Gluten is bad for you

Gluten-free foods and diets are everywhere these days and many people believe that gluten, a protein found in some grains, is toxic to health or causes weight gain. Not true, says Caroline Apovian, MD, director of the Nutrition and Weight Management Center at the Boston Medical Center and professor at the Boston University School of Medicine. “Only about one percent of the U.S. population has Celiac disease and another small percentage may have a gluten intolerance, but if you do not have any of the above, eliminating gluten from your diet does not offer health benefits, including weight loss,” she says. Whole grains are a great source of fiber and vitamins and processed gluten-free versions of whole grain foods are often higher in sugar and preservatives, and lower in protein and fiber, making them the less healthy option, she adds