With all the talk of eliminating certain foods
from your diet, it’s natural to wonder if the
latest eating trends are right for your family.
Generally, fad diets have been thought to be not
appropriate for growing children because they
can be rigid and too restrictive. However, in
many cases, fad diets have led to surprising and
genuine health benefits that might not have been
discovered otherwise.
Ten years ago, only the few people who had been
diagnosed with celiac disease were aware of a
gluten free diet. They resorted to using the few
commercially available safe products or learning
to prepare foods that were naturally gluten free.
Over the years, this population has expanded
to include those with gluten sensitivities. The
diet has gained significant attention, attracting
celebrities and inspiring best-selling books that
blame gluten for the cause of numerous other
health issues, including obesity. The food industry responded to this diet’s rising popularity
by producing numerous gluten free products to
meet the demand.
The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center
estimates that 3 million Americans live with celiac disease but only 3 percent of them have been
tested and are aware of it. This popular diet has
allowed previously undiagnosed celiacs or unaware gluten intolerants to identify the problem.
Maye Musk, MS RDN, was working with a patient in his late twenties who had spent a significant portion of his life in pain. His parents
didn’t speak English, and he had never been
tested for celiac disease. After reviewing his
symptoms and diet history, Maye recommended
trialing a gluten free diet and set up a meal plan
with lists of recommended foods and ones to
avoid. “At his follow-up appointment, he didn’t
show. Instead he left his fee in cash in an envelope at reception. He said he was feeling so well,
he didn’t need to see me anymore.”
Following fast on the heels of gluten free diets
have been other avoidance diets, es