Menu
Dr. Weil Logo Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
  • Health & Wellness
    Health & Wellness
    Body, Mind & Spirit
    • Addiction
    • Allergy & Asthma
    • Autoimmune Disorders
    • Back Pain
    • Bone & Joint
    • Cancer
    • Colds & Flu
    • Dental & Oral
    • Diabetes
    • Disease & Disorders
    • Ears, Nose, & Throat
    • Feet
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Hair, Skin, & Nails
    • Headache
    • Heart
    • Insects & Parasites
    • Liver & Kidney
    • Mental Health
    • Pregnancy & Fertility
    • Respiratory
    • Sexual Health
    • Sleep Issues
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Vision
    Balanced Living
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Gardening
    • Healthy Home
    • Healthy Living
    • Meditation & Inspiration
    • Meet Dr. Weil
    • Pets & Pet Care
    • Technology
    • Wellness Therapies
    Health Centers
    • Aging Gracefully
    • Children
    • Condition Care Guide
    • Men
    • Women
  • Diet & Nutrition
    Diet & Nutrition
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet Pyramid
    Cooking & Cookware
    Healthy Cooking & Cookware
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Food Safety
    Diets & Nutrition - Food Safety
    Nutrition
    healthy nutrition
    Recipes
    healthy recipes
  • Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Herbs
    herbal remedies - herbs
    Supplements & Remedies
    suppliments & remedies
    Vitamins
    ask-dr-weil_vitamins-supplements-herbs_vitamins-topnav
  • Ask Dr. Weil
  • Blogs
    Blogs
    Bulletins
    The Legacy Of Living Yes | Spontaneous Happiness | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Health Tips
    Healthy Drinks To Start Sipping | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Spontaneous Happiness
    blog_spontaneous-happiness_topnav
  • COVID-19
  • Dr. Weil Origins Skin Care
  • Marketplace
  • Healthy Aging
  • Podcasts
  • Meet Dr. Weil
  • Accessibility
  • Subscribe
Do You Need a Gluten-Free Diet?
Subscribe
Press "Enter" to search
  1. Home
  2. Diet & Nutrition
  3. Diets & Weight Loss

Do You Need a Gluten-Free Diet?

I’m seeing a lot of gluten-free foods around these days, and I’ve read that a gluten-free diet is good for people with all kinds of problems including autoimmune diseases and osteoporosis, not just those with celiac disease. True?

Andrew Weil, M.D. |May 11, 2010

A woman rejecting bread, gluten-free concept. A whole-grain loaf of bread on a rustic wooden table, and a woman rejecting it with a hand gesture.
1 min

Originally published May 11, 2010

Gluten is the natural protein in wheat that makes dough elastic. It also is found in rye, barley and, possibly, oats. Individuals affected with celiac disease, also known as celiac sprue or gluten-sensitive enteropathy, must avoid gluten to prevent gastrointestinal symptoms and possible intestinal damage, particularly loss of tiny protrusions in the small intestines called villi, which are essential to proper absorption of nutrients from food. Injury to villi can lead to malnutrition, no matter how well you’re eating. Symptoms of celiac disease can include recurring abdominal bloating and pain, chronic diarrhea, weight loss, anemia, bone pain, fatigue, and in children and infants, delayed growth and failure to thrive.

It is possible that a range of gluten sensitivity exists, with classic celiac disease at one extreme. There are good tests for gluten sensitivity, and you should have them done if there is any reason to think you have it. If you do, a gluten-free diet may improve your health; otherwise, there is no reason to avoid gluten. I know of no evidence confirming that this kind of diet leads to all the health benefits being claimed for it these days, everything from relief of other auto-immune disorders to osteoporosis, arthritis, depression, and indigestion.

One interesting exception is autism. Studies suggest that some cases of autistic behavior result from allergies or intolerances to the proteins in milk (casein) as well as gluten. Beyond that, the proliferation of gluten-free foods being promoted to help overcome the symptoms of an expanding array of disorders appears to be inspired more by marketing than science.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

Advertisement
Related Weil Products

Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging for Healthy Eating

Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging for Nutrition – Want to change your diet? The Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging online guide is your anti-inflammatory diet headquarters. Start your free trial and get access to an exclusive version of Dr. Weil’s Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid, hundreds of recipes, eating guides, and more.
Get Started
Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging

Start Your 14-Day Free Trial

Free Newsletters

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Follow Dr. Weil’s Food Pyramid

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil's FREE health living advice delivered to you!

By clicking "Subscribe," you agree to the DrWeil.com Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive emails from DrWeil.com, and you may opt out of DrWeil.com subscriptions at any time.

Trending Now

An athlete is riding a bicycle on road. The man is wearing black bike shorts and shin guards along with a red sleeveless top and a red and white helmet and sunglasses. The image is blurred in motion.
Diets & Weight Loss

7-Keto: Supplement to Speed Metabolism?

A Flexitarian Diet | Diets & Weight Loss | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Diets & Weight Loss

A Flexitarian Diet

A Green Mediterranean Diet? | Diets & Weight Loss | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Diets & Weight Loss

A Green Mediterranean Diet?

Does Weight Loss Prevent Breast Cancer? |Women | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Diets & Weight Loss

A Hormone to Promote Weight Loss?

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
Information
  • About Us
  • Press Information
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage Email Subscription
Trending Articles
An athlete is riding a bicycle on road. The man is wearing black bike shorts and shin guards along with a red sleeveless top and a red and white helmet and sunglasses. The image is blurred in motion.
Diets & Weight Loss

7-Keto: Supplement to Speed Metabolism?

A Flexitarian Diet | Diets & Weight Loss | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Diets & Weight Loss

A Flexitarian Diet

Daily Tips
Do You Need Vitamin K? | Health Tips | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Health Tips

Do You Need Vitamin K?

Is Cooking with Aluminum Harmful? | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Health Tips

Aluminum Cookware: What Are The Concerns?

  • Flickr
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. or Healthy Lifestyle Brands.

©Copyright2023 Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. www.drweil.com