the rejection of its use. But the real picture, as always, is far from broadcast statements. Only a few people who are actually diagnosed with gluten intolerance need to be completely gluten-free. In other cases, this is not just a dubious benefit, but also a tangible harm to the body in the future.

Myth 1: Cutting out gluten will heal your gut.

 

For a healthy person, gluten itself is not dangerous. Eliminating gluten, for example, will not eliminate the problems that sugar causes. Most sweets are gluten-free, but they can cause intestinal imbalances.

Fact: There is no scientific evidence that people without gluten intolerance have improved digestion.

Myth 2: Gluten-Free Increases Energy

 

Proponents of a gluten-free diet claim they have more energy. Explaining this by the fact that the body needs more energy to digest gluten, hence the person becomes lethargic and tired.

Fact: Whole wheat bread containing gluten is absorbed by the body faster than most animal proteins and healthy fats.

Myth 3. A gluten-free diet reduces carbohydrate intake.

 

Foods with gluten do often contain carbohydrates. But cutting them out doesn't mean cutting back on carbohydrates.

Fact: A gluten-free diet contains many foods that contain carbohydrates: rice, potatoes, sugar, fruits, corn.

Myth 4. Gluten-free products are more expensive than conventional ones.

 

Marketers are not idle. Often the inscription "gluten free" can increase the cost of goods. This is where the misconception arises that sticking to a gluten-free diet is expensive for the wallet.

Fact: Many foods are simply not labeled as gluten-free: cheese, milk, nuts, potatoes, meats, fruits and vegetables. These are ordinary products that are not always expensive.

Myth 5. The body does not digest gluten

 

Based on this opinion, humanity should not have survived by eating bread for centuries, for example. Modern research has not found much difference in the composition of wheat today and several centuries ago. Despite crop modifications, the gluten content has not changed.

Fact: Gluten is a protein that a healthy body can handle.

Myth 6. Gluten-free and wheat-free are the same thing.

 

When looking for the right products, it is important to understand what exactly to look for on the labels. A product labeled "wheat-free" may well contain gluten. Barley and rye, for example, do not contain wheat but do contain gluten.

Fact: While all gluten-free foods are wheat-free, not all wheat-free foods are gluten-free.

Myth 7. A gluten-free diet eliminates pastries.

 

Refusal of certain products is not always a limitation. It is enough to turn on the imagination and discover many other recipes and ingredients.

Fact: There are many recipes for gluten-free crackers, cakes, cookies and bread.

Myth 8. A gluten-free diet will help you lose weight.

 

Weight loss has nothing to do with whether the diet contains gluten or not. It all depends on the balance of the diet as a whole.

Fact: Foods that are gluten-free often contain more sugar, salt, and fat. Adhering to a gluten-free diet, you can not only lose weight, but also gain weight.

Keep in mind that foods with gluten contain important nutrients. And avoiding them deprives the body of, among other things, fiber, calcium, potassium, vitamin D and B12, iron, zinc, etc. Switching to a gluten-free diet when you don't need it can do more harm than good.

Be healthy!