The internet is
littered with information on a special diet can ease digestive problems in
those who are sensitive to gluten, a protein found in certain grains.
Additionally, many sites mention that avoiding gluten might reduce headaches,
fatigue, hyperactivity and autism symptoms.
However, are
these sites reliable providers of information? Is gluten-free the cure-all?
Nada Jawahery,
Registered Dietician at Royal Bahrain Hospital tackles the topic. “Although, it
may be true that gluten reactions are responsible for numerous health problems,
there are a lot of alternative practitioners out there that blame gluten for
everything, even though there's not a lot of research behind it.”
“Gluten causes
big problems in individuals with a rare condition called Celiac disease. This
condition is a result of an autoimmune response that results in damage to the
lining of the small intestine after gluten is eaten. The damage results in
malabsorption of important nutrients in food and, if untreated, the individual
eventually becomes malnourished. Symptoms of celiac disease include extreme
fatigue, anemia, weight loss and severe diarrhea. It's imperative that anyone
with celiac disease follows a gluten-free diet, even the occasional slip can be
damaging!”
Nonetheless, Nada
clarifies that for people who don’t have celiac disease, the chance of gluten
sensitivity is probably low, existing in probably no more than 1 % of the
Bahraini population.
“The good news is
that a gluten-free diet is generally considered safe. A dietitian can help to
ensure you're getting all the necessary vitamins and nutrients if you decide to
undertake a gluten-free diet. Although it may seem like an easy diet to follow,
in truth small amounts of gluten-containing grains find their way into a large
number of foods. Gluten can be found in prepared foods, from thickening agents
to fillers in foods ranging from ketchup to ice cream! So it is important to be
able to identify the gluten containing agents and to check the list of
ingredients on products. A gluten-free diet can also be high in calories and
contribute to weight gain if you're not careful. Many processed gluten-free
foods are made with more sugar, fat, carbs, and contain more calories than
their gluten-containing counterparts.”
However, there is
no added benefit to eliminating gluten to improve your health unless you are
truly intolerant to gluten. If people want to follow a gluten-free diet and
they don't mind it, it is completely safe while they're willing to bear the
inconvenience and cost.
Nada Jawahery is
the Registered Dietician at Royal Bahrain Hospital and is a member of, and
licensed by, the American Dietetics Association. For more information call
17246832 or email: nada.Jawahery@royalbhrn.com
