Is going on a gluten free diet without a gluten sensitivity good for your health? A fairly new controversial food topic that is spiraling in the air is one that many people are very enthusiastic about. Gluten free labels are changing everyone’s diet, encouraging people without a form of a gluten intolerance to eliminate gluten completely from their diet. Gluten is a substance known as wheat, rye, barley, oats, and malt. It is present in most of the foods we eat. Some people cannot eat gluten because they have a form of a gluten intolerance or sensitivity. The most common form of a gluten intolerance is called celiac disease. Celiac disease is when gluten destroys the small intestine, making it very difficult and life threatening to consume …show more content…
Prevention explains that gluten is not a healthier alternative for people with no gluten sensitivity. Gluten free products can be higher in unwanted calories, fat, and carbohydrates. Therefore, going on gluten free diet can ultimately cause people to gain weight rather than lose it (Zuckerbrot). If you want to lose weight, putting all of those extra things from gluten free foods into your body will not do the trick. As a matter of fact, Kristin Kirkpatrick a dietitian says that “people are confusing gluten free with healthy (Goodman).” If you truly want to lose weight, do not go on a gluten free diet. Instead, exercise more and be more cautious about the foods you are eating. Removing gluten and replacing it with mock gluten free foods will most likely give you a result that you will not enjoy. Gluten free foods should only be offered to those who need it, not for those trying to lose weight. Ultimately, a gluten free diet is not the best option for those trying to lose …show more content…
Peter Jaret is a writer for WebMD and his work is reviewed for accurateness by Louise Chang, a medical doctor. Jaret writes, “Because wheat is ubiquitous in the American diet, completely eliminating gluten requires adopting a whole new diet. You would have to up most breads, crackers, breakfast cereals, conventional pastas, pastry goods, and a wide range of processed foods made with small amounts of gluten (Jaret).” It is not an easy thing to give up such addicting foods. Therefore, most people find gluten free alternatives for the food they cannot live without. However, most of the gluten free substitutes are very expensive. Jaret also informs the reader, “Choosing gluten-free foods has another drawback. Most gluten-free alternatives, such as pasta and bread, are significantly more expensive than their conventional counterparts. A 2007 survey conducted by Green and his colleagues found that gluten-free pastas and breads were twice the price of conventional products, for instance (Jaret).” If you truly do not need to be on a gluten free diet, you should save your money. Like stated before, these gluten free alternatives could be higher in unwanted fats, calories, sugars, and much more. Instead of buying expensive gluten free foods that are in reality worse than gluten containing foods, buy healthier foods. In reality, eating gluten free pasta is just as unhealthy as eating