Gluten-free foods are not as slimming as you thought Dr. Maya Roseman

Are “gluten-free” products healthier for us? not always. Gluten is a wheat protein that is important for the rise and airiness of the pastry. Gluten-free pastries are denser and heavier, and contain more calories.The gluten is harmful to the health of celiacs while for the rest of the people it does not stick to the intestines and does not make them fat. The flours that replace the gluten are not necessarily healthier – white rice flour and cornflour lack dietary fiber and vitamins just like white wheat flour.

Why is giving up gluten considered a diet method?

Many years ago, those who decided to “wean off gluten” lost weight, because they gave up breads, croissants, pitas, bureks, pizzas, pastas. Today you don’t have to give them up even if you avoid gluten. You can find the same gluten-free products in every supermarket, including waffles, borax, and pastries without any health benefit and without fewer calories.

Does giving up gluten contribute to improving health?

It should be noted that there are people who testify that giving up gluten helps them reduce abdominal swelling. But – a study recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that those who avoided gluten without a medical need, consumed far more empty carbohydrates and more calories, and increased the risk of heart disease.

So when is a gluten-free diet healthier?

If instead of wheat, choose high-quality carbohydrates such as legumes (pasta made from legume flour), buckwheat, quinoa and make sure to consume proteins and vegetables.