People always want something they can ban. Is gluten-free the newest Atkins diet? It just may be, according to Sharon Palmer of the Daily Herald. In Monday’s article, she takes a look at what a hot trend it’s become to avoid gluten.
While there are some people, such as those with celiac disease, who genuinely cannot tolerate gluten, many people believe that gluten intolerance is more common than many of us think. While I know quite a few people who have celiac, I have also come across a lot of people who feel they can’t handle gluten.
Elisabeth Hasselbeck, co-host of The View and author of The G-Free Diet, believes that a gluten-free diet can increase energy, lower cholesterol, help you lose weight, control IBS, combat ADD and ADHD, and restore health. Hm. I can’t say I’m inclined to hop right on board with this one. I honestly don’t believe that Mrs. Hasselbeck has “discovered the secret to a healthy life.” Show me her credentials, please. At least after she “diagnosed herself” with celiac, she saw a real doctor to confirm.
I don’t like how the website for the book features tons of photos of bread and other gluten-packed treats. You may as well shout at the reader: LOOK AT ALL THIS STUFF YOU CAN’T EAT! That’s no way to begin a lifestyle change. That seems to be the nature of dietary trends, though. Maybe “fad diet” is a better word. All this denial, attempts to prove one’s willpower against a nutritive enemy…Gag me. To be fair, I haven’t read the book, so I’m not sure what Mrs. Hasselbeck’s tone or attitude is, so I’m only criticizing what I see online.
I believe that if someone has symptoms associated with celiac disease, they should definitely see a doctor and RD about it before turning to a former Survivor contestant’s book to help them. While I imagine it’s an accessible book for recently-diagnosed individuals, celiac is an autoimmune disorder that causes severe gluten intolerance—the gluten-free diet is a lifelong commitment and shouldn’t be treated like another Quick Fix of the Year.
Here here! My uncle has celiac disease which caused him to lose an unhealthy amount of weight and now he has a gluten free diet and is much happier and healthier but its seems silly to deny oneself of gluten if not absolutely necessary- diets like that can set people up to binge later on. On the plus side of the gluten free craze- it does increase the demand for gluten free products which creates more diverse food availability for those who actually need it.
That’s a really good point. On the one hand, I’m glad to see it going a little more mainstream because that means (hopefully) that my friends with celiac can more easily get the gluten-free goods they need, but on the other, I worry about companies taking advantage by charging a premium, you know? A few months ago I read an article about being able to get a tax refund for gluten-free products if you have celiac, but I haven’t heard anything recently about that. I’d be interested to know, though.