The internet is filled with articles containing information on advantages of a gluten-free diet. This is the major reason more and more people are now joining the bandwagon and have shifted their priorities towards gluten-free diet. If you are also planning to do, it is important to be aware of the fact that gluten is not actually bad for our health. Apart from certain drawbacks, it offers numerous benefits to our health as well.
In this post, we have compiled some of the major advantages and disadvantages of foods containing gluten that will help you to make the right choice. Have a look at them:
Advantages of Foods Containing Gluten
Some of the major advantages of food containing gluten are:
Decreases the Chances of Heart Diseases
It has been proven in studies that the consumption of foods that contain gluten reduces the chances of heart diseases. This study was conducted by The Harvard School of Public Health. In this study, more than 10,000 subjects were analyzed for the period of 25 years.
Contains Fewer Calories as Compared to Gluten-Free Food
Not many people are aware of the fact that gluten-free food products contain more calories compared to foods with gluten. Apart from calories, gluten-free food also has an excess quantity of sugar and saturated fatty acids. This has been proven in a study conducted in Europe and more than 600 products were tested for this purpose.
Combatting the Risk of Colorectal Cancer
A study by the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that whole grains can help to combat the risk of colorectal cancer. As a matter of fact, the findings of this study stated that if an individual increases their whole grain consumption by 90 gram per day, the risk of colorectal cancer decreases by 17%.
Disadvantages of Foods Containing Gluten
Gluten food products have certain disadvantages associated with them. A couple of them are:
Digestive Issues
One of the major reasons why many people are opting for a gluten-free diet is the increased rate of digestive issues. Contrary to the popular belief, the disadvantages of food containing gluten, including digestive issues, are not only limited to people who have celiac disease. Some people tend to have gluten sensitivity; thus, with the consumption of gluten products, they experience certain digestive issues including bloating, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain etc.
Gut Inflammation
This is another major issue associated with the consumption of food products containing gluten. Whether or not you are gluten intolerant or suffer from a celiac disease, you can have a gut inflammation due to the consumption of gluten foods, particularly wheat. Gut inflammation can lead to increased intestinal permeability as the guts get leaky and create further problems.
A Final Word
There you go! Now that you are aware of the advantages and disadvantages of food products containing gluten, it is up to you to make the right choice for you. It is recommended to consult your dietitian before taking the final call.
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