Gluten Free Diet & Weight Loss

Approximately 3 million Americans suffer from celiac disease--an autoimmune ailment in which a person's body reacts to a mixture of proteins found in wheat, rye and barley. The only cure for this condition is a diet that eliminates all traces of gluten. Today, many people who who have not been diagnosed with celiac disease and experience no symptoms have given up gluten in an attempt to lose weight.

Features

A gluten free diet eliminates any food containing wheat, barley or rye. Bread, pizza, pasta, most cereals, cookies and cakes made with traditional white or whole wheat flour are off limits. Gluten creeps into less obvious products as well--many soups, pasta sauces, salad dressings, packaged meals and frozen dinners contain gluten in the form of soy sauce, barley malt or modified food starch. A strict gluten free diet requires you to scour food labels to avoid offending ingredients.

Significance

The demand for gluten free products far surpasses the 1 percent of the people diagnosed with celiac disease. In the past, people who went gluten free had to forgo pizza, beer, cookies and other baked goods. Gluten free products were not readily available, and when they were, they lacked taste. "U.S. News and World Report" reported in the fall of 2008 that the availability of new gluten free products increased almost eight-fold from 2003 to 2008. That number is expected to steadily climb by as much as 20 percent over the coming years. Going gluten free is easier than ever because of improvements in labeling and greater awareness. Stores such as Whole Foods even have specific shopping guides for gluten free shoppers.

Benefits

Although significant, unexplained weight loss is often a symptom of celiac disease--some who are intolerant of gluten actually suffer from bloating, stomach distension and weight gain. These individuals usually do see a decrease in these symptoms when eating a gluten-free diet and may automatically lose weight. A gluten-free diet that eliminates refined flour and simple sugars--such as those found in packaged cookies and snacks--will improve health and help with weight loss. Many people report feeling better and more energized after giving up gluten.

Misconceptions

Some people who go gluten-free seek out specialized baked goods, crackers and other products to replace the ones containing gluten. Although fine in moderation, these foods contain significant calories. In fact, some gluten free products are even more calorie-dense than their counterparts with gluten because of added sugars and the presence of white rice flour and potato starch. "Gluten-free" on the label does not mean a product is low calorie or healthful.

Strategy

If your doctor has prescribe a gluten free lifestyle,it is essential that you follow it. If you follow a gluten-free diet in an effort to lose weight, you must still follow sound nutritional practices. Replacing unhealthy refined grains, fatty meats and sugary treats with gluten free whole grains such as brown rice and quinoa, and adding sweet potatoes and fresh produce that is accented with healthy fats and lean protein to your diet could yield weight loss. Gluten free or not, you must still pay attention to portion sizes, include exercise and avoid processed products to maximize your results.