Many people are appalled by the growing rate of gluten-free shelves in the supermarket, and they often have questions like why they are needed and if having a gluten-free diet is the key to weight loss or a healthier body.
To answer the question, yes, having a gluten-free diet helps one lose weight and maintain health. However, Gluten-free shelves are primarily there to cater to people who suffer from gluten intolerance or celiac disease.
Defining Gluten intolerance
Gluten is a critical component in many foods like wheat, rye, and barley. However, some people cannot digest and may face disturbing reactions.
For some people, it’s difficult for them to break down gluten. Thus, it fragments in the body, triggering symptoms that may cause severe discomfort.
Other than gluten intolerance, it goes by many names, like gluten sensitivity or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
Symptoms caused by gluten intolerance
- Having trouble concentrating.
- Fatigue
- Stomach cramps.
- Bloating
- Diarrhoea
- Anxiety and depression.
- Headaches
- Joint pain
These symptoms might occur in people suffering from gluten intolerance. Fortunately, none of these will cause any long-lasting damage to your digestive system. People suffering from a wheat allergy or celiac disease may not test positive for this.
People who are gluten intolerant may follow a prompt gluten-free diet. Depending on the severity, there might be some people who can have gluten in mild moderation.
Celiac disease – an overview
It might be the same as gluten intolerance on paper, but internally or pathologically, it may be different. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system fights itself, like fighting off foreign viruses or bacteria.
Due to attacking itself, the immune system causes inflammation in the small intestine. Inflammation happens when the immune system traces any amount of gluten in the digestive system.
P.S Celiac disease is not the same as wheat allergy, in which the body overreacts to gluten, causing some life-threatening symptoms.
Symptoms caused by Celiac Disease
When gluten is consumed by those who have celiac disease, these symptoms may occur:
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhoea
- Foul smelling stool
- Fatigue
- Dental issues
- Delayed growth
- Damage to the small intestine.
The small intestine has a lining that has projections called villi. If a person with celiac disease keeps consuming gluten, the villi found in the lining will get damaged; thus, the small intestine will not absorb nutrients properly.
Due to a lack of proper nutrition, people may have osteoporosis, anaemia, pancreatic insufficiency, or infertility.
The best treatment for celiac disease is a strict gluten-free diet, which means you must stop consuming foods containing gluten and avoid foods cooked on surfaces or the same utensils as gluten.
Conclusion
If you see the symptoms mentioned above regularly, consult with a doctor. They might suggest the best diet plan for you. For example, if you’re diagnosed with gluten intolerance, you may have to follow and lifelong diet excluding gluten. For this, a simple gluten intolerance test can be ordered. On the other hand, if you’re diagnosed with celiac disease, you might have to follow a long-lasting diet excluding gluten and keep on following up with your physician.