Is a gluten-free diet really healthy?

1. There are many different reasons why you might want to avoid gluten.

1. Maybe you have a sensitivity to gluten or maybe you feel that it is simply a lot healthier not to eat gluten.

2. You may have a sensitivity to gluten or you may feel that it is simply a lot healthier not to eat gluten.

1. Especially the latter is not surprising, we are seeing more and more gluten-free products and even restaurants are starting to offer these options more and more.

1. In short, gluten-free has become a real trend.

1. Because the advertisements are full of it and more and more products are gluten-free on the packaging, we have all come to believe that the new way of eating is really a lot healthier.

1. Those who have read the acclaimed book Wheat Belly will know that gluten-rich grain, in its current form, is no longer as natural as it once was.

1. This is also one of the reasons many people give up wheat and other gluten-rich grains even though they have no hypersensitivity.

1. But is gluten-free really healthy and are there perhaps alternatives that make it more suitable for weight loss and healthier?

1. We'll discuss that and more in the article below.

The new trend

1. About thirty years ago we found out that fat is unhealthy and causes all kinds of diseases.

1. That belief has been disproved these days, yet countless people still believe in it â € “and the manufacturers are happy to take advantage of it.

1. How often do we see 'fat free' or 'low fat' on the label and all kinds of benefits added to make it an even more attractive bargain. Good for the heart, lowers cholesterol, prevents cardiovascular disease, etc ...

1. About ten years ago, when we finally found out that fat wasn't the enemy we always loved it for, the sugar-free trend started.

2. About ten years ago, when we finally found out that fat wasn't the enemy we always loved it, the sugar-free trend started.

1. More and more people suffer from diabetes and the proportion of people who are overweight or even obese has skyrocketed.

1. The thought behind this was that this must be the fault of the fat-free lifestyle, because the fat was then largely replaced by sugar and other refined carbohydrates.

1. Then we all got fat and sick.

1. Now, ten years later, the percentage of overweight people is still going up - despite the fact that we eat low in sugar and mostly low in fat.

1. In short, we're looking for a new scapegoat.

1. Of course, that doesn't mean this is a groundless trend that will soon blow over again.

2. That does not mean that this is a groundless trend that will soon blow over again.

1. Just as there is something to be said for sugar free, there is also something to be said for gluten free. However, the question is whether we approach this in such a smart way.

1. At the time, when we saw fat as the enemy, we replaced it with sugar. Gluten also needs to be substituted for something - and when you look at the labels of gluten-free products, it is most packed with ingredients that we usually can't pronounce.

1. So then the question is; is the gluten-free trend actually healthy and sustainable?

What exactly are gluten?

1. To answer this question, we must first consider what gluten actually is.

1. Gluten is a protein found in wheat and other grains such as barley, oats and rye. Of course, this also means that foods based on these grains contain gluten.

1. Gluten gives elasticity to the dough and can play a role in the firm structure of bread.

1. Bread and other pastries are therefore not easy to make without gluten-rich grain, because other grains do not contain the same "glue" that holds everything together.

2. Bread and other pastries are therefore not easy to make without gluten-rich grain, because other grains do not contain the same 'glue' that holds everything together.

1. In recent years, gluten has come into the spotlight, with many claiming to be "gluten intolerant" due to the adverse effects they feel after eating foods containing these proteins .

1. There are indeed people who have an autoimmune disease called celiac disease, which means that when they eat products containing gluten, their immune system reacts abnormally, causing damage to the small intestine.]

2. There are indeed also people who have an autoimmune disease called celiac disease, which means that when they eat products containing gluten, their immune system reacts abnormally, causing damage to the small intestine.]

1. Celiac disease affects about one in 100 people - that's about 170,000 people in the Netherlands. But it is estimated that a lot more people follow a gluten-free diet.

1. There are a lot of people who limit their consumption of gluten or even eliminate it from their diet altogether, but maybe not because they have a really diagnosed problem.

1. So we can assume that there are people who think eradicating all gluten is healthy, regardless of whether they are sensitive to it or not.

1. But is it true and why do so many people think gluten is so bad for your health?

Why a gluten-free diet?

1. For those with an autoimmune disease or an allergy or hypersensitivity to wheat and gluten, a gluten-free diet is of course the only solution.

