Organic, Gluten-Free Diet, is it for You?

Posted 07/27/2011

GLUTEN-FREE

What It Means

A protein found in barely, wheat and rye, gluten is responsible for giving bread dough its elasticity, shape and chewy texture.

“Unfortunately, these proteins also have a downside that you’re probably all too familiar with,” said organic chef and educator Leslie Cerier in her current book, Gluten-Free Recipes for the Conscious Cook. “They can be difficult to digest—or worse.”

When It Matters

In order to better serve those who are gluten-sensitive or have been diagnosed with celiac disease, food manufacturers have begun developing gluten-free alternatives for pastas, breads, cake mixes and other processed foods.

Celiac disease is a digestive condition triggered by the consumption of gluten, according to the Mayo Clinic. People who have been diagnosed with the disease often experience an immune reaction in their small intestine when eating goods high in gluten and this response ultimately interferes with the absorption of nutrients.

But what if you’re not gluten sensitive? Should you begin buying gluten-free products simply because you’ve heard they’re nutritionally superior to others?

Research is still underway to determine whether or not keeping a diet low in gluten can significantly benefit your health. But Cerier believes gluten-free grains, like oats, millet and buckwheat, should be incorporated in everyone’s diet.

“Whether you experience gluten sensitivity or not, gluten-free grains are powerhouses of nutrition and many are excellent sources of iron, calcium, and B vitamins,” she explained. “For instance, oats have a variety of benefits … they can help lower cholesterol, prevent heart disease, enhance immune system function and even be helpful for insomnia, stress, anxiety and depression.”

Like organic products, the manufacturing of gluten-free foods is also more eco-friendly and sustainable, Cerier said.

“Gluten-free grains are environmentally friendly since they are drought resistant and require less land and less water to produce a high yield,” she added. “And as we have problems with global warming, these gluten-free grains, which can grow in both arid and tropical lands, might actually help us feed the planet.”

via Is an Organic, Gluten-Free Diet Worth It? – FoxNews.com.

Photo by Tracey Eller