Topic: gluten sensitivity

We’ll Say It Again: Eating Gluten-Free Is Not A Fad Or A Scam

Oh, America. You just can’t seem to stem your incredulity at the increasing popularity of gluten-free eating, can you? A new article out from the Associated Press trods the same tired idea that gluten-free eating is a trendy fad, a scam people are buying into on the premise of healthier eating. But going gluten-free is not a trend, nor a scam: it’s a way of living that has improved the lives and health of lots of American eaters. More »

Domino’s Goes Gluten-Free, Makes Disease-Inducing Junk Food Equal Opportunity

Anyone who struggles with Celiac Disease or gluten intolerance will tell you that, despite rumors of weight loss “perks” spurred by stars like Miley Cyrus, it can actually make life really difficult. Which is why it’s great to see so many restaurants and food manufacturers taking their food sensitivities to heart—including Domino’s Pizza, which is rolling out a new gluten-free crust, developed in conjunction with the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness. But is making disease-inducing junk food equal opportunity really the kind of food revolution we need? I think not. More »

8 Gluten-Free Things That Won’t Help You Lose Weight Like Miley Cyrus

Yesterday, TheGloss posted about Miley Cyrus‘ dubious announcement that she has a gluten allergy—which she says explains her recent weight loss (not an eating disorder or crash diet, like some people-with-too-much-time-on-their-hands have been speculating). Whether she’s jumping on a diet trend for weight loss or health, we can’t be sure—but Miley’s tweets about gluten were less than illuminating for people who are confused about why so many people are suddenly going gluten-free. So here’s a crash course on the topic, and the trendy foods to avoid—whether you want to lose weight or improve your health. More »

Researchers Say Gluten-Free Is A Scam; Here’s Why They’re Wrong

Gluten-free diets have rapidly gained popularity in health conscious circles, so much so that many believe that gluten “sensitivity” or “intolerance” is just the latest diet fad—a weight loss method masquerading as health concern. And a now an essay published in the Annals of Internal Medicine lends credence to skeptics concerns: Coauthors Dr. Antonio Di Sabatino and Dr. Gino Roberto Corazza argue that as long as no one is really sure what gluten sensitivity is, spending money on gluten-free products is probably just a waste of money. But a number of patients who’ve found relief in going gluten-free would argue otherwise, and so would Frank Lipman, MD, whose first line of defense against many chronic health problems is to get his patients off gluten. More »

Depression Isn’t A Prozac Deficiency: 6 Natural Reasons You Might Be Depressed

Blisstree’s no enemy of prescripion meds when you need them; in fact, some of us are of the opinion that the demise of talk therapy might be good for depressed patients, who seriously just need a psychiatrist to meet their needs. But proponents of functional medicine, like Dr. Mark Hyman, say that attitude isn’t the best approach. Instead of treating depression like a Prozac deficiency, he says, we need to figure out what’s causing our mood shifts (and other chronic symptoms) in the first place.

“Just knowing you have depression isn’t helpful,” he said at a recent event hosted by New York City’s Urbanzen Foundation. He and other proponents of functional medicine say that diagnosing patients with a disease doesn’t bring them any closer to a cure. Instead of racing to a diagnosis and prescription meds, we should be searching for the source of our symptoms, which he says is often easy to cure without prescriptions or extreme treatment measures. More »

Gluten-Free for Dummies: Nutritionist Lauren Slayton Schools Us on the Latest Health-Food Craze

First, I’m not saying you’re a dummy. I’m just saying you might be a gluten dummy, and you might not even know it. (Plus, I’m a dummy when it comes to economics and transferring playlists to my iPod, so it’s okay. No judgment.) Even if you are a gluten dummy, you’ve probably noticed the invasion of gluten-free everything. Gluten-free selections are popping up everywhere from Starbucks to Stouffer’s, celebrities are crediting gluten-free regimens for their improved energy or weight loss (that and some occasional pill-popping), and as a sure sign of a nutrition trend, products that never contained the newly demonized ingredient are plastered in newly designed labels that proclaim “gluten-free.” The gluten-free trend is huge (1.5 billion dollars huge) and on the rise, but like too many trendy nutrition keywords, most people don’t really know what gluten is. They may think of it as bread or wheat, but that’s not the accurate answer. More »