WARNING: I am NOT talking to those with Celiac Disease. This is a real autoimmune disorder in which consuming gluten leads to damage of the small intestine.
My husband told me to watch an episode of South Park with him a few days ago. I am not a fan of this show at all so I refused. But then he told me it was about the gluten-free fad. What a coincidence I said, that is my topic for my blog this week… so I agreed to watch it. The episode depicted how dramatic people are about gluten. It was humorous, but totally fiction.What is Gluten?
Gluten is a protein in wheat, barley and rye. Oats can also be considered as "gluten" because of the cross-contaminatation with these other sources.
It’s Not Fair
I
was always skeptical of the customers that claimed that they CANNOT HAVE GLUTEN when I was a manager at Chick-fil-A. My sister-in-law who currently works at a restaurant mentioned that people ask for certain vodka brands because they are "gluten-free". Well, I'd like to say that all vodka is gluten free unless it's flavored. So don't be that person at dinner that asked for a gluten-free dish and then chugs a beer (Beer is made from barley and sometimes wheat). We all know you don't have Celiac Disease. Less than 1% of the US population have Celiac Disease. This craze about going gluten free is not fair to those who actually have a serious condition. Imagine how they feel asking about gluten-free items on the menu at a restaurant. They know that the waiters think it’s just another crazy diet person or someone asking for attention.
But what if I’m Gluten Intolerant?
The symptoms of eating gluten are much milder than those with Celiac. Sharp stomach pain is a lot different than slight discomfort. That discomfort might just be all in your head. Those that are really gluten intolerant, I hate to break it to you, but that is most likely due to the carbohydrate (not protein) in wheat and other FODMAPs.
Below, I have included a picture comparing nutrition labels of a whole grain bread and a gluten-free bread.
5 Reason why you should eat gluten:
1.
Less calories
2.
Less sugar
3.
More protein
4.
Less sodium
5. More vitamins and minerals
Whole Grains Rock!
Whole grains have been found to reduce many chronic
diseases. Just 3 servings a day! Studies have also found that as little as one
serving a day can reduce risks.
Along with the common benefits (decrease in blood
pressure, decreased risk for stroke, decreased risk for type 2 diabetes etc.),
it also includes better weight maintenance. What?... Carbs won’t make you gain weight?... Yes, you are allowed (supposed) to
eat carbohydrate-rich foods like whole grain bread and brown rice. Keep in mind that the source of carbs should be considered. Fruit is a carb but a great source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Sugar is also a carb but a less beneficial source. The gluten free products do NOT have the
same nutrients as whole wheat products.
Now I’m wondering, who started this gluten free fad?
As I continued my research on who started this fad, it was no surprise when I found out that celebrities were the first to announce this diet. Also, in the past 5 years, many books have been published regarding gluten and whole wheat as “poison”. So it’s just like any other fad diet out there. Examples of some current fad diets include: Atkins, South Beach, Paleo, and Carb-cycling.
To sum it up, just be aware of the fad diets out there and do your own research before jumping straight in.
#GirlsWhoEatGluten
The whole grain bread I used added and extra 10 grams of protein to my veggie sandwich.
A balanced diet is the best diet you'll ever go on (and probably the one you'll actually stick with).
If you have any questions, feel free to comment below!
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