A Gluten-free Diet

Different kinds of bread and pasta noodles have always been among the bestselling products in a supermarket. However, the recent increase in the popularity of a “gluten-free diet”made food entrepreneurs rethink the types of products they put on their stalls. Some consumers shy away from wheat-based products thinking that they can cause health problems. Experts took upon this new fad and studied the reason behind it.

Research shows that wheat-based products can indeed cause certain health problems but the extent of the effects is not the same for every individual.

There is a condition called celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder where an individual cannot tolerate all wheat-based products. The gluten component found in wheat damages the small intestines of a person with celiac disease. Ingestion of wheat-based products can cause serious problems and even death.

For people who are not diagnosed with celiac disease, the gluten content of wheat may cause the inflammation of the intestines, irritable bowel syndrome and neuropathy. It can also be addictive hence causing certain people to constantly crave for bagels and donuts. Addiction to gluten can then cause weight gain, diabetes and certain heart problems.

These factors are probably the reason why many are going on a gluten-free diet. Even ordinary people who do not have celiac disease choose not to buy wheat-based products because of its gluten content. A gluten-free diet is believed to improve the functions of the digestive system, lowers cholesterol levels and limits weight gain. Experts say that choosing not to eat wheat based products is not necessarily healthy but it encourages a person to consume more fruits and vegetables.

In Korea, locals are becoming more conscious about the bad effects of wheat so more gluten-free products are made available in the market. Bread and pasta are not among the staple food of Asian countries like Korea so it is easy for locals to stay away from the bad effects of wheat.

In America and other western countries however, wheat plays a major role in their food industry so going on a gluten-free diet in those areas can be more complicated. Wheat is composed of different components. It has vitamins and minerals that are essential to the body but it also has gluten that brings more harm than good. Totally eliminating wheat in the diet has its benefits but it can also affect the body negatively.

Since wheat is an ingredient used in a lot of food products commonly eaten by people in their everyday lives, it may be difficult to totally remove wheat and its byproducts from the diet. Nutritionists then suggest that it is always best, like in any other type of food, to have wheat-based products in reasonable amounts.