Gluten-free? Not me!

Video: Gluten-free: Diet fad or healthy option?

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   >>> this morning on "eat smart today" gluten-free diet. people like ann hathaway and again e gwyneth paltrow are eliminating it from their diet.

   >> cutting out gluten does seem to be gaining in popularity. even chelsea clinton opted for a gluten-free wedding cake . it took a month to perfect chelsea's wheatless wedding cake .

   >> this was a project but also flourless, a gluten-free cake, makes it more delicate.

   >> a mix i use instead of white flour .

   >> erin mckenya wasn't surprised by the choice.

   >> she comes in and always gets gluten free .

   >> mckenna has clientele for gluten-free goodies.

   >> the first celebrity was jason schwarzman, made a big spectacle of how delicious things were. more celebrities are going gluten free because their nutritionists are learning that removing gluten from your diet actually is a key to weight loss .

   >> among those said to be wheat whackers paltrow, actress ann hathaway . and mary louise parker whose art imitates her life. with so many in show business going gluten free these top l.a. chefs catering a swanky emmy party had to make adjustments.

   >> the day after party and we know from our experience because all of our restaurants have celebrity clientele. they're going to want something without gluten.

   >> we know that's the kind of menu we need to design.

   >> nutrition experts say it's fine to take a cue from the stars.

   >> people have unstructured eating, they start to eliminate refined carbohydrates, you're naturally going to lose weight . a celebrity endorsement , all the better.

   >> for many people going gluten free is not just a fad. around 3 million suffer from a serious gluten intolerance called celiac disease .

   >> dr. roshini raj, author of the new book "what the yuck." dr. raj, good morning to you. watching your face as you're looking at that piece, when they started talking about gluten free diets being good if you want to lose weight , you made a face there.

   >> i know they're skeptical of that. people hear diet and think it refers to weight loss . people with celiac disease , that's a true allergy to gluten, they actually gained weight. and gluten free doesn't mean it's a low caloric food. many of the foods that are gluten free they put more sugars and fats in them to make it more flavorful. so if you want to go gluten free because you have celiac disease or a sensitivity to gluten, meaning you just don't feel well when you have wheat, that makes sense. for weight loss , it doesn't make sense.

   >> what is fueling the trend? people just assume it's low fat or low carb diet ?

   >> celiac disease is a very, very common disorder in the u.s., so many people know people on gluten-free diets and when they hear the word diet, oh, maybe i should try that. everyone is looking for that villain in their diet they can cut out. if you do cut out a lot of carbs, you will lose weight .

   >> i cut out gluten and i have to say i felt a lot better when i did it. so there must be some health benefits even if you don't have an intolerance to gluten.

   >> you may be feeling better because you have gluten sensitivity . some people get bloated or fatigued, they have problem with their bowel movements and do feel better. a normal person shouldn't feel different whether they have gluten or not.

   >> a gluten-free diet is restrictive.

   >> extremely.

   >> all of these fruits have gluten. i assume pasta, bread, but it extends to other products.

   >> including things like soy. it can even be in lipstick. gluten in minute amounts can cause problems for people who have a true sensitivity.

   >> it can be very expensive to be on a gluten free diet . that's why people shouldn't just go on it for the sake of maybe losing weight and if you think you may have an intolerance it's important to not put yourself on the diet but get tested with your doctor because the test is not accurate if you've cut out gluten.

   >> are there any real risks, though, once again?

   >> many foods that have wheat are fortified with vitamins, they have fiber. if you're really restricting gl gluten you may miss out on the important nutrients. you should really do it with a nutritionist to make sure you're getting all the nutrients you need.

   >> these are the gluten free products. sometimes there's additional sugar and fat in them.

   >> other than that, they're pretty healthy. once people are look at their diet, thinking about what they're eating, they're going to lose weight because they're just more aware of what they're putting in their body.

   >> do you get the sense it is a fad that will go away with the general public ?

   >> i kind of do because, first of all, it's very difficult to stick to. it may sound great for the first couple of months but you have to worry about when you go to a restaurant, how they're cooking the food, even if you're cooking at home there's a lot of hidden sources of gluten so i don't think.

   >> thank you very much. just ahead, give your teenager's room

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