Is Gluten Free Diet Ideal..?

Gluten is a protein found in all barley, rye, and wheat products. To be more specific, gluten is a composite of storage proteins (prolamins and glutelins) stored with starch in various cereal grains.  For the past several years the gluten free diet (GFD) has been a huge movement in America.  While the popularity is growing, it may not be beneficial for everyone outside of those who have allergies and celiac disease.  

Celiac disease is a condition where having any bit of the gluten will damage the lining of the small intestines.  However, those who do not have this condition and decides on a gluten free diet will end up getting hurt from it.  As the GFD will drop a healthy individual’s protective gut bacteria and immunity-boosting chemicals.

Gluten has their health benefits in our human body.  It reduces risk of exposure to toxic heavy metals.  Those who are on a GFD usually heavily integrate fish and rice in their diet, and these two items of food while healthy and beneficial it also has a high concentrate of toxic heavy metals like arsenic, mercury, cadmium, and lead.   A research done with over 11,000 subjects found that those who have celiac disease (who must avoid gluten) had a higher level of cadmium, lead, and mercury in their blood.  For this study, all subjects were given a GFD all were found with a high burden of toxic heavy metals.

Another benefit to a gluten diet is it lowers risk of type 2 diabetes.  In March of 2017, scientists presented data from a study done over 30 years on 199,000+ subjects at the American Heart Association showing a lowered risk to type 2 diabetes by 13%.  Study was done by following these subjects on the subjects diet for over 30 years.  Subjects who included high gluten food products of bread, muffins, pizza and pretzels had the best results in this study.  A healthy diet should be moderation to everything, including wheat and carbs. 

At the same token, consuming gluten also decreases the likelihood of heart disease.  A study analyzed at the Harvard School of Public Health with over 100,000 subjects for 25 years revealed significant lower rate of heart disease in those who had the highest intake of gluten.  Conclusively, Gluten Free Diet (GFD) should not be promoted to patients with asymptomatic of celiac disease but with coronary heart disease potential. 

More importantly, gluten can also reduce the risk of colorectal cancer as well.  In October 2015, it was established at World Health Organization that red meat is a Class 1 carcinogen and direct cause to cancer.  An analysis confirmed these findings while also reported that whole grains reduce colorectal cancer risk by 17% for each 90g increase per day.  Throughout time, it has always been confirmed that high fiber diets prevent diseases, and 100% whole grains are a great source of fiber.

Anothing study done in Europe showing the analysis of nutritional composition shows those who are on GFD consumed significantly more calories than those who were on a diet with gluten.  GFD diet showed more calories in protein, saturated fatty acids and often sugar.  Consequently, being on a diet with gluten is also an avoidance of excess calories.  

Recommendations:
~ Have a diet comprised of mostly minimally processed, generally plant-predominant foods in time-honored, balanced combinations — where the preferred beverage for satisfying thirst is almost always water in all situations.  
~ Having a routine physical activities in moderate intensity, frequency and duration 
~ Avoiding toxins: tobacco and alcohol 
~ Sleeping adequate, quantitatively and qualitatively 
~ Cultivating meaningful, supportive relationships with strong bonds.










Sources:
https://www.rd.com/health/diet-weight-loss/the-dangers-of-a-gluten-free-diet/ 
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/health-benefits-of-gluten-cancer-heart-disease-toxins 
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-18252/5-reasons-grains-arent-as-bad-as-everyone-says.html 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28223206 
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170309120626.htm 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28465308 
https://academic.oup.com/annonc/article/28/8/1788/3604821 
https://www.organicfacts.net/gluten-free-foods