Gluten: are they actually bad for you or not?
Gluten: they make you gain weight, they’re unhealthy, and they can make you ill. You’ve probably heard one of these claims before. But you don’t have to believe them. Gluten aren’t bad for you at all—and here’s why.
Gluten are a mixture of proteins that naturally occur in certain grains (so not all of them), such as wheat and barley. Gluten proteins ensure that, for example, bread becomes deliciously light and airy because gluten hold on to the gas bubbles released in the dough. Gluten also give elasticity to products made from flour, such as pasta.
So, is eating less gluten healthy or not?
Eating gluten-free?
The answer is no. There is no scientific evidence that gluten are bad for the average healthy person. In fact, this study indicates that people who follow a gluten-free diet without health reasons (!), have a greater risk of coronary heart disease, in other words, conditions affecting the coronary arteries. In addition, whole-grain products reduce the risk of other chronic conditions and provide essential vitamins and minerals. Many gluten-free products actually contain more added sugars and fats to influence a product’s texture—not exactly healthy.
Exception
But of course, there is an exception. For people with coeliac disease, dermatitis herpetiformis (a skin condition), or gluten sensitivity, a gluten-free diet is one of the few long-term solutions. Gluten-free eating patterns are therefore unavoidable for these people—in fact, they’re a must. But don’t have any of these conditions? Then the Voedingscentrum strongly recommends that you simply eat the much-needed fibre found in bread and other grain products.
Source: Insider.com, Voedingscentrum.nl, Voedselallergie.nl
Read also:
- How to make the ultimate white bread: Japanese milk bread
- 10 bread terms every home baker should know
- Is Waldkorn bread healthy? No, you’re being misled
