Juarez 1

Federico Juarez
ENGL 1302
Monica Rodriguez
December 8, 2021
The Benefits of a Gluten Free Diet

Today the overwhelming number of diets you see promoted on social media and thru

commercials can be a bit much and confusing. But one diet stands out from them all and that is

the gluten-free diet. According to Bascuñán Karla A, et al. in the article “Celiac Disease:

Understanding the Gluten-Free Diet” a gluten free diet is huge way to better your quality of life.

It is known to have many health benefits and is one of the leading diets to help lose weight and

maintain a healthy lifestyle. The gluten free diet is the best diet to follow in order to improve a

person's quality of life because it can improve one’s overall health, improve one’s diet, and can

be used at a medical treatment for irritable bowel syndrome.

Overall Health Improvement

To begin, Caroline Dunn et al. states in the article “Consumer Perceptions of Gluten-Free

Products and the Healthfulness of Gluten-Free Diets.”, that “57% of participants agreed that

gluten-free diets were used to treat medical conditions, 32% believed that they were prescribed

for weight loss” (185). In addition, the articles finding is a result on how the public perceives or

the knowledge they have on what a GFD is (185). The article goes on to state that “many people

believe that a GFD can improve your overall health, improve your digestive health, improve your

diet and improve skin/complexion” (185). As someone who follows this diet, I have noticed a

huge change from starting this diet about three years ago. I do not have much stomach bloating

and fullness as I did before the start of the diet. In addition, I have seen a huge improvement in
 Juarez 2

my overall health. For example, I have lost about sixty pounds while following this diet while

adding exercise as well. The struggle is real when it comes to finding a diet that can be easy to

follow and have real life changing results. In addition, Dunn goes on to state that, “excluding

gluten from an otherwise healthy individual's diet would improve overall health by 31% (185). In

addition, according to her findings 37% of people agreed that gluten-free foods were healthier

than foods that contained gluten (185). In addition, Davis states in his article, “Wheat Belly :

Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health”, that excess fat has

nothing to do with gluttony, sloth, or too much butter: It's due to the whole grain wraps we eat

for lunch (1). In other words, we are consuming way to much gluten which in part plays a huge

role in rising obesity rates in our country. Davis also finds that after witnessing over 2,000

patients regain their health after giving up wheat, Davis reached the disturbing conclusion that

wheat is the single largest contributor to the nationwide obesity epidemic—and its elimination is

key (1). Adding to the fact that gluten is the huge contributor to the ever-growing obesity

epidemic that is spreading across the world. These findings show that gluten is one of the main

contributors in the ongoing obesity epidemic this country is facing. This diet can help maintain a

healthy weight and live an overall healthy lifestyle as well. Furthermore, the diet can help lower

body fat and keep your stomach fat lower.

Treatment Option

Furthermore, for years now a gluten free diet has been used as a medical treatment option

for many illnesses and diseases. According to El-Chammas el at states that a gluten free diet is

commonly recognized as a treatment for celiac disease but not only is it used for that purpose but

is used for many other medical conditions (1). Today it is also used for the following conditions

including dermatitis herpetiformis, irritable bowel syndrome, neurologic disorders, rheumatoid

 Juarez 3

arthritis, diabetes mellitus, and HIV-associated enteropathy. As a suffer of IBS (Irritable Bowl

Syndrome) a gluten free diet has been the go-to treatment option since I was diagnosed with that

syndrome three years ago. The diet has helped me so much over the years by helping my every

day’s be smoother and not always having to look for the restroom. For years now a gluten free

diet has helped increase the overall lifestyle and lives of people suffering from many different

medical conditions. Again, as someone who deals with IBS (Irritable Bowl Syndrome) on the

daily the treatment of a gluten free diet is key to maintaining your stomachs overall health.

