Do I Really Need A Gluten Free Diet?

"No gluten for me!" You must have heard at least one person you know say that. But do you know what gluten is? When Virat Kohli's fitness plan was unveiled, going gluten free was a buzzword every fitness freak chimed. But with hordes of new diets and nutrients being given the crown of a miraculous solution for fitness and weight loss, it's time to break into the truth and uncover if a gluten-free diet is really the thing you should aim for.

What is it?

Gluten is basically the name given to a family of proteins that is commonly found in wheat, oats, barley and rye. When you make dough out of wheat, gluten is the glue like substance that holds the dough together. It's what is responsible for its elasticity and it's chewy texture. Gluten generally has two main proteins called gliadin and glutenin.

And while it may not seem so, avoiding gluten means a strict no to pasta, pizza, bread, soy and some other sauces and even certain toothpastes!

Is it bad for you and does it help in body fitness?

So some people just can't tolerate gluten in their bodies. Gluten allergies are called celiac disease and they can trigger seizures, infertility and nerve damage. Even small amounts of gluten like half a piece of bread could be life threatening for people who have gluten allergies as it damages the lining of the small intestine, leading to unabsorbed nutrients from regular food and mixing of toxic fluids with the essential ones.

But for most others, going gluten free won't really lead to any benefits. It hasn't been established in research if a gluten free diet leads to weight loss with some experts claiming that can actually cause weight gain. This is because foods that are typically devoid of gluten have higher fat added to them to make them taste better. Also, going gluten free can cause nutritional deficiencies in people since products that have gluten generally also have vitamin B and folic acid, which is important for your body's growth and for women to avoid birth defects in future pregnancies.
Gluten rich food is also a good source of dietary fibre that make your bowels work effectively. Not just this, avoiding gluten food can make you deficient in iron, calcium and zinc also.

While some other studies do show that eating too much gluten can cause tiredness and bloating, if your gluten intake is within limits, don't follow the fad of a gluten free diet.