Should you worry about Gluten?

Written by Rubina Sushil

Hi There!

You may have been worrying about gluten for some time now. These days gluten is often mentioned in magazines and conversations with concerned friends who associate it with weight gain. It’s time to give it a serious thought.

What is gluten?

Gluten is a protein found in some food grains and additives that give it elasticity and chewiness. Some common foods we eat having gluten are breads, baked foods, beer, pasta, cereals, sauces, malt vinegar, sauces and salad dressings.

Is gluten harmful?

Many of us may be gluten intolerant, and not even know about it. Gluten is responsible for an autoimmune disorder called celiac disease. This leads to various digestive issues, anemia, fatigue, failure to thrive as well as an increased risk of many serious diseases. It is believed that celiac disease, which is common in the elderly, afflicts about 1 percent of the population. But the disease is rapidly increasing, and that is the reason for concern because the diagnosis is difficult and many patients don’t even know they have it.

Does gluten lead to weight gain?

There is no substantive evidence to this. But if you do want to go gluten-free stay away from refined carbs too. Gluten may not just be the reason for your weight gain.

Should you remove gluten from your diet?

Try to understand first if you are gluten- intolerant. Remove it completely from your diet for a month and see if some of the symptoms associated with celiac disease and associated disorders like irritable bowel syndrome have reduced. Choose natural gluten-free grains like millet, buckwheat and fruits, vegetables, brown rice, seeds and nuts, along with meat, fish, eggs, and milk products for a healthier lifestyle.

Even if you don’t have the intolerance, try to gradually reduce the intake of gluten. It will definitely make a huge difference.

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