5 reasons to eliminate gluten from your diet

Read to know why you should avoid gluten rich foods

Before exploring the adverse effects of gluten, let's get familiar with this term. Gluten is a protein found in several types of cereals like wheat, barley, rye, etc. The glue like property of gluten (hence the name) helps in binding grains with water and can also make the foods made with them soft and fluffy. Gluten is used commercially by several food manufacturers as well. They mix gluten-containing foods along with fats and sugar to make the dish more palatable. Experts have carried out several researches to show the effect of gluten in our body however, and found that this protein does not contain any essential nutrients. Instead, regular consumption of gluten may have a deleterious effect on our health. These are some of the diseases from which you are likely to suffer because of a regular intake of gluten:

1. Celiac disease

Celiac disease arises due to the over-responsiveness of intestinal cells to gluten. The intestinal cells attack the gluten-rich foods and cause inflammation in the intestinal lining. Inflammation leads to indigestion and malabsorption of nutrients. Celiac disease can be treated with proper dietary modifications, but if neglected and left untreated, it may give rise to other health problems like osteoporosis, infertility, seizures or even cancer.

2. Irritable bowel syndrome

A recent survey showed that regular intake of gluten rich foods can give rise to symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Gluten disrupts the intestinal lining and causes leakage of internal contents from the intestine into the abdominal cavity. Irritable bowel syndrome is often associated with symptoms like bloating, sudden urge to expel stools and fatigue.

3. Brain disorders

Experts have found that gluten is responsible for several brain disorders. Moreover, some brain ailments may also get aggravated due to frequent gluten consumption. Cerebellar ataxia is one such brain disorder that may arise due to excessive gluten intake. This protein may also provoke other neurological diseases like schizophrenia, epilepsy and autism.

4. Highly addictive

Addiction for gluten has not yet proved scientifically, but some experts believe that foods containing gluten may build up unnecessary craving and makes people feel more urge for such foods. Overeating not only makes people fattier but may also lead to other health problems including obesity, diabetes and heart attack.

5. May lead to autoimmune diseases

Apart from celiac disease, gluten may also give rise to other autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto's thyroiditis (underactive thyroid), type-1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and lupus.

Though most cereals contain gluten, there are varieties of natural gluten-free foods available. These include nuts, beans, eggs, fresh fish and meat, dairy products, vegetables and fruits. Moreover, in recent times a wide range of cereals have also been introduced in local markets that are processed so that they are 'gluten-free'. Such foods can also be consumed without any cause for concern about gluten intake.

Image source: Getty images

You may also like to read:

• Hemp flour the new gluten-free high-protein food in town?
• Did you know these 10 health benefits of ragi or nachni?

For more articles on healthy recipes, visit our healthy recipes section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And for health-related queries, visit our Questions and Answers section.

References

1. Isabel Comino, Mar a de Lourdes Moreno, Ana Real, Alfonso Rodr guez-Herrera 2, Francisco Barro 3 and Carolina Sousa. The Gluten-Free Diet: Testing Alternative Cereals Tolerated by Celiac Patients. Nutrients. 2013, 5, 4250-4268.

2. De Palma, I Nadal, M C Collado and Sanz Y. Effects of a gluten-free diet on gut microbiota and immune function in healthy adult human subjects. Br. J. Nutr. 2009, 102, 1154 1160.