· Everyone has heard about Gluten these days. Everyone knows it is bad, and if the packet says "gluten free" means the product is healthy. Is it indeed?
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Most plants like wheat, oats, barley contains gluten. Gluten is found in starch, and it is also present in all derivatives of these products.
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In 1950 gluten was recognized as the cause of celiac disease - an inflammation and damage on the villi, small fingerlike projections that line the small intestine, that promote nutrient absorption. The symptoms range from unpleasant to extremely dangerous: poor digestion, abdominal distension, fatigue, pallor, skin lesions, anemia, autoimmune diseases, Type I diabetes and multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, infertility and miscarriage, neurological conditions like epilepsy and migraines.
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But:
- Celiac disease is an extremely rare genetic illness that has only 1% of population according to WGO. With high probability, it is found in childhood, as soon as the child starts to eat gluten.
- Consuming gluten-free products does not lead to weight gain, but just the opposite - the patient loses weight.
- There is no evidence between gluten-free diet and weight loss or better skin. Gluten-free recipes can increase the calorie content of dish. Gluten provides the elasticity and viscosity of product's consistency, and without it, you have to add more fat for bonding.
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So if you are within lucky 99% of population who don't have celiac desease or allergy it makes no sense to follow the hype, abandoning the most important sources of complex carbohydrates, fiber and vitamins. #gluten_medcheckup