Is gluten Making us Fat?
For as long as I can remember people have clammered over each other for the answer to why people gain weight and more importantly, how to lose it most effectively.
We have seen all kinds of studies and tests to determine the culprit to our nations obesity epidemic. A few years after studies are announced, a few more studies, tests and reports later, report the latest greatest will be under dispute, it is a never ending cycle, that isn’t my point however.
You don’t need to read articles to know that something new has been discovered. Walking through a grocery store and you will notice processed food labels touting the latest catch phrase. Right now gluten free is the word of the day, you can’t open the paper or magazine without reading something about it; or how it will, or will not, help you.
Recently I read a nice article along the same lines regarding this latest catch phrase weight loss tool, it was in Men’s Health called “Is Gluten Making Us Fat?” The “gluten free” phrase will no doubt generate sales but like fat free or sugar free product if you eat too much of anything then you will gain weight, moderation is the key ingredient to weight control.More about the gluten free 2011 weight loss phrase du jour
I went to “Celiac.org” for some answers to what gluten is: a protein that exists in wheat, barley and rye; it can also be found in other carbohydrates.
Gluten isn’t necessary bad for your health and not everyone is sensitive to it but in reality our bodies are not designed to consume large volumes of it.
Gluten, for you bakers, is the secret behind bread and what gives bread that texture that everyone desires and longs for. This is our first clue to why gluten free is good for losing weight for some people, cutting down of bread products has long been a good start to losing weight.
Certain people are very sensitive to gluten and have to remove it from their diet, people with Celiac’s disease (an auto immune disorder) can’t eat foods with gluten or suffer terrible results. Someone eating gluten who sufferers from Celiacs disease can experience a mirade of issues from damage to the small intestine, poor nutrient absorption, diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, anemia and fatigue. Even people without celiac disease can suffer from gluten sensitivity, people who suffer from sensitivity have some of the symptoms of celiacs but do no have the the condition, if you are concerned you might have wheat allergies you should have a blood test for clarification.
The why people lose weight on gluten free is what the Men’s Health article discusses, giving insight into why people without a gluten sensitivity find staying away from it actually helps them. It is suspected that it helps them stay away from processed grains, making them focus on good nutrition.
When the processed food companies get involved, keep in mind they wouldn’t want them to lose their marketing edge, they will use the latest catch phrase with foods that are loaded with other calorie types.
Just like the fat free craze, people will purchase a gluten free product and think they can eat a lot of it as it is good for weight loss, no it isn’t, that isn’t how it works.
A box of gluten free cookies will make you gain weight just as quickly as a box of fat free or sugar free cookies did, it is the calorie consumption not the gluten or fat that causes the problem.
At the end of the article they state what has been the truth from the very beginning, something I believe to be the truth.
What makes a gluten free diet work in helping people lose weight is committing to healthier eating style and getting back to good wholesome foods in their natural state.
As soon as the good intentioned gluten free dieter starts to introduce processed foods back into their diet, they will stop seeing the weight loss and will return to the weight struggle. The one thing process food companies can’t replicate is that eating foods in their natural state will keep your body healthy.
There is no quick fix for health: you have to peel your own vegetables, cook your own meals, and plan your nutrition. Share on X
Click here to read Men’s Health called “Is Gluten Making Us Fat?“
