Nutrition

Taking the pith: are you avoiding fruits’ best bits?

A gluten-free diet is often perceived to be healthier, but a new study suggests that the rate of heart disease is higher in those who avoid gluten than in those who eat it. The research, published in the British

Medical Journal, analysed the diets of 64,714 women and 45,303 men over 26 years, and found those in the top 20 per cent of gluten eaters were less likely to suffer from heart disease than the lowest 20 per cent. The researchers speculate that bypassing gluten lowers intake of heart-healthy whole grains, and say that the promotion of glutenfree diets to those without coeliac disease should not be encouraged.