To Be or Not to Be Gluten Free?

While there is no one right answer, if you have symptoms of gluten intolerance, the answer is simple... do a gluten elimination diet. But what about everyone else? Why would eliminating important nutrients in wheat, barley and rye be a good idea? 

A gluten free diet in itself is not a better way to eat. Simply eliminating gluten will not transform a bad diet into a healthy eating plan. However, there are some advantages that have little to do with gluten.

• eating gluten free forces label reading

• eating gluten free requires mindful food choices 

• eating gluten free makes eating junk food less accessible and provides an excuse not to indulge in empty calories

• most gluten products have a high glycemic load  

• most wheat is GMO and contains pesticides and herbicides 

• most wheat flour is not whole grain, so lacks nutrition

• wheat flour often has added folic acid (synthetic vit.B9) which can be harmful to people with the MTHFR mutations

A gluten free diet can be a tool to help avoid poor quality food. However, a gluten free diet can also be a harmful. 

• popular gluten free flours such as rice flour and tapioca starch have low nutrition and a high glycemic load 
• rice, a popular substitute for wheat, is contaminated with arsenic 
• processed gluten free food is still junk food with added sugar, omega 6 oils and flavorings. A gluten free donut is still a donut  

Optimal nutrition should be the goal of any diet or eating style. Eating gluten free is an option that is worth a 2 week experiment. If you feel better, that is your answer.