1. However, even if you have not developed hypersensitivity, you may not eat gluten because you think it is healthier.

1. Gluten has gotten quite a bad reputation over the years.

1. In the book Wheat Belly, Dr. William Davis that wheat (the main source of gluten) has several negative health effects.

1. For example, wheat is to blame when it comes to autoimmune diseases, diabetes and much more.

1. The reason wheat is so unhealthy, he says, is because modern wheat no longer resembles the wheat that our forefathers ate.

1. In fact, about fifty years ago, wheat was 'modified' by gene manipulation, which can cause a lot of damage to the modern sister.

1. It is actually very simple, our body no longer recognizes the food we give it.

1. As a foreign (and possibly hostile) substance enters, your body's immune system attacks the foreign invaders. So your body is going to attack the gluten.

1. Over time, however, your body becomes confused and can no longer distinguish gluten and its own cells, resulting in your body attacking its own cells.

1. This is the beginning of an autoimmune disease, with all its consequences.

1. Because wheat can be found in almost all processed products, we all eat an awful lot of wheat.

1. The average Dutch person even eats wheat in a certain form three times a day.

1. At a certain point the body can no longer cope with this and develops hypersensitivity. If you still eat wheat, this will lead to all kinds of nasty side effects.

1. The solution is to eliminate wheat and other gluten-rich grains from the diet. But what you replace these grains is of course very important.

1. So then we come to the next question ...

Is a gluten-free diet healthy?

1. For many people it is not a question whether it is healthier to eliminate gluten. Too often the answer is yes, even if you are not hypersensitive to the protein.

1. It is true that about 60 to 70 percent of the world's population has at least a slight hypersensitivity.

1. So there is a good chance that you will also be there.

1. It's not like you miss out on essential nutrients when you stop eating gluten.

1. It's simply a protein, and you can get protein from countless other sources too. Moreover, gluten is not a high-quality protein and is difficult for your body to digest.

1. In short, you won't miss a thing when you stop consuming gluten.

1. The more important question, however, is whether your new gluten-free diet is healthy.

1. Back then, when we saw fat as the bogeyman, we replaced healthy fats with sugars and so our diet became anything but healthier.

1. When you look at gluten-free products, you often see a range of ingredients that are difficult to pronounce.

1. Not only are they far from natural, some ingredients are also harmful to your health or can cause you to gain weight or develop new sensitivities.

1. Some of these ingredients include highly processed rice flour, xanthan gum, all kinds of chemical seasonings, soy, and all kinds of weird protein powders.

1. In short, gluten-free products have a negative effect on your health and make it a lot more difficult to lose weight because they are highly processed and lead to increased blood sugar and insulin production.

A healthier alternative

1. So it's easy to see that gluten-free - in its current form - isn't always that healthy.

1. Not because your body needs the gluten, but precisely because gluten is replaced by products that do not benefit your health and that are often highly processed.

1. The solution?

1. A completely natural and healthy way to limit or eliminate gluten consumption is by lowering your carbohydrate intake.

1. That way you can also lose weight on a gluten-free diet.

1. So eat more fish, meat, fermented dairy (yogurt, buttermilk), healthy fats, nuts and vegetables.

1. Eat fewer grains and instead of wheat, choose whole grain rice, oatmeal, quinoa, or legumes.

1. Instead of filling your plate with these grains, however, it is better to use them as a small attachment that you can enjoy in moderation.

1. This way you do not tax your blood sugar level and you give your body the chance to burn fat.

1. Plus, you can also enjoy all the other benefits of a gluten-free diet.

1. The above is not only the better choice for people who want to lose weight on a gluten-free diet, but for anyone who wants to improve their health without eating gluten.

Finally ...

1. As you can see, there are several reasons why you might want to eliminate gluten.

1. Gluten is one of the most common sensitivities and your body does not miss a thing when you stop eating gluten.

1. By wheat and co. however, replacing it with the usual gluten-free products will not improve your health.

1. Losing weight will be difficult and in most cases people gain weight when they switch to a gluten-free diet.

1. Instead, follow the nutritional advice in the above article and you will quickly notice all the positive effects on your health while being gluten free!