Gluten is probably one of the most demonized food groups out there. According to Platform Magazine, 31% of U.S. adults eat gluten-free or avoid gluten. However, only 4% of this 31% have a medical reason to do so.
What is gluten though? According to the Celiac Disease Foundation:
“Gluten is a general name for the protein found in wheat…rye, barley, and triticale.”
So is eating gluten-free healthier than eating gluten? While it’s based on the individual, it doesn’t strictly come down to personal preference, the body plays a role in this decision as well.
A Gluten intolerance or sensitivity is when someone gets a stomachache or feels nauseous after eating something that contains gluten. Unlike lactose intolerance, however, there are no pills for it. Hence, people with gluten sensitivity or intolerance might want to avoid gluten if they don’t want any unnecessary discomfort.
Celiac disease, while sometimes used interchangeably with gluten intolerance or sensitivity, is very different: anyone diagnosed with it should never have gluten. An autoimmune disorder, it makes one physically incapable of digesting gluten. Symptoms of celiac disease vary, and some people are asymptomatic. The National Institute of Health lists bloating, diarrhea, constipation, gas, lactose intolerance caused by a damaged small intestine, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and changes in stool as some of the symptoms.
Left undiagnosed, or willingly ignoring the required diet, can lead to people with celiac disease suffering from organ damage.
With all that being said, if you have celiac, stay off gluten.
Otherwise, though? There’s no real need for people to avoid gluten. No evidence has ever been found that a gluten-free diet is the path to perfect health.
There are occasions, however, when people who aren’t sensitive to gluten or have celiac don’t feel good after eating a specific gluten-containing item, such as pasta or bread. If that’s true for you, many gluten-free options are available in the supermarket.
For others, they might prefer the taste of gluten-free products. Think the gluten-free Oreos taste better than the regular ones? By all means, buy them!
Just keep in mind, those of you who can eat gluten, gluten-free foods are typically more expensive. If that doesn’t bother you, buy them! Otherwise, don’t be afraid of gluten. And again, for those with a sensitivity or celiac, avoid gluten at all costs.
