Taste Life Blog

Maybe it will, maybe it won’t; it all depends on your own biochemical individuality. The gluten free diet became more popular for weight loss after Elizabeth Hasselbeck, former Survivor contestant and co-host of the View talk show wrote the book called, “The G Free Diet: A Gluten Free Survival Guide” after she was diagnosed with celiac disease. Eating a gluten free diet isn’t harmful for people who don’t need it but the products are typically lower in vitamins, fiber and iron and can lead to deficiencies if you don’t eat a balanced diet.

Many packaged gluten free foods are even higher in carbs, sugar, fat and calories than their regular counterparts to compensate for flavor and texture changes and you could gain weight. The products are also typically lower in vitamins, fiber and iron. Too bad, gluten free does not equal nutritious.

Your take away is to eat plenty of fruits and veggies which are naturally low in gluten and also filled with powerful antioxidants.  And, note that if you do the gluten free diet route for a while and then start to consume it again, it can lead to stomach cramps, diarrhea, bloating and other symptoms at least temporarily. Not so fun!

Bottom line is that all diets work, that’s the problem. There is no magic to taking out the gluten from your diet to lose weight. If there was, Oprah would be the first one on it and talking it up.  I am hoping before I write again at least five people come up to me and say, “Chere I am eating fruits and veggies to lose weight!”