Facts About a Gluten-Free Diet | A Little Bit Better With Keri Glassman

Hey, I'm Keri Glassman here with some quick and simple tips to help you feel just a little
bit better. What's the deal with gluten? It seems that everywhere we turn these days,
“gluten-free” is popping up. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder, triggered by the
consumption of the protein gluten, that causes damage to the small intestines, preventing
the sufferer's body from absorbing nutrients and causing other medical conditions. Those
suffering from this disease are required to completely avoid gluten. But some make the
choice to be gluten-free as part of their lifestyle. That can work, but let's take a
closer look at what it means to go gluten-free. Gluten-free does not mean carb-free. Gluten
is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Rice, potatoes and corn are starchy foods
that do not contain gluten. Have a friend that went gluten-free and lost weight? Well,
that may be true, but not likely because of the gluten. Cutting gluten means you ditch
things like pasta, cookies, and cake, which of course leads to weight loss. An overall
healthy diet of veggies, fruits, nuts, and lean protein is naturally low in gluten -- we
should all be eating this way. If you choose to go gluten-free altogether for medical reasons
or just because you want to, remember that gluten-free doesn't guarantee healthy. Gluten-free
cookies are still cookies! A piece of fruit is still a better option! So remember: If
you choose to go gluten-free, do your research. There are ways to do it right and ways to
do it wrong. Being fully informed will help you feel just a little bit better.