Gluten-free

Are there any health or diet benefits (or disadvantages) to gluten-free foods??

Thanks! :)

If you are 35 and over it is best to eat foods that are free of gluten.

Thanks for your reply. What's the reasoning behind that?

People with a sensitivity to gluten have trouble with gluten in their digestive tract. In severe cases, the gluten breaks down the cilia in the colon, eventually making it impossible to digest anything. (Yikes!)

Many people (30-50% of Americans, it's estimated) are sensitive to gluten to some degree. Symptoms can range from straightforward gastro-intestinal issues (bloat, gas and elimination) to night sweats, skin irritations, weight fluctuation, mood swings and more.

The theory is that humans' digestion evolved before we started eating wheat 10,000 years ago. Gluten is difficult for us to process.

So it is quite possible that you'll improve your healt by cuttting down or eliminating gluten from your diet. Try a drastic reduction - no bread, cake, cookies or cereal for two weeks is a good start - and see if you notice any changes. And two weeks without cookies is bound to be good for your weight loss diet. :-)

Mediatinker made plenty of good points. However, gluten also resides in modified food starch, unidentified starches, malt, 'caramel coloring' from outside the US. It is a very big undertaking so please seriously consider what this lifestyle change means to you.

Thanks for the replies.

I am not thinking of going gluten-free w/ everything -- that would definitely be wayy too hard!

I know a restaurant that offers some gluten free foods, and wondering if I should try some of it.... granted, if there are health or diet benefits. (ie. if i were ordering pizza -- gluten free and normal pizza for the same price -- should i take gluten free?)

Most gluten free things are on par with regular. Unless you're like me and gluten will kill you!

Thanks... any other opinions??

Original Post by skinnyogi:

Most gluten free things are on par with regular. Unless you're like me and gluten will kill you!

Do you have Celiac-Sprue?   

You can check wth the manufacturer  to see if the particular modfied food sarch is gluten free or not. It is surprizing what you findwheat products in. I bought some beef jerky thinking it would not have any wheat in it and I let my nine year old gradson have some and when he complained of a stomach ache I checked the ingredients which I normally do to start with and  didn't this time I found some wheat in it. Always read your labels!!!! My son-in-law and one grandson have celiac's disease

Thanks for the reply. Must be tough not to be able to eat wheat at all!!



Soo basically, there are no health benefits to gluten-free products for someone who isn't allergic to it...??

Original Post by emk21:

Original Post by skinnyogi:

Most gluten free things are on par with regular. Unless you're like me and gluten will kill you!

Do you have Celiac-Sprue?

 Yes, I do. Due to this condition I also can't have any dairy and I have to limit my fat intake quite a bit.  Once you get in to the swing of it, it is quite easy to do because it's not really a choice- it's a necessity.