Fresh Focus #53: Myth – Gluten and Dairy

Gluten and dairy and grains, oh my! In this episode of the Fresh Focus podcast’s Myth Busters series, our host Megan Rivenburg, MS, former dietetic intern at the Bay Pines VA talks all about the ever so prevalent myths about gluten, dairy, gluten-free, and dairy-free diets.            Have you ever heard someone say they are cutting out gluten for health reasons? This episode talks all about whether or not it really is healthier to eat gluten free. The short answer? It’s not! It’s not necessary to cut out gluten unless you are someone who has Celiac disease or otherwise has a sensitivity to gluten.             Cutting it out for someone who doesn’t need to is not objectively any healthier. All it does is cut out a great source of fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals, and make the grocery bill a little bit steeper.            When it comes to dairy, listen in as we explore what it means to be lactose intolerant, whether or not it’s okay to eat dairy when lactose intolerant, and more. This episode will leave you equipped with information regarding the myth that dairy is inflammatory, taken straight from the research.            The bottom line is that not only is dairy not shown to be inflammatory (unless you are allergic), but it actually may even have an anti-inflammatory effect.             There are so many fad diets out there that cut out food groups unnecessarily, when those food groups are really amazing sources of nutrition. This episode will leave you with the research-backed facts so that you can make your own informed decision regarding whether or not you choose to consume gluten and/ or dairy.            We hope you enjoy listening to this episode. Join us next time for one last myth busting episode where we will break down one more myth into bite-sized (pun intended!) pieces for you.