Do you know someone who is gluten intolerant or have you heard that a gluten-free diet is good for your health but you are not too sure if you should go gluten-free? So what exactly is gluten? Gluten is the main protein found in some cereals like wheat, barley, and rye. It is responsible for the light airy dough important for baking and for getting the crispiness of baked products. It is present in food items, which contain bulgur, couscous, durum, malt, semolina, wheat, wheat bran, wheat germ, and oats.
 

So, who should avoid gluten? People who should not eat gluten include those with celiac disease, with gluten intolerance, and those who are allergic to wheat, barley, or rye. For people with these conditions, even a small amount of gluten can cause an immune response, which can be greatly disagreeable to their health. People who have symptoms of anemia, osteoporosis, those whose body gets bloated, those who feel nauseous, have diarrhea, vomiting, floating stools that are bloody or fatty in appearance, or experience migraines may actually be gluten intolerant and should check for the same. Gluten-free foods include rice, corn, maize, soy, potato, tapioca, beans, quinoa, and nut flours.
 

If you are getting into a gluten-free diet even though you are not gluten intolerant, you must remember that gluten-free diets can be seriously nutrient deficient, low in fiber, iron, folate, niacin, thiamine, riboflavin, calcium, B12, phosphorus, and zinc. The reason for this is that many gluten-free products are made from refined grains and starches, which contain plenty of calories but few vitamins and minerals, and hence not good for health. There is too much gluten-free junk food around, which should be avoided since they are not healthy options.
 

People with celiac disease or those who have a health reason to go for gluten-free diet, should definitely go for it. They simply do not have a choice. However, it is not the case with others. If you are not advised to consume a gluten-free diet by a physician, it is advisable for you to stick to your doctor’s orders. Otherwise, you are denying your body important nutrients. Gluten, by itself, does not offer any nutritional benefits.

However, whole grains that contain gluten are rich in nutrients and are important for your health. Therefore, it is important not to self-diagnose and get onto a gluten-free diet without an allergy and celiac doctor confirming that you really need to do so.