22 by Dr . Joeseph Mercola
Gluten-Free Diets are Beneficial for Many
22 by Dr . Joeseph Mercola
Gluten-Free Diets Are Beneficial for Many — Not Just Those With Celiac Disease
In recent years , the benefits of a gluten-free diet have become widely recognized and , according to recent research , people are embracing gluten-free in ever-growing numbers , even though the number of Americans diagnosed with celiac disease has not increased since 2009 . 1 , 2 , 3 , 4
In 2009 , an estimated 0.5 percent of Americans were on a gluten-free diet . By 2014 , that number had more than tripled , to 1.69 percent . Meanwhile , the number of people diagnosed with celiac disease remained fairly steady , declining only slightly , from 0.7 percent to 0.58 percent .
Gluten-free diets are particularly popular among Caucasian women and younger adults between the ages of 20 and 39 — many of whom do it simply because it makes them feel better .
It ’ s well worth noting though that while gluten-free has many advantages , just because a food is glutenfree does not automatically make it healthy . There are plenty of gluten-free junk foods out there .
Just because a food is gluten free doesn ’ t make it a health food , just as a food sold at Whole Foods does not make it a health food . There are plenty of lousy fake foods in both categories .
For most people , drastically cutting down on your net carbs ( total carbs minus fiber ) is the key to optimal health . This includes but is not limited to grains ( not just wheat , as all grains will spike your insulin levels and contribute to insulin and leptin resistance ).
Doing this will help your body burn fat rather than carbs as its primary fuel , which helps optimize your mitochondrial function and boost weight loss .
Is Going Gluten-Free a Pointless Fad ? Some doctors dismiss gluten-free as a mere fad , 5 fueled by celebrity endorsements and an increasing number of books linking wheat and gluten to a wide range of health problems , from gut dysfunction and allergies to neurological diseases and autoimmune problems .
This includes The New York Times Best Seller , “ Grain Brain : The Surprising Truth About Wheat , Carbs , and Sugar ; Your Brain ’ s Silent Killer ,” written by Dr . David Perlmutter , a neurologist , in which he reveals how processed grains contribute to dementia .
My own book on this subject , “ The No-Grain Diet ,” was published in 2003 . While still in medical practice , I recommended eliminating gluten as a first line intervention before I would further fine-tune a patient ’ s diet to address their specific health problems .
As the title of my now 13-year-old book indicates , I believe most everyone would benefit from avoiding all grains , not just gluten , as doing so well help you burn fat much better . Plus , healthy fat is a far cleaner and more efficient fuel for your body .
Despite the prevailing skepticism , studies are now confirming that many people do indeed experience adverse reactions to gluten even if they test negative for celiac disease . This suggests gluten-sensitivity is a real problem , 6 and that gluten-free diets may benefit many — not just those with celiac .
Celiac Disease Versus Wheat Allergy and Gluten-Intolerance
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder . People with celiac suffer severe gastrointestinal ( GI ) reactions and malabsorption of nutrients in response to gluten found in wheat and other grains , and a strict 100 percent gluten-free diet is critical for these people .
Celiac disease is typically diagnosed by measuring the presence of autoantibodies such as transglutaminase 2 ( TG2 ), which is thought to be the most sensitive marker for celiac .
Many others have wheat allergy or some level of gluten intolerance or sensitivity , and fare better on a glutenfree diet even if they don ’ t have celiac disease . If you ’ re
Oct / Nov 2016