Gluten can cause painful bloating and fullness that is not fun to deal with at all. In addition,

firsthand this treatment option has helped not just my overall health improve but saw a huge

improvement in my stomach bloating and fullness as well. As a person following this diet it can

said that this treatment option is one that can be easily followed which preparation and focus it

can very much be achieved. In addition, according to Funda findings “showed that gluten-free

diet both delayed and to a large extent prevented diabetes” (1). Adding, the study states that if

never exposed to gluten that it can prevent and delay type 1 diabetes. Gluten is known to be a

huge contributor to diabetes. Furthermore, this finding goes to show that eating gluten can

overall affect your health in a negative way. A gluten free diet is a good option with helping the

prevention of diabetes or other medical conditions. By following a gluten free diet can help

prevent or prolong getting diabetes. Also, maintaining a can gluten free diet can help with

keeping and maintaining your sugar levels at a safe and healthy balance. Some might be

skeptical to this finding but with more testing to be done in the coming future this is a great first

step to helping bring an end to diabetes and more findings what a gluten free diet can do for

many more medical conditions or used as treatments in the future.

Improvement of Diet
 Juarez 4

Next, a gluten free diet can help improve one’s diet. According to Howard

following a gluten free diet can lead to a truly healthier life and can improve your overall

lifestyle. Many gluten-free foods are delicious and can taste even better than foods containing

gluten. Maintaining a gluten free diet is easier now than before with so many grocery stores

selling gluten-free products now, many restaurants adding gluten-free dishes to their menus, and

many gluten-free recipes online now. In addition, Howard’s article, “Welcome to a Healthier,

Happier, Gluten-Free Life!,” she adds many of her own favorite gluten-free recipes that can be

made in the comfort of your own home (8). She adds “time to awaken your taste buds to new

flavors and improved health” (8). Adding, today with the access to social media and the online

retailers it is much easier to have access to gluten-free recipes and products that you can

purchase. Furthermore, Dunn’s findings indicated that “consumers have beliefs about the

healthfulness and potential positive impact of gluten-free diets” (2). The study goes on to

elaborate on the focus that “Gluten-Free” foods taste the same if not better than their gluten food

counterparts. Dunn states that gluten-free food labels impact consumers' perceptions of overall

likeability leading the consumer to purchase said “gluten-free” food item. From personal

experience I had some tasty gluten free foods and recipes that tasted way better than food that

contains gluten.

Conclusion

In essence, much debate has emerged from a gluten free diet and the effects it has on the

overall health of individuals. However, this double-sided issue Silvester et al states that a gluten-

free diet requires tremendous dedication, involving substantive changes to diet and lifestyle that

may have a significant impact upon better quality of life (1). Firstly, a gluten free diet can help

improve one’s overall health by maintaining a healthy equilibrium. Secondly, it is used as a

 Juarez 5

medical treatment for all types of disease and illnesses. Lastly, a improvement of health by

helping create a better diet. There is still more research that needs to be conducted regarding the

relationship between health and a gluten free diet, and further investigation about the issue

should continue to be researched to help the findings of the benefits of a gluten free diet.
 Juarez 6

Works Cited

Bascuñán Karla A, et al. “Celiac Disease: Understanding the Gluten-Free Diet.” European
Journal of Nutrition, vol. 56, no. 2, 2017, pp. 449–459

Davis, William. Wheat Belly : Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to
Health. Rodale, 2014.

Dunn, Caroline, et al. “Consumer Perceptions of Gluten-Free Products and the Healthfulness of
Gluten-Free Diets.” Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior: Supplement, vol. 46, no. 4,
2014, p. 185

El-Chammas, Khalil, and Elaine Danner. “Gluten-Free Diet in Nonceliac Disease.” Nutrition in
Clinical Practice, vol. 26, no. 3, 2011, pp. 294–299.

Funda, David P, et al. “Gluten-Free Diet Prevents Diabetes in Nod Mice.” Diabetes/Metabolism
Research and Reviews, vol. 15, no. 5, 1999, pp. 323–327.

Howard, Lisa. Healthier Gluten-Free : All-Natural, Whole-Grain Recipes That Get Rid of the
Refined Starches, Fillers, and Chemical Gums for a Truly Healthy Gluten-Free Diet. Fair Winds
Press, a Member of Quayside Publishing Group, 2014.

Silvester, J A, et al. “Living Gluten-Free: Adherence, Knowledge, Lifestyle Adaptations and

Feelings Towards a Gluten-Free Diet.” Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, vol. 29, no. 3,
2016, pp. 374–382