by Nikki Everett

Created on: October 25, 2009

Should you go gluten-free?

You may have heard about it, seen it advertised in your local supermarket on the label of a product, or you may be one of the millions of people who have been told by your medical professional that a gluten free diet will help your condition. You may be just curious as to whether gluten free is for you since it seems to be the new dietary buzzword - The benefits appear to be speaking for themselves.

Gluten is the protein found in grains like wheat, barley, oats, spelt and rye. There are a number of health issues which have been found to improve greatly from going on a gluten free diet regimen. Those who have suffered from intestinal disorders such as:

Celiac disease

Gluten/Wheat Intolerance and Sensitivity

Crohn's disease

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Diverticulitis

But the diet also helps many other disorders like:

Diabetes type I and II

Autism

Dermatitis herpetiformis

Parkinson's disease

Osteoporosis

Arthritis

Down's syndrome

Multiple sclerosis

Seizures

ADD and ADHD

Once on a wheat and gluten free diet, some or all symptoms and characteristics of the ailments listed above decrease or regulate. It would seem gluten free has risen in popularity to be the cure all of the century. Even if it isn't a cure all, it is clear that the human body has difficulty digesting gluten.

Is gluten free that much healthier? And why isn't everyone eating it?

The gluten free diet isn't just for those with health disorders as health conscious people are now choosing the regimen as an alternative to generally feel better. Most of those choosing say that after switching, they realize that gluten made them feel "heavy and lethargic" all along. Individuals on the diet claim to reap the rewards of losing weight, increased energy level and a reduced cholesterol level.

Danna Korn, internationally recognized for her research and medical knowledge of the gluten free diet states several advantages for athletes who switch to the gluten free craze. Her book, Living Gluten Free for Dummies, illustrates that the high-protein, low-glycemic-load approach (that happens to be gluten-free):

1. Enables the body to gradually learn to use energy more efficiently from fat stores

2. Minimizes the hypoglycemic effect that intense exercise can cause.

3. Increases the free fatty acids in the bloodstream.

4. Maintains stable blood-sugar levels during exercise which is essential for growth of muscle and strength.

Because packaged food and cosmetics have thickeners and fillers, gluten

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