A gluten-free diet is not new. It is the sole treatment for celiac disease, a serious condition where the
body attacks a protein called gluten, naturally found in many whole grains, causing a spectrum of
symptoms that range from bloating to intestinal damage.
Nowadays, we often hear people talking about gluten-free diets, foods, etc. Some say that they are
allergic to gluten while some go gluten-free to lose weight? But does going gluten-free really help in
losing weight? Are there any repercussions of the diet for weight loss?
Gluten has been blamed for weight management issues and a lot of people believe that eliminating this
protein may aide weight loss. Is this belief true or another urban nutritional myth?
What Does Gluten-Free Diet Mean?
Gluten-free diet is a diet free from gluten, a protein found in grains – primarily wheat and rye. Gluten-
free diet is essential for people suffering from celiac diseases and gluten restriction may also be advised if a patient is sensitive to gluten. Gluten-free diets are essentially for celiac disease patients and no study
has shown any other benefits of this restriction.
How Does Going Gluten-Free Help In Weight Loss?
A lot of people suffering from bloating and indigestion feel better when they remove gluten from their
diets, but it does not point to gluten intolerance. In fact this may be simply because our food today is
laden with gluten and we do not eat other cereal grains, so the body is just reacting to an overload.
Gluten-free diets do not assist with weight loss as for that you need to improve your entire lifestyle to
include less sugary foods, fresh balanced meals along with exercise.
There’s absolutely no evidence that simply getting rid of gluten will result in weight loss.
However, eating gluten-free often may cause you to eat more whole, unprocessed foods such as fruits,
vegetables, legumes and lean meats. These diet changes are often healthier and lower in calories.
People eating gluten-free also tend to make healthier food choices because they are more aware of the
need to read food labels.
One advantage of going gluten-free is that you begin to eat more whole, unprocessed foods such as
fruits, vegetables, legumes and meats and avoid junk simply because of the wheat in it. There is
research around the fact that wheat actually augments your appetite more than satiating it
Thus, Gluten-free diets may help you make healthier food choices, but this needs to be combined with
exercise and overall healthier eating for the purpose of weight loss.
Advantages Of Going Gluten-Free
There are a number of benefits associated with going gluten-free, which may include some of the
following:
• Eliminates unhealthy and processed foods
• Reduces risk of heart disease
• Promotes eating healthy food that is gluten-free
• Helps ward off cholesterol and promotes health
• Increases energy levels
• Promotes digestive health and overall well-being
Risks of Going Gluten-Free
People who go gluten-free may be at risk of certain conditions, including overall detriment to health:
• May result in nutritional deficiencies
• Lack of fiber which may cause problems in digestive systems
Experts recommend not going gluten-free unless you have a celiac disease or gluten intolerance. The
benefits of having gluten far outweigh the risks of not having it. Thus, it is recommended not to go on a
gluten-free diet unless said by your doctor specifically so. The Indian diet is suited to incorporating of
wheat in the diet for ages, and lack of wheat needs to be substituted with equally satiating grains in the
diet.
The bottom line
Gluten-free diets are typically consumed by those who are unable to tolerate gluten on a biological
level. However, some people choose to follow a gluten-free diet for more healthful eating.
There is no harm in avoiding gluten but remember to consume a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables
and legumes. Make sure your gluten-free choices are still 100 percent whole grain, such as buckwheat,
quinoa or brown rice. You lose weight when you expend more calories or energy than you consume –
not by avoiding gluten. Diet and exercise are both important components of weight management and a
healthy lifestyle.
