Shahar Madjar, MD
In my last article, I asked, should you continue on a gluten-free diet? He wrote that this trend is gaining momentum as more people consume gluten-free foods.
Gluten is a mixture of proteins found in wheat, barley, rye and oats. Gluten gives the dough elasticity and cohesiveness. The gluten-containing dough has a satisfying texture, structure and flavor. I asked, is the loss of texture and flavor unique to gluten-based dough a fair price to pay for weight loss, perhaps better health?
The answer is more complicated than a simple “yes” or “no”. I wrote: “For a few people, a gluten-free diet is the only option for overcoming serious medical conditions such as celiac disease, gluten ataxia, or gluten allergies. What about those who don’t? Is a gluten-free diet good for the rest of us? Is it a successful weight loss strategy? “
Like most other discussion topics, the general public has opinions, often unfounded in reality, and fairly quickly, opinions are translated into attitudes and then actions.
Here are some opinions: Consumer market research has shown that 33% of Canadians and 26% of Americans believe that gluten-free products are healthier. According to another study, 31% of participants believe that avoiding gluten promotes general health, and 37% feel that gluten-free products are healthier than gluten-containing products. According to another study, the motivation for embarking on a gluten-free diet is often the desire to lose weight.
In fact, gluten-free products are high in fat, sugar and sodium. For example, gluten-free bread usually contains twice as much fat as equivalent bread that contains gluten. Gluten-free products are also a poor source of protein and dietary fiber. And finally, gluten-free products are generally low in vitamins such as folic acid, nicotine, thiamine and riboflavin, and some minerals such as iron.
Studies of celiac patients on a strict gluten-free diet have shown that they consume more fat and sugar and less fiber. Their diet is also free of iron, folic acid, calcium, selenium, magnesium, zinc, nicotinic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, and vitamins A and D.
When it comes to weight loss, the media praises the benefits of a gluten-free diet, and some celebrities swear it. Meanwhile, the jury of researchers and doctors is still under discussion.
In patients with celiac disease, a gluten-free diet can actually lead to weight gain. why? The possible explanations are: In celiac disease, the immune system attacks the villi (the folds of the small intestine) along the intestine. This leads to malabsorption and, in some patients, excessive unhealthy weight loss. A gluten-free diet helps repair villi and improve the absorption of food nutrients, and may return to normal weight in patients who were underweight at the time they were diagnosed with celiac disease.
In healthy people, a gluten-free diet can contribute to weight loss. However, there is limited evidence to support such claims, primarily for individuals to report their results rather than scientific data obtained using objective data such as measured weight and waist circumference. Based on the research done. In a 2017 review published in the medical journal Nutrition, Amy L. Jones briefly summarized the subject. “There are no published studies on the benefits of a gluten-free diet in the weight status of people without celiac disease.”
I talked about singer and songwriter Miley Cyrus. “Singing her praise” For a gluten-free diet, “No one should try gluten for a week! Your change[r] The skin, physical and mental health is excellent. U will not return! “ Should I, or you, get her advice?
At HealthyCeleb, Miley was found to be 5 feet, 5 inches, and weigh 48 kg. This may serve as circumstantial evidence for the effectiveness of a gluten-free diet for some. Then I saw her dance on YouTube and concluded that dieting was probably not enough and I should dance too. Next, I read the latest news about Miley. In 2013, Miley became vegan (a diet that’s completely different from the gluten-free diet). And with the final twist of her diet, I learned that Miley quit being vegan because she gave her hip pain and poor mental clarity. She remained slim and healthy, probably because of good genes.
I conclude that for people who can tolerate gluten, a gluten-free diet may be just a fad after all.
Editor’s Note: Dr. Shahar Madjar is an Aspirus urologist and “Is life too long? An essay on life, death, and other trivial matters.” Contact him at smadjar@yahoo.com.
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