Gluten-Free Fad: Cause for Concern?

Many Americans avoid eating products that contain gluten. Some have been diagnosed with celiac disease; others believe that gluten is not healthy for them. Those with celiac disease often don’t realize they have the condition, and the disease is often diagnosed as IBS, anemia, or stress, and switching to a gluten-free diet without consulting a doctor can increase the probability of misdiagnosis. To further complicate things, there is a subset of the population that may attain some benefit from a gluten-free diet but who test negative for celiac disease. Some also claim that gluten-free diets relieve autism symptoms and contribute to weight loss; however, these claims are unfounded. Scientists are concerned that the diet will be seen as a fad by the general public and therefore that it may not be taken seriously as a treatment option. U.S. News and World Report, October 31, 2008 
2008-11-10 16:54:36