3 Reasons Why The Gluten-Free Diet Is More Than Just A Fad
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While there has been a substantial amount of push-back as far as the gluten-free craze is concerned, there are a number of health experts weighing in on the matter, suggesting that this diet is much more than just a fad. When opponents of the gluten-free diet make their assertion that the diet is simply a fad, it is based on the postulation that the diet does not have any significant health benefits, because gluten sensitivity is a pseudo-condition. According to Chris Kresser, the assertion that gluten-sensitivity is not real is unfounded, and he furthers iterates that gluten sensitivity may be more prevalent than initially believed.
There are a number of different well-founded reasons why the gluten-free diet is more than a fad. Following, are three of the top reasons that support the need for a gluten free diet.
1. Research Shows Gluten Intolerance is Real
It is important to understand that there is more than one type of gluten intolerance. The first type of gluten intolerance is associated with celiac disease. Individuals with celiac disease are hypersensitive to gluten, experiencing a number of adverse reactions. Most experts will agree that people who are suffering from celiac disease should avoid gluten.
Where a great deal of the controversy comes in is the suggestion that even people who don’t have celiac disease have a sensitivity to gluten that produces negative physiological reactions. This particular condition is known as non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and there is a substantial amount of pragmatic and empirical evidence that supports the theory that NCGS is a legitimate concern.
According to related studies, NCGS can be linked to a number of adverse health conditions, including schizophrenia, type 1 diabetes, autism spectrum disorders and more.
2. Insulin Resistance and Inflammation
There are a number of different studies that have been completed that reveal that NCGS can be directly linked to insulin resistance and inflammation, both of which are highly toxic and destructive to the human body. What should be noted is that these studies are not simply comprised of observational studies, but some are actually randomized clinical studies, which is considered to be the gold standard of pragmatic evidence.
In fact, there was an RCT published recently that explicitly validated NCGS as a legitimate health condition.
3. The Ability to Effectively Diagnose NCGS in Improving
One of the challenges that health professionals have been battling is the fact that celiac disease is significantly easier to diagnose than NCGS, meaning that a large part of the population has either, been misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all. The lack of a high number of diagnosed cases of NCGS has led many to believe that the gluten-free craze will eventually die out as more people become convinced that there is no benefit. However, as the ability to diagnose NCGS improves, and the benefits of the diet become more prevalent, living a gluten-free lifestyle will become as common as avoiding trans-fat.
While there is currently a significant push back against the gluten-free movement, science will eventually win out, and more people will look to adopt a gluten-free lifestyle. Thankfully, many food stores sell gluten-free food options for a variety of popular items. Shop today or get tested for gluten sensitivity today!
