Diets

Angie SzumlinskiNews

Everyone I know, with few exceptions, has been on a diet in their lifetime. There are so many out there, it is hard to keep up, right? Adkins, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, low-carbohydrate, low-fat, etc. but most recently Gluten-free has taken center stage. So, what does Gluten-free really mean, and does it help in weight loss if you don’t have a gluten intolerance to begin with?

Researchers did a study on nutrition, obesity, and exercise and focused on gluten intake to see if it is related to cognitive function in women in the US. The findings suggest that in the absence of celiac disease, restriction of dietary gluten to maintain cognitive function is not warranted. But what about weight loss? And yes, you know I did a little more digging!

At the end of the day, I sadly found no magic pill. Every website I searched from WebMD to the Cleveland Clinic all say the same thing, there is no evidence that getting rid of gluten will result in weight loss. That said, the Cleveland Clinic did say that if we are reading labels, looking for the nasty gluten, we may make healthier food choices and lead healthier lives. I say to heck with calories and carbohydrates for a few weeks, enjoy your holidays and start fresh in 2022. What do you have to lose? Stay well, stay informed, and of course, stay tuned!