Lastly, gluten-free diets also have one prominentconsequence that has a negative effect on your body.

Gluten-free diets “fallshort on fiber, iron, zinc, and potassium” (Jones, 2017).  These keyminerals are essential in one’s everyday life and are not easily obtainedthrough a gluten-free diet.  “Since bread and baked goods that are markedgluten-free are frequently made of rice, potatoes, and corn, they are oftenmuch lower in fiber than their gluten-containing counterparts” (Carr, 2017). This is difficult as most Americans do not have the time or knowledge tomaintain proper nourishment while on a gluten-free diet.  This can evencause an adverse reaction to what their intention was since their bodies willnot be able to function to the best of their ability without proper minerals. Many go on a gluten-free diet in order to drop weight or promote a betterlifestyle, without the key minerals your body needs, you will begin to sufferother side effects which can actually harm your body both in the short and longterm.

 In fact, patients withceliac often gain weight once they start agluten-free regimen. The reason is that while they’re eating gluten, manysuffer abdominal pain, malabsorption and other symptoms that lead to reduced consumptionor utilization of food. “Once they’re on the gluten-free diet theythrive, eat well and gain weight” (Laufer-Cahana, 2012).  A gluten-free diet also causes a lack of Vitamin B, along with a lack ofdaily required grains.

 In a study conducted it was found that “80% ofpeople on a gluten-free diet were eating less than half of the recommendeddaily amount of grains, and only 1.1% ate the six recommended servings each day”(Jones, 2017).  This is an alarming figure because grains are an essentialpart of life and these statistics show that the average American is not able tosustain healthy nutrition while on a gluten-free diet.

            Glutenhas recently become a topic of discussion across the country as people attemptto eat healthier.  Throughout my research, I came to realize that thereare many negatives associated with a gluten-free diet and that these negativesappear to outweigh the benefits that some claim to have experienced. These so-called benefits include weight loss, higher energy levels,increased happiness, and increased athletic performance.  While those thatreport these benefits may believe that a gluten-free diet has actually helpedthem, science disagrees.  With the significant cost increase ingluten-free food, as well as the lack of key vitamins, grains, and minerals, itis more likely a gluten-free diet will leave you poorer and less nourished thana traditional diet.

 Those that do implement a gluten-free diet in theirlives might see these positive changes that celebrities boast about, however,this might actually be a result of the placebo effect taking place.  Ifthose on a gluten-free diet believe that the diet will help them, their mindwill convince itself that there is actually a positive impact.  With theinfluence that those in positions of power or fame have on fads such as goinggluten-free, along with the lack of essential nutrients, increased cost forfood, and the placebo effect, those following the gluten-free diet may actuallybe doing more harm than good.  With theincreasing prevalence of gluten-free products on the market, media discussionof gluten-free diets, and the number of people adhering to this type oflifestyle, many have begun to question the touted benefits of gluten-freeliving for people who do not suffer from gluten intolerance.

  Overall, I believe that the negatives of a gluten-free diet, for peoplewithout Celiac disease, significantly outweigh the positives of this fad diet.