After seeing a variety of gluten-free products at health food stores, you might be wondering if going gluten-free might be a good idea. People who are gluten intolerant, or suffer from celiac disease, should choose gluten-free products, but a gluten-free diet simply isn’t for everyone.
Here are 9 things you probably didn’t know about gluten.
1. Gluten can be found in many different foods
Gluten is an elastic protein that occurs in wheat, barley, rye and corn, so it can be found in bread, cookies, cakes and pastries, but also in foods such as salad dressings, sauces, and beer.
2. Gluten-free products can’t always be trusted
Unfortunately, products labelled as gluten-free can’t always be trusted. People who have been diagnosed with celiac disease have to be extremely careful what they eat, because some gluten-free products might have been in contact with products that contain gluten.
3. Going gluten-free will not do any miracle for your health
Unless you have celiac disease or gluten intolerance, choosing a gluten-free diet will not make you more healthy. In fact, it could even be bad for you, since a lot of the fibre and nutrients you need come from foods that contain gluten.
4. Gluten-free products contain more sugar and salt
Products that are low in fat often contain more sugar and more salt, and this is also true for many gluten-free products. When gluten is removed from a product, extra sugar and salt will be added to add more flavour.
5. A gluten-free diet helps treat migraines
If you suffer from frequent migraines, choosing gluten-free products at health food stores can help you feel better. Studies have shown that a gluten-free diet can make migraine attacks disappear completely.
6. Going gluten-free will not help you lose weight
If you think that not eating any gluten will help you lose weight, you are mistaken. Many people don’t know the difference between a gluten-free diet and a low-carbohydrates diet. If your goal is to lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you consume.
7. Some beauty products contain gluten
People who have been diagnosed with celiac disease also have to pay close attention to the beauty products they are using, as some of them contain gluten. Beauty products are of course not meant to be eaten, but it’s possible to ingest some by accident.
8. Gluten causes damages to celiac disease sufferers
People who have celiac disease should not eat gluten, as gluten will damage the lining of their small intestine, and will bring them symptoms such as weight loss, bloating, weakness, and pain. If you suspect you might be suffering from celiac disease, you need to speak to a doctor.
9. There is one simple way to figure out if you are gluten intolerant
If you experience migraines, pain and outbreaks of eczema after eating products that contain gluten, you might be gluten intolerant. One simple way to find out is to go gluten-free for a while, and to see what happens.