It has come to my attention that some people on campus believe in a gluten-free diet, and the Lake Forest College Caf is even trying to make accommodations for this diet.
However, the gluten-free diet is a huge fad that has swept over the nation, and the thing about fads is that no one really does any legitimate research on them.
Xander O’Grady ’17 commented, “I do not really know what gluten is, but we need more rabbit food in the Caf,” and he was not the only one who has no idea what gluten is.
Gluten is a protein found in bread that gives the dough its stretchy glue-like properties.
image credit: Chexfoods.com
I knew from the start that this was another ridiculous diet because my uncle and cousins have celiac disease, which causes excessive bloating due to an improper immune response to gluten. Someone would definitely know if they had this disease, because the bloating is very noticeable.
There has been a small amount of people that do not have this disease but still experience the symptoms of it – bloating, diarrhea, and cramps, for example. But if you do not suffer from these or similar diseases, then there is little to no evidence supporting claims that a gluten-free diet has certain health benefits such as fewer calories or being more natural.
In fact, avoiding gluten products, such as whole grain breads, can lead to nutrient deficiencies if one does not get those nutrients from somewhere else. Also gluten-free foods usually have a higher fat and sugar content, the diet could be harmful.
My cousin and uncles are grateful for this fad, however, because the high demand it created for gluten-free foods makes it easier for them to find food that suits their needs and also gives them a more versatile diet.
On the other hand, Jack Hirsch ’18 said, “What is with all of this gluten-free stuff? I want more gluten in the Caf, extra gluten!”
The market is preying on the ignorance of people following this diet. I went to the Jewel in town recently and noticed that many products have gluten-free stickers on them as a marketing strategy designed to grab the consumer’s attention.
This is why I felt the need to inform Lake Forest College students that the gluten-free diet is a sham and you should all save your money for gluten-filled pizza on Saturday when the Caf is closed.
