Making the Decision to Be Gluten Free

Going Gluten Free is a Lifestyle Change

Gluten free living is not just a diet, it is a lifestyle change which requires both dedication and commitment. People with celiac disease and those with gluten intolerances have to go on this type of diet. But some are choosing to take on this lifestyle change simply because they want a healthier lifestyle. Cutting wheat and other gluten-containing grains out of your diet certainly isn't a bad thing and it can have significant health benefits if you eat a wholesome, diverse diet. It can even be the key to maintaining your weight. Another reason why people may choose a this diet is that they realize that several health problems may be alleviated by going on this type of diet. Some of these are: Headaches, including migraines, fatigue, gastrointestinal distress, depression and anxiety, joint pain, infertility, autistic behaviors, and ADD/ADHD behaviors.

Is This Just a Fad?

New diets pop up all the time and celebrities swear by them and they tend to last about as long as celebrity marriages do. But this is a lifestyle that is perfectly in sync with the way our bodies were designed to eat and that is why it is so effective in improving our health. Our bodies were not designed to eat all the junk that we consume including bagels, cereal, and pasta. The rush of new gluten free products into the marketplace is staggering. According to market research publisher, Packaged Facts, 1,182 new products and beverages were introduced in 2008, with an average 33% annual increase since 2004. There is also a wealth of information gleaned from both books and websites which claim that this type of diet can help with weight loss, autism, and many other conditions.

Does a Gluten Free Diet Help People with Autism Spectrum Disorder?

The publication of a book in 2000 by Karyn Seroussi, "Unraveling the Mystery of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder: A Mother's Story of Research and Recovery, and the work of Jenny McCarthy through activism and books, prompted many parents of autistic children to try a diet free of gluten and casein, which is a protein in milk. Parents reported some success with this intervention so scientists performed studies to try to pinpoint the effect that the diet had on behavior. As of today, scientists have not been convinced that this diet works in helping people with autism.

Can a Gluten Free Diet Lead to Weight Loss?

There is no evidence that this particular diet can lead to weight loss. Actually, moving from regularly processed food to gluten free ones may result in weight gain. These products are higher in fact than gluten based ones. So, unless a person has celiac disease or gluten intolerance in which they must go on a gluten free diet, the choice to go gluten free is a lifestyle choice with many considerations to think about.