Gluten Free is not healthy? Blasphemy –you must think someone has hijacked my blog, but it’s true. Just because a food is gluten free does not mean it is healthy.
Sadly, the recent popularity of “gluten free” has many thinking that if they eliminate gluten, they are on a healthy diet. As Michael Pollan wrote last year in the New York Times Magazine, “Gluten has become the bad nutrient of the moment.”
I think it’s time for those of us in the gluten free blogoshpere to admit that villainizing one ingredient is not enough when it comes to eating well.
With all of the hype surrounding gluten free, no one mentions the dirty little secret of the Standard Gluten Free Diet. Few realize that when it comes to gluten free baked goods such as bread, snacks, and desserts, gluten free food is not as nutritious as “regular” food. That’s because gluten free goods are generally made with ingredients such as rice, corn, potatoes, sorghum, tapioca and millet, which are higher in carbohydrates and lower in protein and other nutrients than wheat flour. Sad, but true. The typical gluten free ingredients that are used in place of wheat are less nutritious than wheat itself.
The Gluten Free diet is a very specific requirement for very specific people –those with celiac, gluten intolerance or gluten sensitivity. People with these conditions have to eliminate gluten from their diets to make sure their body doesn’t deteriorate. Let’s remember though, that doing so doesn’t actually speak to eating the diet and consuming the foods that allow your body to thrive. Those are two separate things. Therefore, the millions of Americans jumping on the gluten free bandwagon, who believe that eliminating one ingredient is a quick fix are short changing themselves.
If you have any of the above conditions (and it’s a good idea to go to a doctor and get tested if you think you might) remove gluten from your diet. For that matter, if something makes you feel sick, get it out of your diet! However, if you think eliminating one food gives you a free pass to eat processed gluten free goods made from rice, corn, etc., and that this will make you healthy, guess again.
The best path to wellness is a well rounded diet which includes many foods –it is far more work than simply bastardizing one ingredient, such as gluten.
What does eating healthy entail? Consuming a diverse array of nutrient dense foods every day; day after day. When I was a little girl, my Dad told me to eat the rainbow. So I’m staying away from fad diets and sticking with Dad’s advice. I have to agree with him, eating close to the earth is, and always has been, the way to go.
SherriS. says
I totally agree! It is amazing how much gf food is now out there but that doesn’t mean it’s good for us. I’m guilty of buying a lot of gf junk when it first came out but as my body rebelled I had to listen and now make healthier choices.
sally says
About time that the non coeliac public realised this. Just because a person doesn’t eat gluten doesn’t automatically make them healthier than a gluten eater. I don’t eat gluten because it damages my body, end of story. I choose healthy foods because I prefer to be healthy. Simple.
MamaCassi says
I thought the EXACT same thing, and was teaching a class at my church and printed off ingredients for Betty Crocker cake mix and Betty Crocker gluten-free cake mix. Much to my surprise and shock, the gluten-free cake mix had more real ingredients, far fewer ingredients, and less preservatives and odd concoctions.
So I’ve changed my tune. I don’t think that gluten-free processed foods count as foods. I consider them junk. But I think they’re quality and freshness are often better than the standard fare. That, and they’re less addictive.
I wish gluten-free individuals could be aware of this study:
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/ScienceResearch/ResearchAreas/RiskAssessmentSafetyAssessment/UCM264152.pdf
“In sum, these findings indicate that a less than 1 ppm level of gluten in foods is the level of exposure for individuals with CD on a GFD that protects the most sensitive individuals with CD and thus, also protects the most number of individuals with CD from experiencing any detrimental health effects from extended to long-term exposure to gluten.”
Most gluten-free products are not held to this standard, and are not truly and safely gluten-free.
That said, a well-balanced, real foods diet, without gluten-free processed foods is ideal, and what I provide for my family. And most of the gluten-free junk out there is a. not gluten-free, b. still junk, so c. not healthy! In short, I agree, but with a slightly different bent!
Blessings and peace-
Cassi
Mom Steiner says
You go girl. Tell them like it is.
Noel says
Here here!!!
Yes, replacing junk food with gluten free junk food is not a good plan! It’s driving me crazy b/c my kids see “gluten free” and think it’s automatically okay — or maybe they’re just happy to feel accommodated and recognized.
I’m so glad when people bring this issue out in the open!
Regarding almonds, I think some people handle them better than others. I don’t bake much, but when I do, I love having your recipes available — almond flour and coconut flour. Thank you!!!
: )
Noel
emily stone says
i am unclear about what is processed and what is not. how do you know if something is a “processed food”?
sally says
Hi emily, I find that if an item doesn’t grow in a field or on a tree then its processed. A carrot is not processed because its a whole food that is pulled out of the ground. A cake is made of lots of processed ingredients, just remember, cakes don’t grow in a field. If they did though, that would be one awesome field.
Kelly says
Thanks Elana! I couldn’t agree with you more. I think that what you offer in the world of healthy gluten-free recipes that include almond flour is a real blessing.
Three years ago, I got sick of the same thing in the gluten free world: products made with stripped flours and starches. Everyone knows and hears that whole grains are best for optimum health, so why aren’t there any available to the gluten-free eaters?
More over some of the gluten-free manufacturers use microcrystalline cellulose = WOOD PULP. Really people!?! Putting wood pulp in our food.
So I got together with 2 nutritionist to create our product line. All whole grain, non-GMO, DELICIOUS products. http://www.theglutenfreebistro.com/product/
Check us out. You can print this sheet and take it into your favorite grocery store and ask them to step up their gluten free game http://www.theglutenfreebistro.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/RequestOurProductLetter.pdf
Toni @ Boulder Locavore says
Amen! My children and I are gluten free due to medicial necessity and have been for over 6 years now. It’s a learning curve to master the diet though what became quickly clear is exactly what you state; you don’t have to eat healthy to eat gluten free. I was just helping a new GF mom and explained you can eat Snickers bars and Fritos and be gluten free. We’ve found the optimum approach is sticking closely to whole foods. It’s healthy and requires far less ‘thinking’ or label reading. Thanks for this article Elana.
Toni @ Boulder Locavore says
P.S. I bake the bread we eat and completely concur with your nutrtional statement. I have always been concerned about the low protein and fiber in GF products. I augment our bread recipe with hemp and chia seeds to address that. It adds a lovely texture and heightens the nutrional content. We don’t have a choice but feel we’ve found a way to optimize the diet for our needs.
LisaD says
Gluten free may not mean that you are getting healthy,true, but it does mean that you are getting rid of a lot of processed foods and by default taking those small steps to GET healthy. Not only does it help people with allergies or intolerances, but it is PROVEN to help behaviors in children/adults on the Autism Spectrum. A naturopathic dr is the best to inform you on what you need to do when you cut out wheat, grains and even diary, and where you will then need to get your nutrients (minerals and vitamins) from.
Jenn Irwin says
My thoughts exactly!!! Well said!