How Gluten-Free Foods Became Trendy And Sought After
The gluten-free diet fad continues to gain steam, with millions of people now shopping for gluten-free foods. Millions of companies produce gluten-free foods, from pasta to snack cakes. Thousands of blogs cover going gluten-free, complete with recipes and the best brands to buy.
It’s hard to believe that ten years ago, no one was shopping for gluten-free food. Few companies even bothered making it. So, how did gluten-free foods become so trendy?
People With Celiac Disease And Gluten Sensitivity
The numbers of people with Celiac Disease continue to rise. This is partially due to there being more research and knowledge about Celiac Disease.
In the 1990s, Celiac Disease seemed to be exploding throughout Europe. There were millions of cases. However, when researchers came to the United States, they were told that there were not nearly as many cases of Celiac Disease. It turned out that there were, but they were simply undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
In the 2000s, it was discovered that approximately 1% of people in America had Celiac Disease, which was over ten times the number that people previously thought it was. Prior to this research, most people had never heard of Celiac Disease. Further research was conducted on gluten intolerance.
Scientists began to question whether there was a link between certain disorders, such as autism, and gluten. It was during this period that people began to start shying away from gluten.
Going gluten-free began to gain more momentum as large portions of the population were diagnosed with Celiac Disease or gluten intolerance. This has contributed to gluten-free food seeing an increase in popularity. However, only 14% of people that are living on a gluten-free diet have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease.
Losing Weight
Almost 40% of people that are enjoying a gluten-free diet are doing so because they have heard that a gluten-free diet can help them lose weight.
A Keto-Diet Spin-Off
This began with the Keto diet fad. The Keto diet cuts out most carbs, resulting in a diet that is low in carbs and high in fat. This often involves cutting out everything in the bread and grain group because these foods are made with gluten-containing grain.
Because so many people have success losing weight with the Keto diet, it makes sense that they will also lose weight by enjoying gluten-free products. Some gluten-free products are known to be very low in carbohydrates.
Gluten-Free Diets Are Often Full Of Healthy Foods
When most people think of not eating gluten, they imagine cutting out all bread, grains, and most processed foods. (Processed foods often contain wheat because it is used as a preservative.) If this diet is followed, it can result in a dramatic amount of weight loss.
However, it’s important to note that cutting out gluten as a fad diet is not instantly going to result in weight loss. There are a lot of manufacturers that are making gluten-free snack cakes and junk food. Gluten-free products are often bland without additives, resulting in these products having more sugar, and more calories, than their gluten-containing counterparts.
A Gluten-Free Diet Is Thought To Be A Healthy Diet
Another 37% of people are shopping for gluten-free foods because of the belief that a gluten-free diet is a healthy diet. While this can be true, it’s not always the case. The misconception comes from most natural foods being gluten-free. For example, all fruits and vegetables are naturally gluten-free.
At the same time, it just so happens that most gluten-containing foods, such as bread and processed foods, are loaded with carbs, sugars, and additives.
Gluten-Free Diets Are Not Always Healthy
However, this isn’t always the case. For example, there are plenty of fruits that are also packed with carbs and sugar. This is why most people that follow a low-carb diet avoid eating too much fruit.
Likewise, there are quite a few gluten-free foods that people should watch out for. Gluten-free flour often has more sugar and still has carbs in it. Gluten-free cereals, such as Lucky Charms, are packed with additives just like other cereals are.
Benefits Of Gluten-Free Diets
Another thing that greatly contributes to the increase in popularity of gluten-free foods is that as people begin to live a gluten-free lifestyle, they begin to notice all of the benefits that come with living gluten-free.
Increased Productivity
Several benefits of going gluten-free work together to help individuals increase their productivity. Most people enjoy a noticeable increase in energy when they stop eating gluten, including those that choose to eat foods that have carbohydrates, such as gluten-free bread, pasta, or flour. An increased attention span allows people to focus on work longer.
Mental Clarity
People that have not been diagnosed with Celiac Disease or gluten intolerance have reported that they do not have brain fog when eating a gluten-free diet.
Improves Digestive Problems
When eating a gluten-free diet, individuals experience less bloating and other unpleasant digestive symptoms, such as diarrhea. Going gluten-free is a great way to lose weight, and enjoy a happier, healthier life. Make sure that you don’t fall for gimmick foods that are loaded with sugar, though. Check out the rest of our lifestyle blogs for more awesome tips!
