Have you gone gluten-free yet? If not, you’re not one of the growing numbers of people who’ve tried out a diet free of the protein found in commonly eaten grains like wheat, barley, and rye. Spurred by celebrity endorsements from Gwyneth Paltrow to Oprah, many people believe that adopting a gluten-free diet can help them have more energy, lose weight, have clearer skin, and feel healthier overall. Gluten-free products have cropped up on supermarket shelves around the country, exponentially more than the prevalence of gluten sensitivities (which spells good news for those who used to search high and low for suitable foods!). But is it for everyone? A new Time article says that the restricted diet’s popularity means most people are gluten-free for the wrong reasons . While only about eight

to 12 percent of people buy gluten-free goods because they have a gluten intolerance – including the one in 133 who have celiac disease – a recent poll found that almost 50 percent of people asked thought that “gluten-free” meant healthier, and 30 percent bought gluten-free foods in order to manage their weight. And while it’s true that giving up things like pizza, pasta, and bread does mean low-carb, buying products labeled gluten-free doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be sticking to your Dukan diet – the carbs in, say, gluten-free cookies and bagels are still there. But a gluten-free diet may still be beneficial no matter what your allergies – read on to see why.

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Gluten-Free Doesn’t Mean Better For You – or Does It?