SHOULD YOU GO GLUTEN-FREE?

Should you go gluten-free?  The simple answer is no, unless you have celiac disease or a medically diagnosed gluten sensitivity.  A lot of people are jumping on the gluten-free bandwagon because it is popular right now.  But the experts warn you should keep eating gluten regularly if you have no medical reason to avoid it.  You could miss out on some vital nutrients by going on your own gluten-free kick.  

If you have celiac disease and need to eat gluten-free, shop carefully.  The situation is the same as it is for sugar-free, fat-free, etc.  When they take out a major ingredient, it is replaced by something else to keep the product tasty and palpable.  Read the labels, something you should always do anyway.  Don't assume that because a product is gluten-free it is a healthy product.  Many of these products contain extra fat and other processed ingredients.  When reading the labels on gluten-free products, choose the foods that don't have added sugar, are low in saturated fat, low in sodium (less than 5%), and are high in fiber, calcium, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C.