Thinking about Going GLUTEN FREE?

It seems that going Gluten Free (GF) is the newest fad diet overtaking our society!  In practice, I see countless clients questioning if they should start a GF diet after hearing claims that ‘going gluten-free’ helps you to lose weight or simply start ‘feeling better’.

First, it is imperative that we understand what it exactly means to be gluten free.

What is a Gluten Free Diet?

As the name suggests, a Gluten Free diet is one free of gluten; however, cutting out gluten means a lot more than simply cutting out the wheat in your bread and pasta .

GF includes all forms of wheat, rye and barley including (but not limited to):

• Spelt
• Kamut
• Triticale
• Oats
• Couscous
• Semolina
• Bulgur
• Brewer’s yeast

There are also many products that MAY contain gluten such as (but not limited to):

• Processed meats
• French fries
• Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
• Modified food starch
• Natural flavouring
• Soy sauce
• Vegetable gum
• Cooking spray
• Canned soups and soup mixes
• Salad dressing

Bottom Line:

A GF diet is a very restricted diet that is mandatory to be followed for a lifetime by those with Celiac Disease, which is an auto-immune condition where the proteins in gluten severely damage the small intestine. It is possible to be sensitive to gluten and not be diagnosed with Celiac disease. Gluten Sensitivity is usually determined by ruling out the diagnosis of Celiac Disease and ruling out a wheat allergy. An allergist or dietitian may be able to assist you with a ‘gluten challenge’ to see if there is a benefit.

The answer to your question as to whether you should start a GF diet is quite simply – it depends.  For the general public, there is insufficient evidence to support the adaptation of a gluten free diet for the purpose of weight loss and overall perceived health. Interestingly, some of the improvements in perceived health status and achieved weight loss after following a gluten free diet are often attributed to the decreased consumption of processed and pre-packaged foods. In these instances people when removing gluten from their diet consequentially increase their fibre intake from fruits and vegetable, and beans/lentil consumption- all part of a healthy diet and feeling good 🙂