Health Report Gluten-free: positive or pointless?
Sales for these specialist products are soaring, but could investing in a lifestyle without gluten be a waste of time and money? We ask the experts…
Gluten (a mixture of two proteins found in wheat, barley and rye), or the lack of it, has been garnering a lot of attention over the past few years. Yes, ‘glutenfree’ has certainly earned its crown as the buzziest buzzword. according to the UK government website, 22% of the population now buy gluten-free items and this is predicted to rise by 43% by 2020, totting up a staggering £673m.
But could new research be about to burst the gluten-free bubble? Scientists at University of Oslo have investigated the effect of gluten on our bodies. Some tests revealed consuming gluten could cause tummy trouble even in non-coeliac sufferers. Results published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology
showed that 70% of patients on gluten diets suffered symptoms, resulting in scientists terming the condition ‘non-coeliac gluten sensitivity’.
However, other studies discovered that people might not be sensitive to the gluten in cereal, bread and pasta, but to fructans (a type of sugar that is part of the FODMAP* family) instead. Gluten-free items are often low in fructans, which is why those with FODMAP intolerances will still see an improvement if they eat them. So, is this proof that going gluten-free is a waste of time and money? Or is it a lifesaver for the many sufferers out there? We asked two experts for their opinion…