IS GLUTEN-FREE FOR EVERYONE?
A gluten-free diet is tailored
for those with Celiac Disease or are sensitive to wheat
- A gluten-free diet excludes the protein gluten
- Gluten is found in grains such as wheat, barley, rye,& a cross between wheat & rye called triticale
- The market for gluten-free products is exploding because many people perceive that a
gluten-free diet is healthier - An estimated 1.6 million Americans eating gluten-free have adopted the diet without having a celiac disease diagnosis or a wheat sensitivy according to a study from the Mayo Clinic
- Gluten-Free foods aren't healthier than whole grain foods
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NUTRITION
Vitamins & Minerals
- Most people think that gluten-free foods have more vitamins & minerals than other foods
- If you go completely gluten-free when it’s not necessary, you can develop a vitamin &/or
mineral deficiency quickly - Wheat products have folic acid, iron & other nutrients but many gluten-free foods don't
have these nutrients
Calories & Sugar
- Gluten-Free products generally have more calories which means more weight gain than
whole grains - Gluten -Free products may have more sugar, fat & sodium to make up for the lack of taste
Fiber
- Most Americans don’t get enough fiber to begin with & when they make the switch to a
gluten-free diet, it only gets worse - If you used to get your fiber from foods like granola or Fiber One cereal, you'll see a sudden
dive in your fiber intake when with your gluten-free diet that contains high-starch flours
like white rice, potato, tapioca, all of which are low in fiber
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HEALTH
- Gluten has beneficial effects on triglycerides that may help blood pressure & stroke
- Wheat has fructan starches that support healthy bacteria in your digestive system
while gluten-free products lower levels of healthy bacteria - Gluten may reduce inflammation
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ARSENIC EXPOSURE
- Half the gluten-free products contain rice flour or rice in another form
- There is always some arsenic in every rice product
- Some of the arsenic in inorganic Arsenic is a carcinogen
- The Environmental Protection agency 2009 study found that 17% of an average person’s dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic comes from rice & probably more than 17% for those
on a gluten-free diet
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BAKING
- Gluten-Free breads can be drier because the dough won’t rise & hold its shape like
Whole-Grain flour - Gluten helps wheat, rye & barley rise
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COST
Gluten-Free products are more expensive than whole grain products
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Whole grains protect against diabetes
- According to 2 studies, people who consume whole grains are 30% less likely to develop diabetes
- Whole grains take longer to digest so you don’t get repeated insulin spike which would lead
to Type 11 diabetes
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WHOLE GRAINS ARE GOOD FOR YOU
Whole grains mean less heart disease
- According to a large study, women who consume more whole grains were 30% less likely
to develop heart disease than those who consumed intact grains (whole) - Should probably be the same for men
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Whole grains mean better Gastrointestinal (GI) health
- The fiber in whole grains helps keep our stools soft & bulky
- This prevents constipation with is the # 1 GI complaint in the US
- Whole grains also help to prevent diverticulitis & diverticulosis
- $ 725 million is spent annually on over the counter laxatives – whole grain cereal would
be less expensive
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Whole grains may prevent cancer
40 control studies indicated that whole-grain consumption
reduced the chances of developing
mouth, stomach, colon, gall bladder & ovarian cancer
Gluten helps wheat, rye & barley rise
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