5 Reasons You Should Avoid a Gluten-Free Diet

5 Reasons You Should Avoid a Gluten-Free Diet

Eating Plans Gone Wrong – Is This Trend As Healthy As They Say?

(AscendHealthy.com) – Gluten-free diets have their place. For the millions of people across the world who suffer from celiac disease and gluten intolerances, cutting gluten can be life-changing. It’s not the right dietary choice for everyone, however. Here are the risks and drawbacks.

It’s Unnecessary For Most People

The gluten-free craze has left a lot of people thinking they need to jump on the bandwagon — about 25% of the US population, to be precise. This is despite the fact that only about 1% of the population suffers from celiac disease.

Why do most people choose to cut gluten from their diets? About 35% can’t offer a good reason. The fact is that unless you have celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity, you’re fine to consume all the gluten you want.

Gluten-Free Diets Can Be Expensive

You’ll likely pay a lot more for gluten-free foods. In fact, cost can actually be a problematic factor in dietary adherence for people who need to eat these foods. If you’re eating on a budget and don’t need to cut gluten, you could be paying way more than you need to for your food.

It Can Make You Nutritionally Deficient

People who eat gluten-free diets are at a higher risk of developing nutritional deficiencies. These diets are often woefully lacking in fiber, minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc, as well as vitamins D, B12 and folate. This is because many gluten-free products aren’t fortified in the same way as traditional grain products like breads and cereals are. People who must avoid gluten should do so under the supervision of a doctor and alongside diligent supplement use.

Gluten-Free Diets Can Have Hidden Fats and Sugars

Many gluten-free foods are highly processed, which means they can contain unhealthy ingredients, such as fats and sugars, to make them taste better. Many people who rely on these products wind up taking in more total calories each day. This can put them at higher risk of suffering obesity, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.

You Might Consume More Toxins

Gluten-free diets often rely on alternative grains as their bases. Rice is a common choice. This may seem like a healthy option, but rice can contain small amounts of arsenic and methylmercury. This isn’t such a big deal if you’re not eating a lot of rice, but when you’re consuming it for most meals, you could potentially poison yourself.

Think you need to go gluten-free? Consider your options carefully, and talk to your doctor before you give it a go. You might put yourself at risk for no reason, so make sure it’s the right choice for your health.

~Here’s to Your Healthy Ascension

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