Fact: Gluten-free means that there is no gluten (a protein found in many grains) present. A strict gluten-free diet is currently the only treatment for someone with celiac disease, an auto-immune system disease. Not everyone needs or should follow a gluten-free diet and it is certainly not a weight loss diet.

The absence of gluten does not automatically mean a product is healthier or better for you or that it will help you lose weight. Often when gluten containing grains like wheat are removed; there are more lower nutrient flours (like rice or tapioca), starches, sugars and fats added. This may mean the gluten-free product may be higher in calories  from fat or sugar and lower in nutrients than you might expect. These days you can find candy, cookies, corn dogs and condiments that are labeled “gluten-free”.  If you need to, or choose to follow a gluten-free diet, focus first on items that are naturally gluten-free like fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, chicken, fish, eggs, milk and yogurt…but don’t think going gluten-free will automatically mean you will lose weight.