Fads come. Fads go. According to Mintel Research, over 40% of American’s still think that gluten-free is some type of diet fad. From my personal experience, people tend to fall into two different groups; those who know all about gluten and subscribe to a gluten free lifestyle and those who are still confused about gluten and why they should/shouldn’t avoid it. So let me start by giving a brief overview.
What in the world is gluten anyway?
Without getting all technical, gluten is a substance in wheat and other grains that essentially gives elasticity to dough that is made from those grains. It also can act like a food “glue” to help foods maintain their shape and bond together. Sounds harmless enough, right? So what’s the problem?
The most common problem we hear about is the adverse effect gluten has for people who suffer from celiac disease. An astonishing 1 out of every 141 people in the United States suffers from gluten intolerance according to the National Institute of Health. For those sufferers, consuming gluten does way more than just give them a stomach ache. It actually creates an immune response that causes damage to the intestines. Celiac Central states:
There are NO pharmaceutical cures for celiac disease. A 100% gluten-free diet is the only existing treatment for celiac today.
But celiac disease is not the only disease state effected by gluten consumption. Robyn Sayles, Owner of Catapult Creative Consulting, suffers from Hashimoto’s Autoimmune Thyroid Disease and at the suggestions of her doctors, she chose to go gluten free to lessen her immune reactions. And it did just that and more.
“I have also seen benefits of eliminating digestive issues, sleeping better, and I went down a pant size and a shoe size because I’m no longer bloated!” says Robyn.
This is the part where you’re thinking, “Okay, Erin. Sounds great but what do I have to give up?” Well, let me start by saying that a gluten free lifestyle is not for everyone so please consult your physicians to discuss your personal medical history and if gluten free is right for you. Some gluten free foods are considered nutrient-deficient so do your homework and ask questions of your health care providers.
Basically, going gluten free means giving up any product that contains gluten. This would include things like beer, bread, french fries, pasta, some salad dressing, and soy sauce (a biggie for all the sushi lovers out there). People who follow a gluten free lifestyle can often find a gluten free version of their fav foods such as pizza. There are also a ton of recipe sites like this one on the Food Network that have some tasty g-free dishes. Spending some time doing your research is going to be key. And in my opinion, it’s super fun to try new recipes and use the trial and error approach to what you’re going to like and what doesn’t really dazzle your taste buds.
The bottom line is… gluten free is way more than a fad and it is here to stay. Just ask the many people who have found relief from their medical challenges by making the decision to eliminate or reduce gluten from their diet. If you have a gluten free story or would like to share your favorite g-free recipe, please pop over to Facebook. I can’t wait to try all the yummy creations.