There is a rise in the number of gluten-free products on the shelves and with that comes the question of whether or not “gluten-free” means “healthy”? Well, that all depends.

There are some people who need to avoid gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, etc. for medical reasons. One reason is if someone has Celiac Disease which is an intolerance of the small intestine to gluten. Celiac disease (CD) is also referred to as gluten sensitive enteropathy (GSE), gluten intolerance, or celiac sprue. It is a chronic, inherited disease, and if untreated can ultimately lead to malnutrition.

Another reason would be a gluten intolerance, or allergy. Many people with chronic fatigue, chronic pain, insomnia, digestive complaints, and stomach pains are found to be allergic to gluten (sensitive to it) when they undergo food blood allergy testing. Both of these scenarios require strict avoidance of all food that contains gluten and are only discovered by specific tests.

And while the good news for these people is that there are a lot of gluten-free alternatives out there, the bad news is that not all products can be counted as “healthy”. Some gluten-free bread, pasta, and cracker products are made from white rice, potato starch and tapioca flour – these are all simple carbohydrates. These simple carbohydrate products are often missing essential nutrients such as fiber, folic acid, iron, thiamin, niacin, or other B vitamins.

So just as with any carbohydrate, the gluten-free items need to be whole grain. By choosing products made from gluten-free whole grains such as millet, quinoa, and brown rice, you will be sure to get the fiber and nutrients that are essential for a “healthy” diet. Just because the label reads “gluten-free” does not mean you should rush to put it in your shopping cart.

Of course, you should be eating according to your Diet Type. Lions and Otters should be having very minimal amounts of complex carbohydrates in their diet while Bears, Monkeys, and Giraffes all have varying increases in complex carbs in their diet.

So if you are wondering if eating gluten-free is a smart move, the answer is, it all depends. Check the label of each product to be sure the main ingredient is a whole grain listed above and that a long list of chemicals does not follow. Any organic gluten-free whole grain item is great, depending on your diet type. Of course you should first get tested for food allergies to see if it is necessary. And second, you should only seek out gluten-free whole grain items that will still provide you the nutrition you need for healthy living.

Contact us today to get started on the right diet – Diet Typing and Food Allergy testing have changed the lives of many of our patients. Give us a call or make an appointment online and let us help you make the changes of a lifetime!