"Gluten may actually be good for you" Consumer Reports Disinfo

[JGeropoulas]

I was glad to see a mainstream magazine’s cover story article about a gluten-free diet. They made some good points, but what stood out most was the disinformation and dismissive and discouraging tone of the article. Here are some examples:

Will a gluten-free diet really make you healthier? The biggest trend in the food world shows no signs of slowing down. Here are the six realities behind the labels.
Consumer Reports
November, 2014

Some people must avoid the protein because they have celiac disease—an autoimmune condition in which gluten causes potentially life-threatening intestinal damage—or gluten sensitivity. But less than 7 percent of Americans have those conditions.
…
According to a recent survey of more than 1,000 Americans by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, 63 percent thought that following a gluten-free diet would improve physical or mental health. About a third said they buy gluten-free products or try to avoid gluten. Among the top benefits they cited were better digestion and gastrointestinal function, healthy weight loss, increased energy, lower cholesterol, and a stronger immune system.

Yet there’s very limited research to substantiate any of those beliefs, notes Alessio Fasano, M.D., director of the Center for Celiac Research at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Unless you have celiac disease or a true gluten sensitivity, there’s no clear medical reason to eliminate it, Fasano says. In fact, you might be doing your health a disservice. “When you cut out gluten completely, you can cut out foods that have valuable nutrients,” he says, “and you may end up adding more calories and fat into your diet.” Before you decide to ride the wave of this dietary trend, consider why it might not be a good idea.
…

Gluten may actually be good for you. There’s some evidence that the protein has beneficial effects on triglycerides and may help blood pressure. The fructan starches in wheat also support healthy bacteria in your digestive system, which in turn may reduce inflammation and promote health in other ways. One small study found that healthy people who follow a gluten-free diet for a month have significantly lower levels of healthy bacteria.

…

“If you go completely gluten-free without the guidance of a nutritionist, you can develop deficiencies pretty quickly,” warns Laura Moore, R.D., a dietitian at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Many gluten-free foods aren’t enriched or fortified with nutrients such as folic acid and iron; the products that contain wheat flours are.

 

[Carl]

Re: "Gluten may actually be good for you" claims Consumer Reports

This article is not worth the pixels it's printed on, and people who choose to believe it and give responsibility for their own health to psychopaths will eventually experience the natural result of that.

Although, has anyone considered what would happen if everyone suddenly started eating real food? There would be nowhere near enough bacon to go round!

 

[s-kur]

Re: "Gluten may actually be good for you" claims Consumer Reports

Celiac is not the only reason to avoid gluten. If one have not celiac but have some inflamations, which is got rid in case of cutting gluten it clearly lets know that gluten is harmful for you anyway.
The one things I've realized that with "common diet" you may not feel any indispositions, but while you on a keto and your body detoxed you REALLY feel any consequence of harmful food and it is NOT paranoia.
I had suffered all my life with cold and bunged up nose until I cut gluten, though, I have no celiac most likely.

 

[Arwenn]

“If you go completely gluten-free without the guidance of a nutritionist, you can develop deficiencies pretty quickly,” warns Laura Moore, R.D., a dietitian at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Many gluten-free foods aren’t enriched or fortified with nutrients such as folic acid and iron; the products that contain wheat flours are.

What a load of tripe! Even the use of the word "warns" is to spread disinfo and fear at the same time. Absolutely disgusting.

 

[SeekinTruth]

Yeah, lots of the usual nonsense. Thousand and thousands of people around the world have rid themselves of high blood pressure, better triglycerides if you go ketogenic diet for sure, etc. Plus it's a big mistake to eat "gluten-free" foods - just avoid ALL grains like the plague.

“When you cut out gluten completely, you can cut out foods that have valuable nutrients,” he says, “and you may end up adding more calories and fat into your diet.”

Well, there's no really valuable nutrients in grains (and most plant food, as the high anti-nutrients content cancel them out). And the bolded part is the whole point of being on a ketogenic diet - more calories FROM healthy fats (again avoid most seed and vegetable oils like the plague, except for a little of olive oil - but not for cooking). Ketogenic diets are by far the best, if the high amounts of fats eateb are healthy fats, much better than just avoiding gluten.