Popularity Increasing With Gluten-free Diets

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Written by Jenna Walters(jennaswalters@gmail.com)
These days, foods with a "gluten-free" label are increasingly showing up on the shelves of supermarkets along with a growing availability of gluten-free restaurant menus. Gluten, an ingredient which is found in wheat, barley and rye, has until recently been fairly hard to avoid. Some might wonder what the fuss about gluten is all about. Although going gluten-free may seem like just another fad, there are definitely some important benefits to the diet, as well as a few concerns.

From 2003 to 2008 the number of people diagnosed with celiac disease, a disorder caused by a severe intolerance to gluten, increased from 40,000 to 110,000. Today at least 1 in 133 Americans have the disease. Symptoms of the disease may include some form of intestinal distress, weight loss, joint pain and a number of other issues. There are also many people who do not have celiac disease but have some degree of gluten intolerance or sensitivity. All these facts would account for the sudden rise in the popularity of gluten-free diets.

Since gluten-free diets have become so popular there are a number of people who have no sensitivity whatsoever to gluten but have nevertheless decided to go gluten-free. College age kids, who in the past seemed to live on pizza, bagels and other foods rich in gluten, are part of this growing group who are becoming caught up in the gluten-free fad. Even individuals diagnosed with severe illnesses such as peritoneal mesothelioma have used gluten-free diets.

Raising awareness of gluten intolerance has resulted in quite a few benefits. Since there has been such a demand for gluten-free products there is a greater variety of food options for those who have celiac disease or any degree of gluten sensitivity, and would otherwise be missing out on a lot of their favorite foods. Also, those who have decided to go gluten-free, even if unwarranted, may actually be feeling better because of it. The reason for this is because they are most likely eating more fruits and vegetables and less processed foods--which tend to contain gluten--resulting in better health.

In spite of the positive aspects of the gluten-free diet fad there are a few negatives as well. Those who go on gluten-free diets without a doctor's supervision may end up with a deficiency in certain vitamins and may even gain weight. It is also important for those who suspect they may be gluten intolerant to get proper diagnosis since there are related problems that need to be addressed.

Overall, for those who have celiac disease, a gluten-free diet under a doctor’s supervision is a necessity. For those who are merely concerned about the negative aspects of gluten, moderation may be the answer.
Carolanne LeBlanc Email: GlutenFreeInFlorida@Yahoo.com FaceBook: www.facebook.com/glutenfree.inflorida E-group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GlutenFreeInFlorida Meeting: Cypress Palms, 400 Lake Avenue N E, Largo, FL 33771