Many people believe that by switching to a gluten free diet it can help them lose weight. First, lets establish what a gluten free diet entails. People who are on a gluten free diet cannot have products that contain gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat and related grains, such as barley, rye, and oats. Some individuals cannot have gluten due to a disease called celiac disease. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease where the body reacts negatively to gluten, such as damaging the intestines. Others switch to gluten free diets in hopes to lose weight. In fact, people don’t lose weight from the gluten free products, it’s mostly from the changes they think they need to make.
Here are four reasons people lose weight when they go gluten free:
- A gluten free diet is restrictive
- Many high calories ‘junk’ foods can no longer be consumed such as cakes, cookies, and fast food
- Many high calorie carbohydrates can no longer be eaten such as bread, cereal, or pasta
- More fruits and vegetables are eaten
In conclusion, to lose weight, an individual does not have to switch to a gluten free diet because that does not always mean weight loss. The best ways to lose weight is to cut out high calorie, energy dense foods; eat more fruits and vegetables; and exercise.
References
http://www.todaysdietitian.com/enewsletter/enews_1013_01.shtml
http://www.fooducate.com/app#!page=post&id=57A35568-F83A-7CB9-4A1B-AE31B0D772B7
https://celiac.org/live-gluten-free/glutenfreediet/what-is-gluten/