Fads come and go (I mean, platform shoes are back, guys). But gluten-free seems here to stay.
Question is, is going gluten-free actually beneficial? Or can it cause more harm than good? Enter dietitian, nutritionist and IQS expert Natalie Bourke.
Is it beneficial to remove gluten from your diet?
“The thing with gluten intolerance is that the symptoms are very nonspecific, which means that the symptoms you are experiencing could be attributed to several triggers,” she says. “The only way to find out if gluten is one of those triggers is to remove it – then reintroduce it.”
What if you don’t have any symptoms of a gluten intolerance?
“If you have ZERO health complaints in any area and you are feeling at the top of your game, then there may be little benefit to removing gluten. It’s about listening to your body and doing right by it”
Can taking gluten out of your diet be bad for you?
“There is no physiological or recommended daily intake for gluten. Nor can you become deficient in it. So I don’t believe removing gluten from your diet (if done correctly) is going to cause you any harm.”
What should we focus on when going gluten-free?
“It is important to remember that when you remove gluten, you focus on incorporating nutrient-dense and naturally gluten-free foods such as vegetables, low-fructose fruit, properly prepared gluten free grains and legumes,” she says.
Gluten-free breads and other products with mile-long ingredients lists don’t count! But Not So Nicoise Cauliflower Pizza? Now you’re talking!
Is gluten-free a passing fad?
“I think it’s here to stay,” says Nat. “There are far too many people finding it beneficial for managing their digestion symptoms. Plus, there’s an increasing amount of research linking non-coeliac gluten sensitivity to several conditions.”
The verdict.
If gluten doesn’t mess your tummy up, we don’t recommend cutting it from your diet just because it’s the cool thing to do (insert jumping off a bridge metaphor here).
But if you’ve been feeling like crap, it can be good to give your body a break from gluten for a little while and just see what happens.
Curious to get started? All the recipes on our 7-Day Reboot are gluten-free. AND pack in 7–9 serves of veg a day!
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