Myth Buster: Gluten Free Diet Not Healthier

It’s estimated that 44% of the Americans who buy gluten free foods aren’t making the choice because of celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. Many of them believe that gluten is somehow unhealthy. A study published in the journal Gastroenterology suggests gluten does not cause gastrointestinal issues in healthy adults.

Researchers had 30 healthy subjects who regularly consumed gluten-containing foods adhere to a gluten-free diet for 2 weeks. Some were given gluten-free flour to add to meals twice daily throughout the program while others received flour containing a daily 14-gram dose of gluten protein. Those in the gluten-containing group reported slightly fewer symptoms than the gluten-free group, although there were no statistically significant differences between groups.