The Fallacy of Gluten-Free Products and Weight Loss
Seems like many are falling prey to thinking eating a gluten-free diet is the key to health, happiness and weight loss.
Unfortunately if it were that easy we’d all be thin and disease-free.
One of the new books I’m working on is a healthy cookie book. All the cookies and treats are gluten-free and low in sugar and free of fake sweeteners, additives and preservatives. It was challenging but I finally came up with a high protein flour that works with all the recipes.
Part of this process allowed me to look more closely at what manufacturer’s put in gluten-free goodies – cookies, crackers, chips, etc. as well as how to formulate a real gluten-free product.
What I found is that most of these products contain white rice flour, and multiple sources of starches. Although these products are gluten-free, they are full of high glycemic high carbohydrates. Many contain more carbohydrates and calories than the products they are attempting to replace. Remember 15 grams of carbohydrate on a label is equal to the amount of carbohydrate in a slice of bread so check to see how much you are consuming per serving size.
Of course those with Celiac need to avoid gluten completely, and there is a spectrum of the population that are sensitive to the proteins in wheat – gluten and possibly gliadin, a second protein in wheat. Avoiding wheat can assist with lowering inflammation and increased health.
However, if one is not sensitive to wheat, avoiding it and switching to gluten-free products, particularly processed ones, can send someone in the same direction they are trying to avoid.
If you are trying to eat healthfully avoid processed gluten-free products and consume healthful sources of carbohydrates without a label – fruits, veggies, nuts/seeds, squash, yams, quinoa, brown rice, etc. Making that change in itself may be enough to send you in the health and weight loss direction you are trying to achieve.
And if you want a healthy gluten-free treat my cookie book is in the works and will be available hopefully by October 2013 with a bonus gluten-free healthy dog treat recipe for all you dog lovers.
