Gluten Free Diet
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Gluten Free Diet |
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 Gluten is the general name for one of the proteins found in
wheat, rye, and barley. It is the substance in flour that forms
the structure of dough, the “glue” that holds the product
together and is also the leavening ingredient. The grains containing gluten include wheat, rye, barley, and
all their derivatives. These grains are used in such items as breads,
cereals, pasta, pizza, cakes, pies, and cookies and as added
ingredients to many processed food items. A gluten-free diet is used to treat celiac disease. Gluten causes inflammation in the small intestines of people with celiac disease. Eating a gluten-free diet helps people with celiac disease control their signs and symptoms and prevent complications. When glutens are present in the diet of someone with celiac disease, they become toxic and cause damage to the intestine. This damage leads to decreased absorption of essential nutrients and, if left untreated, can lead to nutrient deficiency and subsequent disease (i.e. iron deficiency anemia, decreased bone density, unintentional weight loss, folate and vitamin B12 deficiency).Of great concern and interest is the fact that nine out of ten people with celiac disease do not known they have it. A simple blood test can give the physician the first clue to this disease. Symptoms of celiac disease can range from the classic features, such as diarrhea, weight loss, and malnutrition, to latent symptoms such as isolated nutrient deficiencies but no gastrointestinal symptoms. Because of the broad range of symptoms celiac disease presents, it can be difficult to diagnose. The symptoms can range from mild weakness, bone pain, and aphthous stomatitis to chronic diarrhea, abdominal bloating, and progressive weight loss. If a person with the disorder continues to eat gluten, studies have shown that he or she will increase their chances of gastrointestinal cancer by a factor of 40 to 100 times that of the normal population. Further, gastrointestinal carcinoma or lymphoma develops in up to 15 percent of patients with untreated or refractory celiac disease. It is therefore imperative that the disease is quickly and properly diagnosed so it can be treated as soon as possible. The hardest part of the gluten free diet is probably when you realize that wheat is in almost every processed food imaginable. Its important to focus on eating whole, unprocessed gluten free food. Now many people are using a gluten free diet to try and lose weight. Have you noticed the abundance of gluten-free foods available at grocery stores or on menus these days? The proliferation of gluten-free products, along with the marketing of them, might lead you to believe that they are the new panacea to better health or weight loss. So, what's the real story? Will going on a gluten-free diet improve your health or help you lose weight? The answer is that it depends. Limiting your intake of gluten means you are cutting out many starchy, refined carbohydrates, and that in itself can help your weight and health. What is not widely known about gluten-free products is that they still contain the same number of carbohydrates as their gluten-containing counterparts. In this regard, there is no health benefit to choosing the gluten-free versions. For example, a typical slice of gluten-free bread contains 15 grams of total carbohydrate, the same amount as a regular slice of bread. A snack of gluten-free crackers can contain 30 grams of carbohydrate per serving, the same as regular crackers. Going on a gluten-free diet for a few days may do no harm and may even give your diet a jump-start if it helps you limit calories. But it’s not a long-term weight-loss strategy. And, in spite of rosy forecasts for the gluten-free-product industry, crafting a whole meal plan around the limited number of products available would be a challenge for most dieters. Many celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey have tried going gluten free, making the diet trend even more popular. While there is no short term danger of cleansing your body of glutens, it is also important to realize it is not a magical diet guaranteed to to take off and keep off unwanted pounds. Like fat free and low carb processed foods, snack items will soon be removed of gluten and filled with empty calories, |
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