In recent years, gluten-free diets have been a hot topic among dieters. However, if you’re still out of the loop, you might find yourself wondering whether this is a fad diet or if it has any validity behind it.

Believe it or not, being gluten-free can be just as valid as avoiding foods that are high in sugar if you are diabetic. That is why we are here today to let you in on five reasons why people decide to go on a gluten-free diet. If any of these apply to you, you just might want to try it out for yourself.

Wheat is a common allergen.

Wheat is one of the children’s most common food allergies, though many will outgrow it by age twelve. In addition, according to Dr. Fasano, gluten allergy may affect more people than celiac disease. He estimates that approximately 6% to 7% of the US population is gluten-sensitive, implying that about 20 million people in the US alone may have the condition.

It helps ease the symptoms of celiac disease.

Untreated celiac disease can lead to severe nutritional deficiencies such as osteoporosis and iron deficiency anemia. It can also be the reason for certain autoimmune disorders, extreme fatigue, infertility, neurological abnormalities, and, in a tiny percentage of cases, small intestine lymphoma. If you have celiac disease, the treatment is to follow a strict gluten-free diet. This makes the small intestine’s job to absorb nutrients properly much easier, lowering the risk of complications.

It prevents dermatitis herpetiformis.

Dermatitis herpetiformis is a type of celiac disease in which the immune system attacks the skin instead of the small intestine. It is characterized by a chronic itchy, bumpy rash that can be painful. Aside from the fact that it appears after eating gluten, a telltale sign of dermatitis herpetiformis is that the rash is usually symmetrical. People with DH who continue to eat foods with gluten in them will increase their risk of developing intestinal cancer. However, once diagnosed, people with dermatitis herpetiformis are usually very motivated to follow a gluten-free diet to avoid these painful rashes.

Going gluten-free helps with endometriosis.

Women with this gynecological condition may be inclined to try a gluten-free diet to alleviate symptoms related to menstruation, menopause, fertility, and overall reproductive health. And they frequently produce positive results. However, despite some small studies linking gluten-free diets to improvements in these areas (as well as plenty of clinical and anecdotal evidence), formal research on how gluten directly affects the reproductive system remains mixed. Yes, we can argue that gluten causes inflammation and degrades gut and thyroid health, which can lead to reproductive harm. However, medical science is still working on establishing a direct formal, double-blind, placebo-controlled link. However, in this case, the potential benefit of going gluten-free outweighs the risk.

You can avoid unpleasant side effects caused by gluten.

Gluten sensitivity is not a disease, but it can cause disruption in the digestive system for some people. With gluten sensitivity, avoiding gluten does not appear to be as important for long-term health – it appears to be more of a matter of preference to avoid symptoms.