Have you gave up gluten for a healthier diet?
Avoiding wheat has become the norm for almost a third of Brits because ‘fad’ diets like the Paleo Diet and Wheat Belly warn against gluten.
But research shows that more than two-fifths of people believe that gluten is a man-made substance.
The stats help explain why the nation’s fibre intake is less than half the recommended amount (most Brits eat just 14g of fibre a day), even though the incidence of coeliac disease in the population is only 1%.
Statistics show that 90% of people do not eat the suggest recommended 30g of fibre, which could mean many people are unnecessarily missing out on the vital dietary fibre found in whole wheat foods. The poll also showed that a quarter of under 34 year olds, arguably those most influenced by celebrity eating habits, said they buy less cereal and bread because of these latest diet crazes, despite two fifths of them not understanding the science behind them.
The consumer research, commissioned by Weetabix, is backed up by a scientific report with the University of Warwick de-bunking the myths around wheat.
Dr Robert Lillywhite senior research fellow at Warwick Crop Centre said: “The scientific evidence behind many of the most popular wheat free diets is surprisingly thin. It may perhaps be the case that most will only lighten your wallet, rather than provide longer-tern health benefits, by encouraging you to switch from low cost cupboard staples to specialist foods intended for those who genuinely need to avoid gluten. We are delighted that Weetabix are investing in a review of the science in this area but of course we won’t be able to comment further on this work until the research is complete.”
The findings have prompted Weetabix to launch a campaign to educate consumers about whole wheat and raise awareness for the need for a fibre rich diet. Claire Canty, Senior Brand Manager at Weetabix said: “The research highlights the misconceptions about whole wheat and how people might be mistakenly avoiding it. Whole wheat has been shown to be important gastrointestinal health, thanks to its high fibre content and range of micronutrients.”
The Whole Wheat Family Fibre Challenge from Weetabix aims to encourage families to eat more fibre by highlighting the easy ways it can be incorporated on a daily basis. Gabby Logan, TV presenter and health enthusiast is fronting the campaign, which aims to help families easily increase their fibre intake and feel the benefits of a fibre-rich diet. For more information Whole Wheat Family Fibre Challenge from Weetabix, to follow Gabby Logan’s progress on a high fibre dietplan and to find out how to take the challenge, download the plan from the Weetabix websitewww.weetabix.co.uk/wholewheat
Tagged in Diet