The diet craze of the past five years or so was previously only for sufferers of celiac disease. Lots of health nuts advocate for a gluten-free diet no matter your tolerance level, and it’s led to a proliferation of foods marketed as gluten-free. Sometimes things that wouldn’t even have had gluten in them to begin with still bear the "gluten-free" label, all in the name of health.
But a new study done on “gluten-free” foods has found some bad news: gluten-free foods are, on the whole, not more nutritious for you than any of their counterparts.
The study was done on both “staple foods,” foods like bread and pasta, and “discretionary foods,” or junk foods.
There were no significant health differences between gluten-free junk food and regular junk food to be found. The gluten-free label didn’t improve the fact that junk food is always going to be full of refined sugars. But the staple foods were not only equivalent to their regular counterparts, but gluten-free staple foods were found to have much less protein, which is most likely because gluten is itself a protein.
Just because you don’t have celiac disease doesn’t mean you can’t go gluten-free if you want to. But this study has just given more evidence to what health experts have been insisting on since the gluten-free craze started: if you’re not allergic, there’s really no benefit to you. “Gluten-free” isn’t necessarily synonymous with “healthier.” In fact, other studies have found that some gluten-free foods may even have lower levels of vitamins and minerals that foods with gluten. ##MN_RESP##
However, for those that do have celiac disease or suspect that they may be allergic to gluten, this health craze is a great thing. There are more options than ever for people to get the foods they need and crave without aggravating their gluten intolerance. But if you’re trying to eat a healthier diet, aim for fruits, veggies, whole grains, and protein. It’s easier and healthier than making sure everything is gluten-free.
Do you have a gluten allergy? What do you think of gluten-free foods?
Photo Copyright © 2010 username/Flickr
