Should I try a gluten-free diet? It seems popular right now.

The people who need a strict life-long gluten-free diet are those with diagnosed Coeliac Disease where sufferers have an inflammatory reaction to gluten in their guts with many health consequences.

Other reasons for a low gluten diet may include medically diagnosed Irritable Bowel Syndrome or some other particular sensitivities.

For the rest of us there may be no benefit and indeed a negative effect on health when restricting the foods with a high gluten content ie. wheat, barley, rye and related grains. The most recent evidence of this came from studying health data of approximately 160,000 US  health professionals- a sizeable group so meaningful results are possible**.

In a nutshell:

• Those with the highest gluten intake had the lowest risk of developing Diabetes, one of the major health issues of our times.

WHY?

• Eating foods with gluten, particularly wholegrain foods, ensure a high intake of fibre, vitamins and some minerals. Also eating wholegrains can assist with blood sugar control.
• When people avoid the gluten-containing foods they often substitute foods with a lower nutrient level so their dietary quality can reduce.

SO – don’t just jump on the bandwagon, get an accurate diagnosis of your health issues so you don’t restrict your intake and health unnecessarily. http://www.digestiondietitian.com.au/accurate-diagnosis/

Study link** http://theconversation.com/does-gluten-prevent-type-2-diabetes-probably-not-74362