Many people around the world have stopped buying bread or cakes. They don’t want to consume gluten. In the past, only people with celiac disease, about 1% of the population, avoided eating gluten. But the media now quite often present gluten-free foods as a healthier choice. Because of this, more and more people think that gluten is bad for them.

A gluten-free diet

More and more people are following a gluten-free diet for no reason at all. They do not have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. According to studies, up to 5% of the population in Western societies follow a gluten-free diet by choice. Meanwhile, the popularity of gluten-free eating continues to grow over time. According to research by the NPD Group, nearly one-third of American adults said they would like to reduce their gluten intake or avoid it altogether.

What is gluten?

It’s a protein found in grains such as wheat, barley and rye. It is therefore commonly found in bread, pasta, pizza or cereals. Gluten does not provide the body with any essential nutrients. There are some people who have an immune reaction to this protein and develop inflammation when they eat foods that contain gluten. For such people, it obviously makes sense to avoid gluten. For others, however, gluten is not dangerous.

Gluten is unique among proteins in that the human body cannot completely break it down into amino acids. It can only break it down into chains of acids, which we call peptides. These are easily passed through most people’s bodies. It’s different for celiacs, whose body signals to the immune system that it’s probably being attacked by microbes. Then the war begins. And the celiac is in trouble.

Celiacs

Celiac disease can occur at basically any time. Do you know what are among its symptoms? It’s diarrhea, abdominal pain or weight loss. You may also feel a lack of appetite. Often, bloating or a feeling of fullness also occurs. Symptoms may also include an itchy rash, and in children, gluten sensitivity or celiac disease may also manifest itself in growth retardation.

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Why are gluten-free diets trendy?

Not eating gluten is in. At first glance, it may seem like a really good idea. Gluten causes inflammation in people with celiac disease. So others think that avoiding gluten will reduce harmful forms of inflammation. However, there is no evidence that this is the case in people without celiac disease. Why don’t people still eat gluten? They think that if it’s bad for celiacs, it’s bad for everyone, plus often a gluten-free diet is recommended by celebrities. Last but not least, there’s the good marketing of companies that produce gluten-free foods. Of course, this also plays a big role.

Is gluten bad for a healthy body?

There is no evidence that a gluten-free diet improves health or prevents disease. Those who do not suffer from celiac disease can eat gluten without any problems. On the other hand, a gluten-free diet can be harmful. People think that a gluten-free diet is more nutritious and contains more vitamins and minerals. However, this is often not the case. Gluten-free foods contain less folic acid or iron. In addition, they contain less fibre and often more fat and sugar.