Gluten Free Research Paper

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People are always looking for ways to easily shed unwanted pounds. People try various fad diets that claim to give miraculous results in short periods of time. In recent years the gluten-free diet has become immensely popular and even recommended by celebrities such as Miley Cyrus. People are treating gluten as a scapegoat for all their problems, but will cutting it from your diet lead to weight loss or a healthier life? The gluten-free diet has been around for many years. It was originally intended for people suffering from celiac disease. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the ingestion of gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, leads to damage of the small intestine. This disease often is genetic and is estimated to affect 1 in every 100 people. Many people are undiagnosed and therefore are at risk for many health complications. These health complications include type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, anemia, osteoporosis, infertility, and even intestinal cancers. There …show more content…

Grocery stores are now stocking large amounts of gluten-free products to respond to the surge in popularity. Many people believe that living gluten-free is healthier and will help them lose weight. Recent studies have shown that a gluten-free diet may lack vital vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Some of the nutrients that these foods lack are B vitamins, iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc. When you switch to the gluten-free diet you are adopting a whole new lifestyle. The diet requires you to abandon all food that contains gluten, so that includes most products made with grain and a majority of processed foods. Such a drastic change may put you at risk for nutritional deficiencies. Another drawback to is that gluten-free foods are typically more expensive. A 2007 study conducted by Dr. Green showed that gluten-free breads and pastas were often twice the cost of products containing

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