Amid rising diet fads that portray gluten as harmful, medical experts in Ludhiana are cautioning against the indiscriminate adoption of gluten-free diets. In conversation with Manav Mander, Dr Amit Bansal, Senior Consultant, Gastroenterology, underlined that gluten-free diets are necessary only for those with specific medical conditions, while for most, wheat remains both safe and essential.<\/p>\n
Why is wheat important in Indian diets?<\/p>\n
Wheat is a staple food for the nation, rich in complex carbohydrates, dietary fibre and B vitamins. It also provides gluten, a protein that gives dough elasticity and helps maintain the structure of foods like roti and bread. Whole wheat supports gut health and overall metabolic function.<\/p>\n
What is gluten and why is it misunderstood?<\/p>\n
Gluten is a natural protein found in wheat. In recent years, it has been wrongly labelled as harmful. However, medical evidence shows gluten is safe for most people.<\/p>\n
What happens if gluten is removed unnecessarily?<\/p>\n
Avoiding gluten without medical need can reduce fibre and essential nutrients, which may negatively affect digestive health and overall nutrition.<\/p>\n
What do experts say about gluten-free diets?<\/p>\n
Gluten is often perceived as unhealthy due to popular diet trends, but for most individuals, it is completely safe and an integral part of a balanced diet. Eliminating gluten without medical advice can lead to deficiencies and may adversely affect gut health.<\/p>\n
When is a gluten-free diet medically necessary?<\/p>\n
A gluten-free diet is necessary in the following cases:<\/p>\n
Celiac disease: An autoimmune disorder where gluten damages the small intestine, leading to malabsorption and systemic complications. Patients must follow a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet.<\/p>\n
Non-celiac gluten sensitivity: Causes bloating and abdominal discomfort after gluten intake, although without intestinal damage. Dietary changes are recommended after clinical evaluation.<\/p>\n
Are gluten-free products healthier than regular foods?<\/p>\n
Not necessarily. Many gluten-free packaged foods are made with refined flours and starches, which may lack fibre and essential nutrients. Whole wheat, provides natural fibre and B vitamins that support digestive and metabolic health.<\/p>\n
What should individuals do before switching diets?<\/p>\n
I advise consulting a qualified doctor or nutritionist before switching. Self-diagnosis and unnecessary elimination can lead to nutritional imbalances.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Amid rising diet fads that portray gluten as harmful, medical experts in Ludhiana are cautioning against the indiscriminate…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":738822,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[61],"tags":[97,269],"class_list":["post-738821","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nutrition","tag-health","tag-nutrition"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/738821","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=738821"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/738821\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/738822"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=738821"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=738821"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=738821"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}