Ryan Gosling, Jenny McCarthy, Gwyneth Paltrow - these and many other celebrities switched to a gluten-free diet.

Not because of gluten intolerance, but in order to “improve your health”.

Apparently it's become a new trend..

In the US, about 1.6 million people have recently switched to a gluten-free diet.. And we are only talking about those people who do not suffer from celiac disease, that is, they may well consume gluten..

How healthy is the gluten diet really Let's try to figure it out.

Gluten is a protein (protein) found in wheat, barley, rye and triticale (a hybrid of wheat and rye). It acts as the " Gluten is also found in a number of cosmetic products, such as lip balm.. It can be added to the same nasty-tasting glue that is used to seal envelopes and stamps..

Gluten causes serious problems for some people. It is estimated that 18 million people in the United States alone suffer from some form of gluten intolerance.. This is called non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS).. These people experience bloating, diarrhea, weakness, headache, skin rashes when eating gluten..

Approximately 1 in 133 Americans (less than 1%) have celiac disease, a more severe form of gluten intolerance.. In celiac disease, gluten triggers an immune response that damages cells in the small intestine.. This means that the body loses the ability to effectively absorb nutrients from food, anemia develops, growth retardation, weight loss..

Celiac disease is associated with serious diseases such as multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, and infertility.. The only thing that can be suggested to effectively control celiac disease is to avoid foods that contain gluten for life..

What is a gluten free diet?

People with celiac disease should avoid foods that contain even trace amounts of gluten.. That is, we are talking about a very strict diet, which is quite difficult to follow..

Bread, beer, candy, cereals, cakes and pies, french fries, pasta, processed meats, and soups are some foods that should be avoided at all costs unless specifically labeled " Oats can come into contact with wheat at all stages of production, so unless labeled as such, oat products should also be avoided..

There are many foods that are naturally gluten-free, including fruits and vegetables, fresh eggs, fresh meat, fish, and poultry (but not marinated, breaded, or battered).! ), raw beans, seeds, and nuts, and most dairy products.

Many types of cereals and flours can be part of a gluten-free diet, including buckwheat, corn and cornmeal, rice, soy, millet. People with celiac disease should be careful because these grains may be mixed with gluten products or processed with preservatives and additives that contain gluten..

As we can see, following a gluten-free diet is not easy.. Twenty years ago, this was almost impossible at all, but today many stores can offer a wide selection of gluten-free products, although they will cost more than regular ones..

The availability of such products is great for people with gluten sensitivity.. But why are more and more healthy people switching to such products? Many of us believe that gluten is bad for the body.. But there is little scientific basis for these fears..

Gluten is bad only for celiac disease.

Nearly 30% of U.S. adults say they want to reduce or eliminate gluten in their diet, according to a survey by the NPD Group.. 30% is much more than the percentage of people with celiac disease and NCGS.

But what are the fears of gluten based on Scientists say there is little evidence.

A 2011 study by Dr. Peter Gibson and colleagues at Monash University in Australia found that NCGS may indeed be a separate disease.. Scientists have confirmed that after eating gluten, some people increase gas production in the intestines and develop weakness..

But in 2013, the same group of scientists rebutted their earlier claims.. In further experiments, they did not confirm a dose-dependent effect of gluten in people with NCGS features.. Moreover, scientists have found that gas formation in them may be associated with the use of short-chain carbohydrates belonging to the FODMAP group (oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and sugar alcohols polyols).

In November 2014, the Journal of Proteome Research reported that non-gluten wheat proteins (serpins, purines, globulins, farinins, and others) may also be triggers that are involved in the development of celiac disease..

Dr Gaynor Bussell, renowned British nutritionist and spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association, told Medical News Today: "

Dr. Lisa Cimperman, Clinical Dietitian at University Hospitals Case Medical Center (Cleveland, USA), added: “Gluten is neither essential nor detrimental to our health.”.

Gluten artificially created a reputation as a villain.

If the claims of Dr. Zipperman and Dr. Bussell are correct, then why is the gluten-free diet so popular After all, it is not easy to follow, and not cheap..

Most nutritionists emphasize that a gluten-free diet will not benefit a person if he does not have celiac disease.. But the unsubstantiated faith of suggestible people in the "

Dr. Zipperman says, "

Unfortunately, actors, actresses and guests of popular talk shows can hammer this idea into people's heads much more firmly than researchers who have real scientific facts in their hands.. No scientific study has confirmed the benefits of a gluten-free diet for people who do not have celiac disease..

Some experts say a gluten-free diet can only harm a healthy person. They attribute this to the fact that such a diet is often deficient in certain essential nutrients.. In particular, nutritionists from the Mayo Clinic (USA) argue that a gluten diet can lead to a decrease in the level of iron, calcium, folic acid, thiamine, riboflavin and niacin..

Dr. Rafe Bundy, nutritionist, spokesman for the Nutrition Association, disagrees.. She is confident that a well-designed gluten-free diet can satisfy the body's needs for B vitamins, iron and all other substances..

“Across the world, many people consume foods that do not contain gluten or contain only small amounts of it.. A good example is most Asians who mostly eat rice and not wheat.. It's realistic to eat a gluten-free diet and get all the nutrients you need,” she says..

There is another way to look at the gluten-free diet. Many processed gluten-free foods are believed to be high in fat, sugar, and calories compared to their natural gluten counterparts.. This supposedly leads to weight gain..

“Gluten-free food is considered almost the Holy Grail. People believe that behind this term lies a product that has no negative qualities.. The truth is that gluten-free fast food and desserts are no better (if not worse) than their gluten counterparts,” writes Dr. Zipperman..

The benefits of a gluten-free diet are a scam?

A recent market analysis by marketing firm Nielsen found that sales of gluten-free products in the US increased by 16.4% in 2013-2014 to $23.3 billion per year..

If there is no reason for healthy people to switch to such products, why do they continue to buy them by the ton, overpaying in many cases?

Dr. Bussell says of this: "

When celebrities like Paltrow or McCarthy openly talk about how a gluten-free diet has changed their lives, while also admiring the many books that deal with delicious gluten-free cuisine, it's all too obvious..

It's hard not to notice the rapidly growing range of gluten-free products in US stores.. You will say that this is the desire to satisfy the needs of customers? Or switching to gluten-free products is an attempt to make more money? Dr. Bussell answers both questions in the affirmative..

" It turns out a vicious circle when some propagate the myth, while others make money from trading this myth and share it with the first. On the other hand, such an assortment is a big plus for those who are really sick with celiac disease, ”says the nutritionist frankly..

But there are other advantages to this situation.. Some doctors believe that media coverage of gluten-free diets and the availability of such products in stores contribute to greater public awareness of the problem of celiac disease..

Talk to your doctor before switching to a gluten-free diet.

The above facts and comments make it clear that the benefits and risks of a gluten-free diet for a healthy individual need further study..

In the meantime, the gluten-free diet in the West continues to gain popularity.. But before you decide to eliminate this protein from your diet, experts recommend that you speak with your doctor.. Especially if some digestive problems prompted you to change your diet..

“Any gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating or diarrhea, especially those that persist for a long time, should be reviewed by a physician.. Your doctor will determine the cause and prescribe the appropriate treatment. Procrastination can be dangerous. In addition, it is very important to continue to eat gluten until you are tested for celiac disease - following a gluten-free diet before this test can give a false negative result,"

If you have not been diagnosed with celiac disease after testing, but you still want to switch to a gluten-free diet, do not forget to consult a nutritionist. He will tell you how to get all the necessary nutrients with such a diet..

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