Dec 2, 2008 10:15 am US/Pacific
Expert: Many Misconceptions About Gluten-Free Diet
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
First there was sugar-free; then fat-free and low-carb. Now the latest diet craze is gluten-free and food manufacturers are rushing to meet consumer demand with a glut of new products, reports CBS station WCBS-TV in New York.
But will this diet help you get healthier and shed those unwanted pounds? Or is it just another fad?
In an effort to get healthy and slim down, Jackie Gallo recently gave up foods that contain gluten.
"I have lost some weight," Gallo said.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, so Gallo has to forego foods like bread, pizza and even beer.
Touted by celebrities and health-conscious consumers alike, this new gluten-free diet is gaining popularity with nearly 1,300 new gluten-free goods recently introduced to the market.
"It's kind of gotten a health halo, kind of cure all," said Korry Keeker, editor and Consumers Digest.
And while only 1 out of every 100 Americans is estimated to be allergic to wheat gluten, it's the non-allergic consumers -- said Keeker -- who are creating a feeding frenzy for these new products.
"People believe it will help you lose weight," Keeker said.
And help them get healthier. One store employee suggested the following on hidden camera:
"It's good to eliminate wheat, whether you have an allergy to it or not," the employee said.
But Dr. Pi Sunyer with the New York Obesity Research Center said far too many consumers are jumping on the gluten-free bandwagon.
"A gluten-free diet is a special diet for people who have a gluten allergy," Dr. Sunyer said. "For everybody else it doesn't really make any sense.
"It's all marketing, kind of gimmick."
And if you are not gluten intolerant -- experts agree -- you could be doing more harm than good.
"Gluten will not enhance weight loss," Keeker said.
In fact, Keeker, who looked at gluten-free products for a recent article, said some can contain more carbohydrates, starches and even more sugar than their regular counterparts.
Currently, the Food and Drug Administration does not have a definition for "gluten-free" so experts say read the labels carefully.
By 2010, gluten-free is expected to be close to a $2 billion industry, compared to $700 million last year.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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