Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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. Celiac disease, an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten, is a medical
problem that is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The treatment for this is a gluten-
free diet. Thankfully, however, only about 0.7% of the U.S. population has this problem. 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
To begin, 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 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. However, a survey by a market research company found that up to 30% of
adults in the United States are trying to reduce or eliminate gluten from their diet. Many of them
do not have celiac disease. In addition, Caroline Dunn states that, “excluding gluten from an
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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
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
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
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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
Improvement of Diet
Next, a gluten free diet can help improve one’s diet. Celiac disease affects around
1%Trusted Source of people in the United States, or 1 in 133 people. According to Howard
following a gluten free diet can lead to a truly healthier life and can improve your overall
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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. If a person has an undiagnosed gluten intolerance, such as celiac disease or
gluten sensitivity, they may find that cutting out gluten improves their symptoms. However, if a
person suspects that they have a gluten intolerance, it is best to speak to a doctor for an accurate
diagnosis before eliminating gluten from the diet. Foods that contain gluten are important
sources of nutrients, including protein and iron. When not done carefully, gluten-free diets can to
lead to deficiencies.
Conclusion
In essence, much debate has emerged from a gluten free diet and the effects it has on the
overall health of individuals. Firstly, a gluten free diet can help improve one’s overall health by
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maintaining a healthy equilibrium. Secondly, it is used as a 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
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.