It seems as though everyday another one of my friends tells me they’re going gluten-free. Recently, whenever I’m roaming the grocery store looking for snacks I see the label saying “gluten-free” on almost every bag. Why has everyone become to obsessed with a gluten-free diet lately. My friends and just about everyone else on the planet claims they have a gluten allergy. Why are gluten allergies becoming more and more popular?
People whose bodies cannot fully digest gluten are diagnosed with celiac disease, or a gluten allergy. The undigested protein triggers the immune system to attack the lining of the small intestine, which causes very unpleasant reactions. According to articles.morcola.com, a study using frozen blood vessels from fifty years ago found that intolerance of wheat gluten is four times as likely today than it was fifty years ago. It’s possible that people are just becoming more aware than over before of the health effects of too much gluten or the American diet has caused people to develop this disease. The later is most likely true.
For those with celiac disease, overtime their small intestine will become increasingly damaged and less able to absorb nutrients such as iron and calcium, which can then lead to other serious health problems. Many people blame the changes in modern diet for the increasing development of celiac disease. It’s no secret that the Western modern diet consists of more grain carbohydrates than ever before in history.
Celiac disease has also been linked to cause Dementia in the long-run, but this got me thinking that maybe there could be reverse causation. Dementia could be the cause of an early development of celiac disease or vice versa. Either way, the development of celiac disease and the attention of gluten in diets has definitely increased over the years.
I can find myself that some people view having a gluten-free diet is just one of the new fabs that pop up in health magazines or at grocery store shelves. This post helps to better explain the rationality behind making the decision to go gluten free. I personally think that there isn’t a really a difference in whether or not someone is gluten free or not. Obviously in situations like not being able to eat gluten, it will make a difference in someone’s health but other than that I find it a personal choice to choose one way or another. Despite my opinion, other sources have a different one. Live Science released information on why not to go gluten free. Check it out! http://www.livescience.com/37855-gluten-free-craze.html