Gluten Free Diet And Its Consequences - Term Paper Example

Gluten Free Diet And Its ConsequencesIn the article “Avoiding gluten is getting easier but it doesn’t mean it’s worth doing it” by Carolyn Butler, the author arguments the present situation of increased gluten free product’s use. This Gluten free diet is good for the patient’s of celiac disease, who are allergic to gluten because of intense auto-immune reaction produced by their bodies that damages the lining of small intestine is and hence prevents proper absorption of food.(Pubmed,2010) Gluten is found as a complex protein in Rye, Barley, wheat and oat and can cause various allergic reactions to the hypersensitive people (Wolf,2004) or can cause increase risk of diarrhea, cramps and exhaustion to celiac disease patients.

However, Gluten is a natural protein having its own benefits of weight reduction and also acts as an energy booster. Gluten free products are now separately lined in grocery store shelves and gluten free cosmetics are being introduced as well. Along with internet and media suggesting the increase use of gluten is causing Celiac disease or Dermatitis Herpetiformis which is a kind of itchy, chronic skin rash. The number of people effecting from these two conditions are gradually rising in America who cannot even tolerate a picogram of gluten.

This includes both the patients of Celiac disease or those who suffer from minor to severe wheat allergies and even those who don’t fall into both of these categories but are still sensitive to gluten. So gluten free diet is not only favored by the patients but a wide range of population is adopting the diet who are with negative diagnosis but occasionally show the symptoms of bloating, gas problems, headache, fatigue, depression and joint pain and ultimately feel better after cutting gluten from diet.

However, for most of the people it has become a kind of a health fashion and for manufacturers and retailers it is a golden chance to make money (Sampson,2010) because one percent of effected population cannot accelerate the expansion of gluten free market to an extent of $2.6 billion. Other associated benefits with gluten free diet (such as weight reduction strategy) are futile unless a proper strategy of cutting wheat and related products is applied, because most of the patients gain weight after adopting gluten free diet because the majority of these products consist of high sugar, empty starches and low fiber and high fat which makes it relatively less healthier than normal diet.

If a person suffers from celiac symptoms blood test and biopsies are done for diagnosis with a complete patient work up for those who have associated conditions as thyroid disease or diabetes. Gluten intolerance can only be determined by cutting out the protein completely for two months or so from the diet and then noticing the difference. Products like fruits, nuts vegetables and dairy products can fulfill the gap of required nutrition in the beginning and afterwards different cooking recipes including fish or chicken can be considered by the patient.

Other than this, a patient has to become a keen reader of the labels of the items such as shampoos, soups and other packaged food items as it is used as filler, flavoring agent or as a thickening agent in various products.While Gluten free diet is good for celiac patients it is in no way good for every one because gluten free diet lacks nutrition and it is not fortified which is essential to stay healthy.REFRENCESPubmed-Health;celiac disease-sprue;2010from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001280/Wolf, R. L. (2004).

 Essential pediatric allergy, asthma and immunology. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical Pub. Division.Sampson JP.,The Value of Gluten-Free Attributes in Snack Foods,2010< Retrieved November 13, 2011>from http://repository.asu.edu/attachments/56045/content/Sampson_asu_0010N_10062.pdf