Gluten Free Diets - For Health, Not Weight Loss

Gluten free diets are, as you might guess, diets entirely free of cereals that contain gluten. Gluten free diets must be followed by individuals suffering from coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis. Usually, maintaining a gluten free diet means avoiding any and all foods containing wheat, rye, barley, and oats. Although there is some disagreement as to the necessity of eliminating oats. Some doctors say yes, but The Coeliac Society says no.

What Foods Are Safe?

People who must follow diets free of gluten will sometimes have specially manufactured products prescribed to them. Specially produced foods include bread and bread mixes, certain types of flour, pastas, and even chocolate cookies. Additionally, there are many everyday foods acceptable for those on these diets. Some grains and starches you can Glutenfree diets consume include corn, potatoes, and rice. Also, pure buckwheat is not a relative of wheat. As long as it's not mixed with wheat, buckwheat products are acceptable.

Why This Is a Poor Weight-Loss Plan

These diets are not nutritionally balanced diets. If you must go on a gluten free diet, be aware of the possible dietary deficiencies and the ways to correct them. For instance, you probably will not be taking in an adequate amount of protein. Meat is the obvious, but not sole, solution. Because diets that omit gluten are commonly followed by vegetarians, you can find some vegetarian/vegan and Atkins-friendly protein sources:

Nuts
Seeds
Soy products
Dairy products

Also, a gluten free diet can lead to iron deficiencies, which may lead to anemia. You can find over-the-counter iron supplements at any supermarket or health food store. There are also foods you can add to your diet that will help increase your iron intake: lentils, nuts, and green vegetables are a few.

Those with gluten sensitivities should also avoid certain foods. Replace tea with fruit juice, whose vitamin C content helps your body absorb iron. Virtually all beer is off limits. If you really love the occasional brew, you can go in search of barley-free beer, which is a specialty product and often hard to find. For help, check out http://www.glutenfreebeerfestival.com. This site labels different types and brands of beer as "gluten-free" or "low in glutens."

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