New Delhi: Doctors have for a long time been stressing the need for a healthier gut, as it is what influences every factor of health and well-being. And specifically in India, there are some foods that hold an important place in the diet, with wheat being the most commonly consumed grain. However, as essential as it is, wheat is a source of gluten, carbohydrates, and fibre. It can increase blood sugar levels and also trigger an allergic reaction in people dealing with celiac disease. This love-hate relationship with wheat was decoded by Shivani Rathee, Dietetics Department, Sharda Hospital, in an interaction with News9Live.
What are the negative effects of wheat?
Wheat-related gastrointestinal discomfort is now increasingly prevalent, with additional individuals complaining of bloating, gas, abdominal cramps, or exhaustion following the ingestion of wheat. Wheat was traditionally a basic food with minimal global health issues, but today’s wheat has been thoroughly changed through hybridisation and processing, becoming higher in gluten and less digestible. This has led to the development of diseases like celiac disease, non-celiac gluten intolerance, and wheat allergy.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition in which gluten destroys the lining of the small intestine, while non-celiac gluten sensitivity is the same condition without the autoimmune factor. Yet not everything that ails wheat is properly diagnosed; many individuals self-diagnose or blame symptoms on gluten when the actual cause can be FODMAPs—fermentable carbs found in wheat—or other diet and lifestyle issues. Also, highly processed wheat foods prevalent in Western diets have the potential to cause gastrointestinal problems through additives, low fiber content, and high rate of absorption, as opposed to wheat.
Is going gluten-free wise?
Misconceptions regarding “gluten-free” being automatically a healthier option have also resulted in unwarranted dietary restrictions. In general, although wheat is known to create true health problems with some individuals, the overall increase in wheat-related complaints tends to be a reflection of dietary shifts, food processing, and medical awareness rather than any inherent issue with wheat.
In general, although wheat is known to create actual health problems with some individuals, the overall increase in wheat-related complaints tends to be a reflection of dietary shifts, food processing, and medical awareness rather than any inherent issue with wheat. Health Conditions Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
