Should You Go Gluten Free?

By Kristin Ohlson, July/August 2009

Whole grains are good for you. So why are so many Americans giving up wheat, rye and barley? Should you?

READER'S COMMENT:

"I have never been diagosed with celiac disease, but have been eating gluten free now for 2 weeks. My RA has 85% less pain and I have lost 8 lbs so far. My concern is can or will I develope celiac disease by eliminating all gluten. I...

Gluten Free Recipes
Healthy Gluten Free Breakfast Recipes
Healthy Gluten Free Lunch Recipes
Gluten Free Snacks
Healthy Gluten Free Dinner Recipes
Quick and Healthy Gluten Free Dinner Recipes
Gluten Free Desserts

Gluten-Free Truths and Myths

When people with celiac disease eliminate gluten entirely, they alleviate immediate symptoms (e.g., GI distress) and prevent damage to their small intestine—that’s absolutely clear. As to the other claims made for gluten-free diets, there is far less scientific consensus.

Does a Gluten-Free Diet Help People with Austism Spectrum Disorder?

The publication of Karyn Seroussi’s Unraveling the Mystery of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder: A Mother’s Story of Research and Recovery in 2000, and actress Jenny McCarthy’s books and activism, prompted many parents of autistic children to try a diet free of gluten and casein, a protein in milk. As some parents reported success with the diet, scientists devised studies to try to pin down the diet’s impact on behavior. So far, however, these studies haven’t convinced scientists of the diet’s effectiveness.

Next: More on Celiac and Autism »