The popularity of gluten-free diets is rising among youngsters and adults. It’s essential to understand the reasons, why people are following this trend. You know what? Many individuals are allergic to wheat or suffer from celiac disease!
Consuming food containing gluten can lead to symptoms such as:
- abdominal pain
- fatigue
- constipation
- weight loss
However, there are also people worldwide, from various countries such as Canada, the USA and beyond, who are following a gluten-free diet without being medically required to do so. Those who are following this diet might not be aware of the benefits of this diet. Approximately 90% of the people going gluten-free are influenced by celebrities, friends, and others. Whether people adhere to a gluten-free diet or not, clarifying some things about a diet without gluten is essential. In this article, we’ll break myths about a gluten-free diet that people must know.
Myth 1
Eating a Gluten-Free Diet Doesn’t Cause Weight Loss
Well, this is one of the most common myths among people that no gluten diet can’t cause weight loss. Gluten-free diets do cause weight loss, but it’s totally dependent on your choice of foods. If your diet is full of fruits and vegetables, then it can promote weight loss but if you are eating processed food, it won’t help with weight loss—your choice of food matters a lot.
Myth 2
Food Without Gluten is Boring
You might be thinking, how can people eat a bland no-gluten diet? But no, it’s not like that. Food used to be boring, but now there are many types of food items for you to savour. There are cakes, pastries, cookies, processed food, dishes, and more that contain no gluten. There are many options for anyone who wants or has to eat food free of gluten. Many stores in the market or online specifically sell products without gluten, and surprisingly, they taste good, too.
Myth 3
Gluten Intolerance is Rare
This is a myth that gluten intolerance is rare. There are many people who suffer from gluten, and some are not even aware of this fact. The number of people with gluten intolerance might be ten times higher than people who are diagnosed with it. Some doctors even say that people often confuse gluten intolerance with other diseases. They might face some emotional issues or skin problems and eventually get better after they stop consuming gluten.
Myth 4
A Little Amount of Gluten Won’t Hurt
People with gluten intolerance mostly think that they can eat a piece of bread or something with gluten in a small amount, and it won’t hurt. Just because you don’t experience any symptoms after consuming some amount of gluten, it doesn’t mean it isn’t affecting or damaging you. Your cells might get damaged, but you may not know it. So, you should avoid even a small amount of food containing gluten.
Myth 5
A Gluten-Free Diet is Expensive
No, it’s not true. Zero-gluten products, like some breads, are less expensive than gluten-containing products. It’s totally up to you how much you spend on your food. If you’re spending your money on processed food instead of vegetables and fruits, then that might be expensive for you.
Proper planning makes it simple to build a diet and eat healthy food. You can also buy your food in bulk, which will save you some money.
Myth 6
Zero Gluten Diet is Only Beneficial For Those With Celiac Disease
People suffering from celiac disease are required to eat food free of gluten, but various people with inflammatory conditions and gluten sensitivity are there. It is beneficial for them to follow a zero-gluten diet as it won’t have any side effects. Symptoms improve among people when they don’t consume gluten, even if they are not suffering from gluten intolerance.
Myth 7
If You’re Sensitive to Gluten, You Should Immediately Cut It From Your Diet
This is a myth. If you think you’re getting any kind of reaction from gluten, don’t immediately cut down on it. Firstly, you need to be tested. And for that, eat a couple of servings of gluten to make an accurate diagnosis. There might be other components in your food that might be causing you those symptoms, so going gluten-free won’t be helpful. Get an accurate diagnosis so that you can get to know the cause.
Final Words!
People with gluten intolerance should indeed avoid it. People who don’t have any sort of allergic reaction to it can go for gluten free products , as they would be avoiding different sorts of processed food that is unhealthy for them. Zero-gluten diet doesn’t have many adverse effects. People would be healthy even if they stopped consuming gluten-containing products. They can safeguard themselves from any sort of allergic reaction they can have from gluten products. If you’re also planning to follow a diet without gluten, you can start by getting tasty, flavourful food from a store that deals with products without gluten. But make sure to contact your dietician for a diet chart and know what items to avoid. Nowadays, many online and brick-and-mortar stores sell products containing no gluten in different flavours. Go through a range of products in various stores and get them delivered at your doorstep.
