web analytics

Is Gluten-Free for Everyone?

| April 21, 2014 Comment

Is Gluten-Free for Everyone? Find out if you should go gluten free in our video.

Expert: Karen Ansel, MS, RDN, CDN Spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Transcript

Supermarkets are full of trendy “gluten-free” products, but what’s all the hype about? And should you ban gluten from your diet?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. People with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity have systemic reactions to that protein, including severe intestinal upset and pain. People with celiac are also vulnerable to malnutrition and bone loss. The only way to manage celiac disease is to completely eliminate gluten from your diet and to avoid it in certain medications, vitamins, even lip balms!

People with gluten sensitivity don’t always need to eliminate it completely – they have varying degrees of tolerance. If you don’t have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, you should think twice before jumping on the gluten-free bandwagon. True, there are celebrities who claim a gluten-free diet accounts for their speedy weight loss, but it was probably a result of cutting out refined and processed carbohydrates-something that’s healthy for everyone. However, cutting out whole grains and other nutrient-rich, gluten-containing foods may leave you short of important vitamins, minerals and fiber. And you won’t lose weight if you’re not also exercising portion control and reducing your total calorie intake. For more information on good nutrition and healthy weight loss plans, watch the other videos in this series.

Last Modified: 2013-09-04

Tags: , , , , ,

Category: Health and Nutrition, Videos

Leave a comment